The Carol Jones Writing Center

Welcome back, Eagles! We hope that everyone enjoyed their winter break. As online classes continue to become more popular, we wanted to invite everyone to learn a little more about the Writing Center. Writing Assignments If you’re working on a paper, you don’t need to come to campus to meet with a writing tutor. We use the Zoom program so that you can share your document with us and we can talk to you through video or audio. ... We work on ALL steps of the writing process One of our most popular tutorials is getting startedwhich includes choosing something to write about or picking out some paragraph topics. But if you’d like an extra set of eyes on formatting, grammar, organization, or any other aspect of your paper, we’ve got you covered every step on the way. Proctoring At some point in your online class, you’ll see an assignment that’s called a Proctored Event. This means that an OTC staff will need to check a valid (non-expired) photo ID. The Writing Center can provide this service in-person at the Springfield campus, or we can meet with you online! We'll reserve an hour for you by default, and you can take up as much of this time as you'd like. Contact If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, we’d be happy to chat with you! Phone: 417-447-8235 Email: [email protected] In-Person Visits: Monday-Thursday, 8:30-6:30; Friday, 8:30-2:30 You can also submit a request through OTC’s website: https://academics.otc.edu//online-writing-center-appointm/ That’s all for now. Take care, be safe, and don’t forget to come see us ;) - Carol Jones Writing Center

Hey, Eagles! It’s just about time for term papers, and we have some tips and tricks for you. Watch this video for some pointers on how to get started with your project. The OTC Writing Center is open for in-person and online appointments. We even have some new nighttime hours available for online sessions! Give us a call or send us an email to learn how to book an evening appointment. Our center is here to help make your projects easier. We can help get some ideas together..., go through grammar and punctuation, find some research, or even pick out a topic to write about. You don’t need to have anything written. Just swing by and tell us what you’re working on, and we’ll go from there. It’s a busy season, so we recommend booking your appointments ahead of time to make sure you get the date and time you want. Appointments are free and you can reserve up to an hour. Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8:30-5:30 Fri: 8:30-2:30 You can email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 417-447-8235. We look forward to working with you.

Hello all! This week’s tutor spotlight is our well-seasoned vet, Andrea! Q: How long have you been working at the Writing Center? A: Since Fall of 2018.... Q: What is your favorite part about being a tutor? A: Getting to see the excitement and relief on the students faces when they realize that writing isn't that scary. Q: What is your personal philosophy? A: I believe that being treated with compassion and respect is something that everybody deserves. I also believe in second chances and forgiveness. You never know what someone else is going through in their own lives. Q: What three traits define you? A: Honest, resilient, and resourceful Q: Favorite genre of music? A: I listen to a wide variety of music. Country, rap, pop, classic rock, and many more. Q: Favorite food? A: Tacos, the key to my heart. Q: Hobbies? A: I love to read, play video games, crochet, and travel. Q: What is something you cannot resist? A: Ooh, well, tacos of course. However, I would have a hard time passing up the chance to curl up with a good book, my dog, and maybe take a nap. Q: If your house was burning down, what one non-living thing would you save? A: I have a tote full of photo albums, baby books, and special mementos from when I was a child and when my children were babies. They are priceless and irreplaceable. I couldn't leave it behind. Q: What has been the biggest help to you in with your reading/writing in college? A: Moving past my imposter syndrome was a huge help for me. Realizing that I am capable of things I had never thought that I was has been detrimental to my success. Becoming comfortable with who I am was something I wasn't sure I would be able to fully do. Also, learning to ask for help and learning to not be so stubborn has also made me a better writer and person. Q: What experience have you had at OTC that you think will help you with your future professional goals? A: Taking as many of Dr. Ball's lit courses as I possible could fit into my schedule. By reading literature from all over the world, different cultures, and different mindsets, I have come to view the world, and my own experiences in it, in a different way. That change in perspective has made all the difference in my life, in my parenting, and in my other jobs.

Hello Everyone! It’s time for our Tutor Spotlights again! Today we have our very own Angie! One of our more seasoned tutors and a much-loved addition to the Writing Center. Q: How long have you been working at the Writing Center? A: Since Spring 19.... Q: What is your favorite part about being a tutor? A: I get to work with and tutor people from all walks of life and disciplines, and widen my scope on the world a bit. Q: What is your personal philosophy? A: I believe in living wholeheartedly and loving others because they're amazing and complex humans. I can't expect to be loved anymore than I love others. Q: What three traits define you? A: What three traits define you? Authentic: What you see is was you get with me. Spunky: for better or worse, I am determined and high spirited. Committed: I mean what I say and I try to always do what I say I will. Q: Favorite genre of music? A: This is really hard; I listen across a large expanse of genres depending on mood. A fellow tutor has really gotten me hooked on Dragon Inn 3 over the past year. I’m loving that 80s synthy pop sound. I’ve also been listening to Matisyahu and Dirty Heads quite a bit lately. Q: Favorite food? A: Queso. Queso all day, queso all night. In all its forms. Mmmmm. Q: Hobbies? A: I like hiking, cycling, trail running, reading, writing, traveling, and cross stitching. I especially love cross stitching. There’s something therapeutic about stabbing something thousands of times and getting a pretty picture in the end. Q: What is something you cannot resist? A: A chance for a deliciously lazy afternoon with my cross-stitch hoop or a good book. Bonus points if it’s within steps of salty air and a sandy beach. Q: If your house was burning down, what one non-living thing would you save? A: My photo albums. I was born before the time of digital cameras and many photos of me and my spouse are the only copies that exist. I want to preserve those memories for our kids and their future kids, etc. Q: What has been the biggest help to you in with your reading/writing in college? A: My fellow tutors. We all jam in so many different ways and I love getting fresh eyes and a fresh perspective on something I’ve written. I’ve scheduled sessions before where all I told my fellow tutor was I want to write about this and this and how it makes me feel and bam, 45 minutes later, I have a solid thesis and game plan going forward. My coworkers are magic. Q: What experience have you had at OTC that you think will help you with your future professional goals? A: I want to be an English teacher and every session (yes, every single one) just reminds me of what I love: helping others realize that they are fundamentally okay and that writing doesn’t have to be scary.

Hey, Eagles! We're excited to welcome everyone back for the Fall 2020 semester. Our team is here and ready to get started working with you. We work on all stages of the writing process--not just the last draft. So if you want to talk to someone about coming up with a topic, organizing ideas, or if you just have a question about an assignment, give us a call at 417-447-8235. You can also email us at [email protected], or come see us in person at the Springfield campus. We look forward to working with you!