Home Academics Colleges and Schools Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences Department of Literature, Languages, Writing, and Humanities Metro Writing Studio

Metro Writing Studio

One of the top academic priorities of the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University is to graduate students who are competent and confident writers. To advance this goal, the Campus Writing Initiative, an innovative, comprehensive, campus-wide commitment to student writing, was adopted. The Metro Writing Studio supports the Campus Writing Initiative and reinforces the philosophy of the Writing Program.

The Studio is staffed with professional tutors who provide students with assistance in all steps of the writing process. Because our aim is to produce better writers — not just better writing — our tutors work closely with students to help them acquire for themselves the writing skills they need not only in their classes but in their future careers as well. Accordingly, tutors do not provide editing or proofreading services; rather, they help students learn how to express themselves clearly and coherently in any writing situation they may encounter. In addition, the Studio offers a range of workshops designed not only for students but also for faculty, staff, and the community. We provide a welcoming (and wireless) space where you can write or simply read and study, so visit the Metro Writing Studio soon and often!

The professional tutors at the Metro Writing Studio provide free academic support services to help students, faculty, and staff at Fairleigh Dickinson University improve student writing skills. Tutoring and workshops are offered in the Studio, which is a space designed to accommodate one-on-one, small group, and classroom instruction. Students have access to Studio laptops when working with tutors or attending class in the Studio (or they may bring their own laptops); wireless access to the Internet is available to those who have an FDU Webmail account.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you for contacting the Metro Writing Studio. Tutoring services for spring 2021 begin on February 1st until May 5th.

Please see the schedule below and contact via email the support services team member depending on the day you wish to receive tutoring. If you have any questions regarding our services, please contact Julia Wagner, Director @ jawagner.fdu.edu.

Access the Tutor Contact Sheet.

Tutoring Schedule

THE METRO WRITING STUDIO IS OPEN FOR VIRTUAL TUTORING

Monday, Feb 1 to Wednesday, May 5, 2021

For any student, faculty, or staff member in need of tutoring services, please check the schedule below and based on the day and time of your request, email the appropriate contact person. Once you have contacted the Studio Support Team via email, you will be directed to the appropriate tutor scheduled for that day.

	M 10 – 5PM	T 10 – 5PM	W 10 – 5 PM	TH 11-5 PM	F 10- 4	Sunday 1 – 5

Drop-in	J.Adams	J.Veach	J. Horna	D.Maclean	I.Konstandinis	T.Gibson
	10:00 – 2:00 PM	10:00 – 2:00	10:00 – 2:00	11- 3:00	10:00 – 2:00 PM	1:00 – 5:00
			D. Simons
		D.Simons	12: 00 – 4:00 PM	J.Adams	D.Maclean
	R. Chavious	12:00 – 4:00		11:30-3:30	11:00-3:00 PM	3/1/2021
	12:00 – 4:00 PM		R. Moskowitz			R. Chavious
	H. Kuttner		11:00 – 3:00	H.Kuttner	J.Horna	1:00 – 5:00 PM
	12:00 – 4:00		T.Gibson	12:00- 4:00 PM	12:00- 4:00 PM
	T.Gibson		1:00 – 5:00 PM
	1:00 – 5:00 PM	Y.Shekhtman		R.Chavious	Y. Shekhtman	Deb Maclean
		1:00 – 5:00 PM		1:00- 5:00 PM	1:00 – 4:00 PM	1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Appointment

NOTE: Our free tutoring is available to all FDU students, faculty, and staff with a valid ID. No tutoring is available on Saturdays.

APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE

Please note that schedules subject to change.

Email Julia Wagner, Director, at jawagner@fdu.edu for further assistance with services at the studio.

Workshop Schedule: Spring 2021 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

These free workshops are open to all FDU students, faculty, and staff. No registration is required to attend; however, you will need to email the appropriate graduate assistant located under each workshop in order to register and connect to the virtual presentation. Please email Julia Wagner, Director, at jawagner@fdu.edu for more information about the workshops and the tutoring services offered at the Metro Writing Studio. Suggestions are welcome!

Registration information: Contact the email 10 minutes prior to presentation times.

