Writing and Literacy Engagement Studio (WALES)
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206 Bakeless Center
WALES supports Commonwealth University students in reading comprehension and writing. We can work with students via Zoom or face to face in the Bakeless Center for Humanities, room 206. For students who cannot work with us in real time, we also offer asynchronous support for which students submit their written work and receive feedback within 48 hours. We also offer our Reading and Writing with Sources workshop several evenings via Zoom.
Individual drop-in or scheduled sessions
The Writing and Literacy Engagement Studio (WALES) enjoys easing the writing process for all Commonwealth University students from any campus and from every major. We're a free resource that offers peer support for undergraduate and graduate writers at any stage of their reading and writing process.
We're a diverse staff of peer writing consultants who represent a variety of backgrounds and majors and share the common goal of working with you to develop your skills and help you grow as a writer or a reader. You set the agenda for the appointment — whether you're concerned about getting started, or about clarity, grammar, organization, citations, or any other aspect of writing or the English language.
WALES Support for Spring 2024
WALES Consultants can work either in person or via Zoom during most of our hours, but night and weekend hours are available only via Zoom. We also offer asynchronous support for students who cannot work with us in real time.
Spring 2024 Hours for In-Person or Remote Support
- In-Person or Remote Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- In-Person or Remote Friday 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Remote only Monday through Thursday nights 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Remote only Saturday and Sunday 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
How to Make an In-Person or Remote Appointment
Students can schedule to work with us through CU Succeed, which should be linked through BrightSpace for each course. They can also drop into Bakeless 206 or email wales@commonwealthu.edu to request an appointment.
Asynchronous Support
For students whose schedule does not permit working with us in real time, we offer asynchronous support. Students use the link or QR code below to provide information about their writing situation as well as their current draft. They will receive feedback on their draft within 48 hours.
Reading and Writing with Sources (RWWS) Workshop
Our Reading and Writing with Sources Workshop helps students avoid the kinds of citation practices that many students are unaware constitute what their faculty consider to be plagiarism. Data collected from these workshops indicate that prior to attending the workshop, most students misused sources without realizing they were doing so in ways most faculty consider a form of plagiarism.
We offer RWWS workshops in classrooms upon faculty request but also remotely via Zoom several evenings during the semester. Students can sign up to attend an evening RWWS workshop through CU Succeed, which should be linked through BrightSpace for each course. They can also drop into Bakeless 206 or email wales@commonwealthu.edu to register.
Peer Research Consultants
Who are Peer Research Consultants?
Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) are students hired and trained through The North Hall Library and The MU Learning Center. The purpose of PRCs is to support Commonwealth University students with written research projects by providing research assistance and information about library and Learning Center services and resources. PRCs engage with other students one-on-one, in small groups, with other tutors, and librarians.
What can Peer Research Consultants help me with?
Research assistance may include:
- using the library catalog,
- simple database searching,
- locating library materials,
- peer-level guidance on planning and executing written research projects, and
- referrals to the library and other faculty when additional support is needed.
Want to work with a Peer Research Consultant?
Coming in fall of 2023 students will be able to schedule to work with a Peer Research Consulting using CU Succeed. Prior to that, they can use the contact information below to request an appointment.
If you have any questions about Peer Research Consultants, please reach out to Holly Jackson, Student Success Librarian at hjackson@mansfield.edu or (570) 662-4688 or Dr. Chris Cummings, Learning Center Director at ccumming@mansfield.edu or 570-662-4828.
Additional Resources for Writers
Resources for Faculty and Area Educators
About WALES
Though we work effectively with inexperienced writers, we also work effectively with upper-level undergraduate and graduate students from many disciplines. Students who use us are those who care about their writing and care about developing their abilities as writers. Writing is a process, and good writers recognize the benefits of working on a draft with an audience.
You control what happens during your tutoring session. We can work together to address issues related to organization, thesis, confusion about an assignment, how to get started with the paper, MLA/APA/Chicago or other formats, or problems with mechanics. Typically (but not always) we have writers read papers out loud to help them catch their own problems and errors. We are confident that your paper will generally improve as a result of the session, but what we're most excited about is helping you to develop as a writer with each visit.
You can't drop off your paper and have us fix it. We help you work to improve your own draft. We're happy to work with you, and we're happy to talk about mechanics or what you don't understand, but you are responsible for catching simple editing mistakes.
We are a great audience and enjoy discussing your paper or anything writing or reading related to you. We don't judge what you've written or your abilities. Wherever you are as a writer or reader, we want to help you to become stronger overall.
We also don't talk to your faculty or anyone about your session, but if you ask us to, we will send an email to your faculty notifying them that you worked with us.
