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.

Announcements

During the Spring 2023 semester, Metro Writing Studio is open for both in-person and virtual tutoring from 1/30 – 5/5 2023.

Please find our hours of operation (in-person and virtual) listed below. Walk-in’s welcome for in-person one-to-one tutoring in The Metro Writing Studio located on the 2^nd Floor of Giovatto Library.

Need help with your writing assignments?  The Metro Writing Studio assists all FDU students, faculty, and staff with writing assignments and essays. 

Workshop Schedule: Spring 2023

These free workshops are open to all FDU students, faculty, and staff. No registration is required to attend; all workshops will be held online through virtual ZOOM Presentations this semester.   Consult our website at http://ucoll.fdu.edu/metro, or 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!

Academic Writing and The Annotated Bibliography Workshop (Bhavya)
February 13th (M)
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
In this workshop hosted by Paul Caruso, 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. 
Meeting ID: 962 1662 7146
Password: 054731
 
What is Critical Writing?   (Bhavya)
February 15th (W)
2:00 – 3:30 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 demonstrates steps needed to carry out research that supports analysis to this aim in student writing.
Meeting ID: 976 7909 2824
Password: 195365
 
Technical and Scientific Writing (Theerdha)
February 20th (M)
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Virtual Presentation: 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.  
Meeting ID: 96609116697
Password: 294259
 
Recognizing and Avoiding Plagiarism (Theerdha)
February 23rd (TH)
1:00 – 2:30 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 to avoid committing plagiarism accidentally.
Meeting ID: 93226253238
Password: 163389
 
Common Essay Patterns (Bhavya)
February 27th (M)
REVISED: DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST, THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM 4:00pm – 5:30pm
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 and contrast, and cause and effect essays. 
Meeting ID: 966 0436 4577
Password: 689476
 
Introduction to APA Format: (Bhavya)
March 1st (W)
2:00 – 3:30 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 3/21. 
Meeting ID: 986 7220 0157
Password: 066883
 
Essential Spoken English for International Students (Parisha)
 March 2nd (TH)
7:30 – 9:00 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.
Meeting ID: 915 7298 2632
Password: 891871
 
Advanced APA Format (Parisha)
March 9th (TH)
4:00 – 5:30 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 workshop will be repeated on 3/20. 
Meeting ID: 935 5509 8206
Password: 431652
 
Advanced APA Format ( Theerdha)
March 20th (M)
5:00 – 6:30 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 and answer period will follow for your specific APA format questions.  This is a repeat of the workshop scheduled on March 9th.
Meeting ID: 93425159031
Password: 105708
 
Introduction to APA Format (Parisha)
March 21 (T)
2:00 – 3:30 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 is a repeat of the workshop presented on March 1st. 
Meeting ID: 925 2399 2243
Password: 879015
 
Basic Grammar Workshop (Bhavya)
March 22nd (W)
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Rochelle Moskowitz hosts a grammar workshop on Definite and Indefinite Articles and how to employ them in student writing.
Meeting ID: 981 2295 6057
Password: 111495
 
Undergraduate Academic Essay and Research (Parisha)
March 23rd (TH)
5:30 – 7:00 PM
Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Students are instructed on the elements of researching accurately and appropriately for academic essays. This includes 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.
Meeting ID: 979 3481 2135
Password: 529798
 
Creating the Works Cited List (Theerdha)
April 13th (TH)
1:30 – 3:00 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.
Meeting ID: 98671790182
Password: 113534
 
Basic Grammar (Bhavya)
April 19th (W)
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Virtual Presentation: ZOOM
Just write it!  Rochelle Moskowitz leads this grammar workshop on using the imperative voice in student writing.
Meeting ID: 971 8320 7506
Password: 691105

In addition, for a full list of Metropolitan Campus Library Workshops and how to access them, see the link: 

https://fdu.libcal.com/calendar/metro/?cid=12451&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=12451,12425,12300,13729&inc=0

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

ESL Conversation Schedule

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 Metropolitan Campus 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

• Julia Wagner, Director, Metro Writing Studio
  Department of Literature, Languages, Writing, and Humanities

Tutors

Graduate Assistants

• Theerdha Pendli
• Bhavya Vishnubhaktula
• Parisha Patel