WORKSHOP	DATE	TIME	PLACE
Academic Writing and The Annotated Bibliography Workshop	February 9^th (T)	5:30 – 7:00 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
In this workshop, students will be instructed in the purpose and use of the annotated bibliography. This is a practical workshop providing a blend of information and useful links and references that will help students primarily with research skills. Contact the following e-mail 10 minutes prior to presentation times: Malav (malav@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7238498458?pwd=N0x6SzgxZ3JtVmhOVDAycUdkWk56UT09 Meeting ID: 723 849 8458 Passcode: Sb629v
Technical and Scientific Writing	February 10th (W)	3:00 –4:00 PM	Virtual Presenatation: ZOOM
Scientific writing is written with specific goals and a very specific audience in mind. Helen Kuttner will introduce beginning practical approaches for students in the sciences who need to learn how to write in their field. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Sristhi Patel. (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86724083660?pwd=UDJ1N2lEVDNQVHE3YU16UnUrK2Nmdz09 Meeting ID: 867 2408 3660 Passcode: K4B4hc
Essential Spoken English for International Students	February 23^rd ( T)	7:30 – 8:30 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Culled from Professor Paul Caruso’s teaching experiences abroad, this participatory workshop will help international students improve their English conversation skills in the classroom and among their peers. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Sanjana Hirawat: (sanjana28@student.fdu.edu) https://fdu.zoom.us/j/96750765604?pwd=VGMwWlpMQVNaZG5wR1lHNC9UVittdz09 Meeting ID: 967 5076 5604 Passcode: 552730
What is Critical Writing?	February 24^th (W)	4:00 – 5:00 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
What is the critical perspective? And, how do students demonstrate it in their writing? This is a workshop led by Danielle Des Fosses that first explains the necessary point of view, and then the steps needed to carry out research that supports analysis to this aim in student writing. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Srishti Patel (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84800560258?pwd=TEJUNkdlRVRLUjZCVnNHcVhaRUhWUT09 Meeting ID: 848 0056 0258 Passcode: wCX0nV
Recognizing and Avoiding Plagiarism	February 25^th (TH)	1:00 – 2:00 PM		Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Yelena Shekhtman will teach students how and when to quote and/or paraphrase from an original source – and how to acknowledge that source – so that they can learn how to avoid committing plagiarism accidentally. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: malav@student.fdu.edu https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7238498458?pwd=N0x6SzgxZ3JtVmhOVDAycUdkWk56UT09 Meeting ID: 723 849 8458 Passcode: Sb629v
Undergraduate Academic Essay and Research Workshop	February 25^th (TH)	5:30- 7:00 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Students are instructed on the elements of researching accurately and appropriately for Academic Essay writing, how to vet sources and make good source decisions. Led by Paul Caruso, students will be provided a blend of information from useful links and references, within this practical hands-on writing workshop. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: malav@student.fdu.edu https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7238498458?pwd=N0x6SzgxZ3JtVmhOVDAycUdkWk56UT09 Meeting ID: 723 849 8458 Passcode: Sb629v
Introduction to APA Format	March 2^nd (T)	3:30- 4:30 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Danielle DesFosses will cover the basics of APA formatting, commonly used to cite sources in academic writing, and guide students through practice exercises. This workshop will be repeated on March 23rd. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Srishti Patel (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86957037390?pwd=eDFwNzh2cEgvMERXcDcvbUNpN0dXdz09 Meeting ID: 869 5703 7390 Passcode: D6Aspr
Common Essay Patterns	March 3^th (W)	3:00 – 4:00 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Helen Kuttner will review the various patterns available to writers for composing essays before examining strategies for writing clear and effective argumentative, compare/contrast, and cause and effect essays. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Sanjana Hirawat: (sanjana28@student.fdu.edu) https://fdu.zoom.us/j/92720748912?pwd=L3gzY3dSdWh4cUs4U2REWlNsV3JPdz09 Meeting ID: 927 2074 8912 Passcode: 949494
Information Literacy	March 5^th (F)	2:30 PM – 3:15 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
TBA
APA Advanced Format	March 10^th (W)	1:30 PM – 2:30 PM		Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Designed for those who know the basics of APA, this workshop, presented by Helen Kuttner, will offer a brief overview before launching into more complicated citation issues. A question answer period will follow for your specific APA format questions. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Srishti Patel (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81494552129?pwd=VUlPeGRVa2doOGRFaDloUENHREJadz09 Meeting ID: 814 9455 2129 Passcode: 9GUbiA
Basic Grammar Workshop	March 15^th (M)	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Rochelle Moskowitz hosts a grammar workshop on Definite and Indefinite Articles and how to employ them in student writing. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Sanjana Hirawat: (sanjana28@student.fdu.edu) (https://fdu.zoom.us/j/96797604398?pwd=ZEZsTUtPWmdldE1tWVc4cjNCUUtIdz09 Meeting ID: 967 9760 4398 Passcode: 683668
Introduction to APA	March 23^th (T)	2:00 – 3:00 PM	Virtual Presentation:ZOOM
Danielle DesFosses will cover the basics of APA formatting, commonly used to cite sources in academic writing, and guide students through practice exercises. This is a repeat of the workshop presented on March 2nd. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Srishti Patel (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81571191782?pwd=L0l6SXRZblp3RlU2OWhNb1hNSzNrZz09 Meeting ID: 815 7119 1782 Passcode: 87GY9Q
Advanced APA Format	March 24 (W)	1:30 – 2:30 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Designed for those who know the basics of APA, this workshop, presented by Helen Kuttner, will offer a brief overview before launching into more complicated citation issues. A question answer period will follow for your specific APA format questions. This is a repeat of the workshop scheduled on March 10^th. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: Srishti Patel (spatel15@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86981055471?pwd=cHpkcE05MkRmYi9qTURIcGpZK2tvUT09 Meeting ID: 869 8105 5471 Passcode: ZbsiR3
Basic Grammar	March 29^th (M)	10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Just write it! Rochelle Moskowitz leads this grammar workshop on using the imperative voice in student writing. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: (malav@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7238498458?pwd=N0x6SzgxZ3JtVmhOVDAycUdkWk56UT09 Meeting ID: 723 849 8458 Passcode: Sb629v
Creating the Works Cited List	April 8th (TH)	1:30 – 2:30 PM	Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Yelena Shekhtman will lead this workshop designed for those who are familiar with the basics of MLA parenthetical citation; she will focus on how to create the works cited list. Contact the following email 10 minutes prior to workshop time: (malav@student.fdu.edu) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7238498458?pwd=N0x6SzgxZ3JtVmhOVDAycUdkWk56UT09 Meeting ID: 723 849 8458 Passcode: Sb629v
Information Literacy Workshop
TBA

