The University’s Communication across the Curriculum, or CxC, program is now offering writing support as a result of funding cuts to the Writing Center.
Though CxC specializes in written communication, it depended on the Writing Center for writing help. Following the announcement of the cuts, CxC recognized the need to expand its efforts, said CxC Director Sarah Liggett.
The program has been officially available for about two weeks.
“As the first program of its kind in the nation, Communication across the Curriculum works with LSU faculty to train, guide and recognize students who demonstrate exceptional communication skills,” the program’s website says.
Liggett said the program targets four main areas of communication — written, spoken, visual presentation and technological communication skills.
The newly-implemented writing support, provided through CxC’s Coates 151 studio, will offer assistance to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Cassie Arceneaux, graduate assistant and tutor, said CxC can help students with everything from essays to personal statements during any stage of the writing process.
“[CxC] will cover everything the Writing Center covered except for résumés,” Arceneaux said.
Liggett said the only thing CxC will not do is simply proofread.
“It’s really a tutorial where we work to both teach strategies and make sure they understand how [those strategies] may apply in the paper,” Liggett said. “It’s one-on-one for 30 minutes with careful attention to what is going on in the student’s writing.”
Students may schedule one tutorial per week through the CxC website. Each tutor has posted an availability calendar where students can view times and make individual appointments.
CxC encourages students to plan ahead and to avoid coming in the day an assignment is due.
“We will fill up quickly around midterm time,” Liggett said. “The sooner you can start, the better.”
Liggett said the tutorials give students “another set of eyes” and direct feedback from the reader.
“Another advantage is working with a specially trained peer tutor,” she said. “Sometimes it is easier for students to talk with a peer about writing than going to see a professor.”
One-on-one feedback helps students become better writers, Arceneaux said.
“Writing is crucial to the success of CxC because it is one of the four modes of communication,” she said. “We’re trying to help students really become effective communicators.”
The program has already seen a number of students and hopes to see an increase within the coming weeks, Liggett said.
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