Lori Meadows
International students often face challenges when writing essays, college applications, or scholarship essays, especially when English is not their first language. Writing centers can provide immense support to international students by offering workshops, writing groups, and one-on-one consultations with faculty, graduate students, or peer tutors. These centers guide students in improving their writing skills, from brainstorming ideas to structuring arguments and revising their work. Additionally, writing centers can assist students in navigating academic integrity, avoiding plagiarism, and properly citing their work. The support provided by writing centers helps international students develop their writing skills, gain confidence, and succeed in their academic endeavors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Essay writing guidance | Provide practical guidance for writing essays, with specific tips for college admission essays and scholarship applications |
| Resume writing assistance | Help international students create effective resumes for job applications |
| Tutor availability | Tutors can be found through schools or by advertising services on campus |
| Peer editing | Utilize peer editing exercises and writing workshops to improve writing skills |
| Online resources | Online writing workshops, essay writing tips, and sample essays are available |
| Plagiarism avoidance | Emphasize the importance of avoiding plagiarism and provide guidance on proper citation |
| Language fluency development | Offer feedback to help international students develop language fluency and understanding of disciplinary "stance" |
| Patience and tolerance | Instructors should be patient and tolerant of "written accents" in student writing |
| Individualized support | Provide individualized writing conferences, workshops, and consultations to help students develop their writing |
| Academic integrity | Offer detailed guidance on academic integrity, proper citation, and navigating different citation styles |
| Writing process assistance | Help with brainstorming ideas, developing a thesis, structuring arguments, and transitioning to new academic writing styles |
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What You'll Learn
How to avoid plagiarism
Writing an essay in a foreign language can be a daunting task for international students. One of the challenges they face is plagiarism, which refers to using someone else's words or ideas without proper credit or citation and passing them off as your own. Colleges and universities have strict policies for dealing with plagiarism, and the consequences can be severe, including failing the course or being asked to leave the school. To avoid plagiarism, follow these detailed instructions:
Keep Track of Your Sources
When conducting research, it is essential to keep a record of all the sources you use. This includes books, articles, websites, and any other materials you refer to. Create a system that allows you to easily identify and locate each source, such as using a reference manager or creating a bibliography as you work.
Understand Proper Quoting and Paraphrasing
When using someone else's exact words, always place them in quotation marks and provide the appropriate citation. Quoting should be done sparingly and only when necessary to support your argument. Paraphrasing involves expressing someone else's ideas in your own words. While paraphrasing is a useful way to demonstrate your understanding of a topic, it still requires proper citation to acknowledge the original source.
Provide In-Text Citations and Full References
Every time you quote or paraphrase a source, you must include an in-text citation in the body of your text. This could be in the form of a footnote or a parenthetical citation, depending on the style guide you are using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Additionally, each citation must correspond to a full reference in the reference list or bibliography at the end of your paper. This allows your reader to easily locate the original source.
Use Signal Phrases and Contextual Cues
When introducing a quote or paraphrased idea, use signal phrases such as "According to [source]," to make it clear that you are referencing another source. Additionally, provide contextual cues by including relevant information about the source within your text. For example, you could write, "In a study conducted by Smith et al. (2022) on the effects of sleep deprivation, it was found that..."
Be Aware of AI-Assisted Plagiarism
Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can be helpful in the writing process, but they can also lead to accidental or intentional plagiarism. Avoid using AI tools to paraphrase content from other sources or to rewrite your previous work. Always review AI-generated content to ensure it is original and properly cited.
Remember, avoiding plagiarism is about maintaining academic integrity and giving credit where it is due. By following these instructions, you can ensure that your work is authentic and ethically sound.
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Understanding disciplinary 'stance'
Understanding disciplinary stance is a key part of helping international students in a writing center. This involves recognizing the subtle ways that writers in different disciplines evaluate evidence and position the reader towards their views. This can be challenging for students, as it often involves tacit knowledge and understanding the nuances of argument formation and language use in different fields.
To help international students with disciplinary stance, writing instructors can provide personalized attention and feedback. This includes guiding students in their meaning-making before focusing on sentence-level correctness. Instructors should also be patient and tolerant of "written accents," allowing students to use existing language strategies to develop their thinking. Providing samples of essays and encouraging peer editing can also help students understand disciplinary stance.
One way to understand disciplinary stance is through the concept of "stance nouns" or "stance head nouns." This refers to the use of nouns that convey the writer's attitude, certainty, and perspective towards the information presented. For example, a writer might use a nominal complement clause to explicitly evaluate a proposition, such as "The fact that science has a history is not an argument against the possibility of scientific truth."
Another aspect of disciplinary stance is critical stance, which is an important expectation of students writing in academic contexts. However, students may face challenges in understanding how critical stance is linguistically constructed in essays and research papers. Teachers may also struggle to explain how criticality is realized in disciplinary writing.
Instructors can help international students develop their disciplinary stance by providing clear guidance and examples of effective writing in different disciplines. This may include explaining the subtle differences in language use and argument formation across fields. Additionally, encouraging students to read widely within their discipline can help them internalize the disciplinary stance.
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Giving feedback to help develop ideas
Feedback is an essential part of learning. It helps students master new skills and enhances their learning and achievement. When giving feedback to international students to help develop their ideas, consider the following:
Make it meaningful
Ensure that your feedback is meaningful and provides specific information about what the student is doing right or wrong. Avoid vague statements such as "great job" or "not quite there yet". Instead, take the time to explain what they did well and what they can improve. For example, you could say, "I don't get your meaning here" or "this is confusing to me." This helps the student understand your perspective and engage with your critique.
