The Reading and Writing Lab offers free tutoring in the areas of reading and writing
to all Cecil College students at all level of abilities. Our tutors are available during
a variety of hours and provide support with reading and writing in any subject. We also
offer support for second language learners, as well as consultation for non-course writing,
including resumes, cover letters, and scholarship applications. Students are encouraged to
make the Reading and Writing Lab part of their writing process.
We offer drop-in and advance appointments, but we recommend the advance appointment option.
To sign up for an in-person appointment, call 410-287-6060 ext 251, or visit us and speak
with the Reading and Writing Lab staff.
You can find us on the third floor of the Arts and Sciences building, in room 342. We have
a library of writing handbooks and reference materials, a rack of helpful writing, research,
and grammar handouts, a few tables for quiet study, a couch and chairs, and 15 computers
and a printer for student use. We've also accumulated a list of beneficial
online resources
covering writing, citations, ESL and study resources, dictionaries, and thesauruses.
Online Writing Lab (OWL)
In addition to the in-person Reading and Writing Lab, we now offer online tutoring through
the Online Writing Lab at http://cecil.askonline.net.
You can log on any time and choose the form of writing assistance that works for you: either chat with an OWL
tutor by appointment or drop-in, or post a question or paper for review and receive a response within 24-48 hours.
Fall 2009 On-Campus Tutoring Schedule
Tutoring will begin on Tuesday, September 8. This fall, on-campus tutoring takes place in the Lab in room 342.
Mondays: 9am-8pm
Tuesdays: 9am-8pm
Wednesdays: 9am-6pm
Thursdays: 9am-8pm
Fridays: 9am-2pm
Saturdays: 11am-2pm
Sundays: 12noon-3pm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Reading and Writing Lab?
The Reading and Writing Lab offers free tutoring in the areas of reading and writing
to all Cecil College students. Tutors are available during a variety of hours, and
students may ask for support with reading and writing in any subject.
Help is also available online 24/7 through the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at cecil.askonline.net.
How can the Reading and Writing Lab benefit me? I've been reading and writing my entire life.
Even the best writers in the world need - and eagerly seek out - regular feedback on
their writing. They do this because feedback helps them communicate more clearly and
effectively. From the Reading and Writing Lab, you'll receive thoughtful feedback that
can help you grow as a reader, writer, and thinker …in effect, a more enlightened and
thoughtful member of our world. This often results in improved academic performance and
a more fulfilling college experience.
How do I sign up for tutoring?
We offer drop-in and advance appointments, but we recommend the advance appointments since they are given priority.
To sign up for an appointment (or two or three!), call 410-287-6060 ext 425. You may also sign up in person by
visiting the lab and speaking with the tutor on duty.
How many appointments will I need?
If you're working on a writing assignment, you should plan several visits.
What do I need to have with me?
Whether coming to the Lab in person or visiting online, remember to have a copy of your
assignment and textbook available. If you're working on a research paper, it is also
helpful to have all of your research materials.
What can the tutors help with?
Just about anything in the fields of reading and writing. Our goal is to help each student understand
the connection between reading and writing and then use that connection to develop and improve her/his
own writing process. This can mean that you visit the Lab tutors to:
- improve critical reading and thinking skills
- better understand the assignment at hand
- receive assistance with second-language learning challenges
- advance your prewriting activities, including brainstorming, clustering, outlining, and/or free
writing to discover ideas that fulfill the assignment.
- receive feedback on a rough draft of your paper, including the scope of your thesis,
development of your argument, and overall organization
- expand your understanding of the value of research to support your claims
- develop citation skills in MLA, APA, and Chicago style
Can I get help with grammar and punctuation? My instructor says I tend to use comma splices,
but I don't understand what they are or how to fix them.
We're happy to help. We can tell you about the error you're making, why you're making it, and how to
develop strategies to recognize and correct your error.
I really need to get an 'A' on my essay; will you proofread the paper for me?
Proofreading is a skill that we're happy to help you develop, but we aren't able to
do the proofreading for you. Likewise, it is your hard work that will earn an 'A' on
a paper. Using the Lab may help you toward that goal, but it isn't our mission to create
'A' papers. Instead, we aim to help you become a better writer, thinker, and student.
I'm an instructor and I want my students to receive tutoring to improve their papers.
How can I make sure that students attend tutoring?
Because tutoring is most effective when a student makes the choice to engage in the learning
process, we strongly discourage mandatory conferences. However, we do have resources available
that will heighten your students' awareness of the Lab's services. For example, a tutor can
come to your classroom and provide a brief orientation to the Lab's in person and/or online
options; we also encourage class visits to the Lab itself so that students begin to feel
comfortable in the space. Feel free to get in touch with the Lab Coordinators to discuss
these and other options that might work for you and your students.
Where is the Lab located? What other services do you offer?
You can find us on the third floor of the Arts and Sciences building, at the end of corridor 360.
We have a library of writing handbooks and reference materials, a rack of helpful writing, research,
and grammar handouts, a few tables for quiet study, a couch and chairs, and 15 computers and a printer
for student use.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
REAL STUDENTS. REAL SUCCESS.
