 Contact WAC
Writing Across The Curriculum
Learning Resource Center (LRC)
American River College
4700 College Oak Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95841
916.484.8802
Email: wac@arc.losrios.edu
The Writing Across the Curriculum Program
The Writing Across the Curriculum Program is designed to help ARC students with any academic writing task. We serve all students, from those who have little or no experience in college writing to those who understand that WAC assistance will help them to get better grades. In addition, students who are not native speakers of English find that WAC assists them not only with their English but with the cultural understanding that clarifies the purpose of written assignments for different classes. We offer both half-hour tutoring appointments and 50-minutes workshops; students can obtain this help by enrolling in English 53 WAC. This class has no assigned work; students bring writing assignments from their own classes.
WAC Mission Statement
The mission of the Writing Across the Curriculum Program is to empower students at American River College to become better, more confident writers. We serve students from all academic disciplines represented on campus at any stage of the writing process, within the context of individual tutorial sessions as well as in our Drop In. We believe that all students, no matter the level of their individual development or experience, deserve the opportunity to become better writers. We define the writing process broadly to include planning and discussion of writing assignments as well as drafting and editing. We believe that our role is not merely to “fix” student writing or to guarantee students a specific grade, but to guide them toward self-improvement, which is a process of growth and development. We believe that the writing process is recursive and that guidance from WAC instructors and writing consultants will help students learn to communicate more effectively in writing. We think that this can be best accomplished collaboratively through the dynamic interplay that goes on during tutorial sessions.
We believe that writing “plays an essential role in cultivating critical and creative thinking, and in fostering responsible citizenship,” thus contributing to the overall educational development of the student as well as to the stated mission of the college.
How can you make your WAC experience successful?
1. Prepare for your tutoring session by bringing your syllabus, your textbook, and any handouts relating to the assignment for which you will be receiving assistance. Be sure that you understand the assignment.
2. Don't wait until you already have something written to come in for an appointment. The writing process often starts much earlier than the moment at which you actually put pen to paper or sit down in front of the computer.
Specifically, WAC can assist students with
Topic Choice
Planning and Prewriting
Research
Drafting
Revising
Assistance with correct English usage
Grammar
Documentation
College or university application essays
What qualifications do the WAC tutors have?
The Writing Across the Curriculum tutors are instructors and instructional assistants from the ARC English Department, all of whom have taught college English. Although the program is staffed by folks from the English Department, we assist students with writing tasks in all subject areas. We have working relationships with many instructors across campus as well as working knowledge of specialized essay formats required in different classes.
WAC Policies
Receiving Credit:
1. In order to receive credit in English 53 WAC, you must attend an orientation, six 30-minute appointmentsm, and one 60-minute workshop. Tutoring in the WAC Drop-In Center may substitute for some of the 30-minute appointments.
2. For each “No Show,” 30 minutes will be deducted from your total for credit.
3. Although it is ultimately your responsibility to drop before the drop deadline if you wish to do so, anyone who has not had an appointment for one month may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor.
Other Important Stuff:
1. All WAC appointments will be held in the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Map.
2. The WAC staff does not merely proofread and correct errors on assignments for students. We can, however, as a part of the tutoring process, help students identify their own errors. And we will, of course, help students with diction and mechanics.
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