Focus on specific areas
Rather than providing feedback on all aspects of an assignment, consider focusing on one or two key areas. This will help to avoid overwhelming the student and allow them to make targeted improvements. For instance, you could address formatting and grammar in earlier assignments and then shift your focus to content and structure in later assignments as the student progresses.
Provide immediate feedback
Research suggests that immediate feedback is more effective in improving performance. It helps students comprehend the material and guides them towards their learning goals. However, in certain cases, such as when students are applying learned knowledge, slightly delayed feedback can be beneficial as it allows students to identify their own mistakes and develop their ability to self-correct.
Encourage self-assessment
Promote self-assessment by asking reflective questions. This helps students develop their ability to critically evaluate their work and understand their learning processes. You can ask questions such as, "What was the most challenging concept and how did you tackle it?" or "Which criteria do you think you have achieved or not addressed?" This approach also offers insights into how students perceive their work, making it easier to tailor your feedback to their needs.
Foster collaboration
Make feedback a collaborative process by asking students questions about their work. This encourages dialogue and helps students develop a deeper understanding of the feedback. You can ask for their requests and specific areas they want to be addressed. This ensures that your feedback aligns with their queries and concerns.
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Writing with an accent
Writing in a language other than one's mother tongue can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to academic writing. International students often face the challenge of writing college essays in English, their second language. This can be a central source of anxiety for both students and instructors.
Tips for Students:
- Seek tutoring services: Many campuses offer tutoring services, often advertised in student lounges or the International Student Center. Tutoring allows for one-on-one time with an instructor who can give you their full attention and become familiar with your writing.
- Find a writing partner: If tutoring services are not available or are too expensive, consider finding a writing partner. You can encourage each other to write and help edit each other's work, giving valuable feedback.
- Utilize online resources: The internet is full of essay writing tips and sample essays that can provide guidance on essay structure, argument crafting, and thesis development.
Tips for Instructors:
- Focus on core learning goals: Feedback strategies should address central objectives for the course. For example, if the goal is to further student understanding of a particular topic, focus on helping students develop their ideas rather than correcting mechanical mistakes.
- Understand disciplinary 'stance': Help students navigate the subtle ways that writers in different disciplines evaluate evidence and position the reader toward their views. Understanding disciplinary 'stance' is challenging for all students and particularly for international students due to the nuances involved.
- Expect a "written accent": Prominent researcher Suresh Canagarajah suggests that instructors should expect and tolerate a "written accent" in the same way they would a spoken accent. Writing classrooms should be safe spaces where students can use their existing language strategies to develop their thinking, even if their initial attempts seem non-standard.
- Provide well-considered feedback: Feedback can help international students make significant gains in language fluency without being work-intensive for instructors. Focus on identifying wider, more easily fixable patterns of error involving fundamental grammatical conventions, such as verb tense or pronoun/antecedent agreement.
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Essay writing tips
Writing an essay can be a challenging task, especially for international students who are writing in their second language. Here are some tips to help you improve your essay-writing skills:
Understand the Purpose and Requirements:
Before you begin writing, ensure that you clearly understand the purpose of the essay and what is expected of you. Are you writing to inform, persuade, or describe? What specific instructions or guidelines has your instructor provided? Understanding these aspects will help you structure and focus your essay effectively.
Plan and Organize Your Thoughts:
Start by brainstorming ideas and gathering relevant information. Take notes and create an outline to organize your thoughts. It's easy to go off-track, so regularly refer back to the assignment to ensure that you're addressing the question fully and not veering off into tangents.
Use Evidence and Examples:
Support your arguments and ideas with evidence from reliable sources. Primary sources include original documents, photographs, interviews, etc., while secondary sources provide additional context or analysis. Make sure to explain why and how this evidence supports your position. Use specific details, such as historical facts, data, or descriptive examples, to engage your readers and strengthen your argument.
Write Clearly and Concisely:
Aim for clear and concise writing that is easy for your readers to understand. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complicated language. Remember that academic writing often avoids the use of "I," "we," or "you." Instead, use passive voice or phrases like "this paper" or "this essay."
Edit and Proofread:
Before submitting your essay, take the time to proofread it thoroughly. Read it aloud to catch any errors or awkward phrasing. Consider asking a friend or classmate for feedback on clarity and tone. Regularly practising writing and proofreading will help you become more confident and skilled.
Seek Help and Feedback:
Essay writing can be challenging, and it's okay to ask for help. Consider finding a tutor, joining a writing class or workshop, or working with peers to improve your writing. Feedback from instructors or peers can help you identify areas for improvement and develop your ideas more effectively. Remember, writing is a skill that can be learned and refined with practice and guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
The writing center offers a variety of resources to international students, including workshops, writing groups, and individualized writing conferences with faculty consultants, graduate student consultants, and undergraduate peer tutors. Some writing centers also offer English language and grammar tutoring.
No, you don't need to have a completed paper to visit the writing center. You can bring ideas, notes, or a draft, and the staff will help you write a strong paper.
Appointments at the writing center can typically be made through an online scheduling system. Drop-ins are also often welcome, but it is recommended to make an appointment in advance to ensure availability.
During a session at the writing center, you can expect to receive help with any part of the writing process, including brainstorming ideas, developing a thesis, structuring an argument, organizing your essay, and editing and proofreading.
In addition to the writing center, international students can seek help from tutors or peer editors, and can also utilize online resources such as podcasts, essay writing guides, and sample essays.