ESL Conversation Schedule

Non-native speakers of English are invited to come practice their spoken language skills with help from Jeanette Adams at the Metro Writing Studio on six Tuesdays this semester. Jeanette Adams will guide the students in informal conversation, assist with pronunciation, and answer questions about colloquial English. Attendance is limited and registration is required; Call 201-692-2166 to register.

Referral form

Referral forms are not necessary; tutoring is available on a drop-in basis. However, faculty may refer students to the Writing Studio by printing, completing, and giving a referral form to those students in need of assistance.

To print out a referral form please click here: Referral Form

FAQ’s

The Metro Writing Studio provides free, individualized tutoring in writing and writing workshops to help students, faculty, and staff at Fairleigh Dickinson University improve their writing skills.

Where is the Metro Writing Studio?
We are located on the second floor of the Frank Giovatto Library (on the Metropolitan campus in Teaneck) behind the Reference/Circulation Desk.
What are the hours of operation?
Monday-Thursday 10.00 am to 7.00 pm Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Sunday 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm. The Studio, which offers wireless connection to the Internet to those with an FDU webmail account, is open as a quiet and comfortable study space whenever the library is open.
Who may use the Studio?
Students who are matriculated at Fairleigh Dickinson (whether undergraduate or graduate, part-time or full-time), faculty, and staff are eligible to make use of all the Studio’s offerings.
What kind of help do the tutors provide?
Tutors assist students with all phases of the writing process from brainstorming ideas to polishing the final draft. We do not, however, offer proofreading or editing services; our goal is to teach students how do such things for themselves.
Do I need to make an appointment to see a tutor?
No, we see students mainly on a drop-in-basis (limited appointments become available later in the semester). On occasion, you might have to wait before a tutor is free to work with you, so plan your time wisely. Be sure to fill out a Request for Tutoring Form upon your arrival.
What should I bring when I see a tutor?
You should bring the assignment given to you by your instructor, the materials (such as articles or books) upon which the assignment is based, and a printed copy of what you have written so far.
What other types of services does the Studio provide?
Throughout the semester, we offer workshops on various writing-related topics such as how to recognize and avoid plagiarism and how to use MLA and APA citation formats. International students can practice their speaking skills six times a semester at our English conversation workshops.

Faculty and Tutors

Director, Metro Writing Studio

Julia Wagner
Senior Lecturer, School of the Humanities
Phone: (201) 692-2165
Mail Stop: T-GL1-03
Jawagner@fdu.edu

Tutors

Jeanette Adams
Paul Caruso
Ron Chavious
Terry Gibson
Josephine Horna
Irene Konstantinidis
Helen Kuttner
Deborah Maclean
Rochelle Moskowitz
Yelena Shekhtman
David Simons
James Veach

Graduate Assistants

Sanjana Hirawat
Srishti Patel
Malav Vaiyda