Welcome to the Norman H. Ott Memorial Writing Center
(located in Raynor Library, Room 240)
The writing center offers peer tutoring to all Marquette students, staff, and faculty working on any and all writing projects.
Individual Writing Consultations
The heart of what we do is meet with writers to talk, one-on-one, about writing in progress. You are welcome to bring anything from first year English papers to graduate theses, from history papers to personal statements for law school. No matter where you are in the writing process--even if you just don't know where to start--we can help. We see writers in 30- or 60-minute sessions. Walk-ins are always welcome, but because we get busy, we recommend that you schedule your appointment ahead of time when possible.
Workshops for Writers
The Ott Memorial Writing Center will offer free workshops for writers on a variety of topics. Please click here for a an overview of workshop dates, times, and locations; you can also click the links below to learn more about the workshops (files to be updated soon):
- Grammar & Style: A Review of Grammar and Punctuation; Improving Style; Editing for Clarity and Precision
- Academic Writing for Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Writing In-Class Essay Exams; Intermediate APA; Graduate Student Writing Groups
- Writing Personal Statements and Resumes: Writing Personal Statements; Writing Statements of Teaching Philosophy; Writing Resumes and Cover Letters
- Writing for Fun: Writing for the Internet; Just Write: Creatively
To register for these workshops, please call 288-5542.
Writing Wednesdays: Workshops for Faculty
Have you considered teaching with writing, but aren't quite ready to take the plunge? Do you assign writing and want to talk with others about your ideas and strategies for success? Come to our monthly workshops on writing, open to all faculty, instructional staff, and teaching assistants.
- W February 27th, Decoding the Disciplines (Led by national experts David Pace and Joan Middendorf (2-5pm, Cudahy 401)
- R February 28th, Decoding Emotional Bottlenecks (11am-1pm, Raynor Beaumier Suites B/C)
- W April 10th, Using Peer Review of Writing in Undergraduate Courses (3-4:30, Raynor Beaumier Suite A)
Graduate Student Writing Groups
Do you need to get more writing done but have trouble scheduling blocks of time? Do you find writing lonely and would you prefer to write in the company of other writers? Did you know that in a study conducted by Robert Boice, writers who wrote in regularly scheduled blocks (rather than waiting to feel inspired) produced three times as much text and reported enjoying writing more? Because many writers would benefit from more structure and less solitude as they write, we invite graduate student writers to participate in a new program being offered by the Ott Memorial Writing Center: graduate student writing groups.
TDuring each weekly meeting, a facilitator helps participants to set goals and report on progress; then participants sit and write in companionable silence. Each meeting time has a suggested disciplinary focus, but all writers are entirely welcome to attend any session.
- Mondays, 2-5pm (Social Sciences, Raynor Beaumier Suite D)
- Wednesdays, 9:30am-12:30pm (STEM, Raynor Beaumier Suite D)
- Fridays, 9:30am-12:30pm (Humanities, Raynor Beaumier Suite D)
History
The writing center started in the mid-seventies with a CETA Grant and operated in Coughlin Hall, in the English Department. Still housed in the English Department, we moved first to Monitor Hall. In 2003 we moved to the Raynor Library.
In 1987, the family of Norman H. Ott endowed the writing center, in memory of Norman's great love of poetry, hoping to foster writing of all kinds at Marquette.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming Workshops for Writers and Writing Wednesday Events:
- WRITING WEDNESDAYS (Workshops for Teachers): Using Peer Review of Writing in Your Classes: W April 10th, 3-4:30pm, Raynor A
- Writing Statements of Teaching Philosophy: M April 15th, 11-11:50am
- Writing In-Class Essay Exams: W May 1st, 5-6:30pm, Raynor A
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Tutors to present at Tutors Research: Research Within Writing Centers and Beyond
Learn more about research conducted by tutors in the Ott Memorial Writing Center at the upcoming Milwaukee Area Writing Center Colloquium. Among the staff members talking about their research experiences will be Jackie Adler, Mike Haen, and Maggie Kollar.
Where: UWM campus, Curtin 175
When: W April 17th, 4:30-6:30pm
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Congratulations to members of the Ott Memorial Writing Center staff who presented at the Conference on College Composition and Communication (Las Vegas, March 2013).

Left to right: Undergraduate tutors Maggie Kollar and Jackie Adler with the poster representing their undergraduate research. Not pictured: Writing Center Director Rebecca Nowacek, who presented on "transfer talk" in the writing center.
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Congratulations to members of the Ott Memorial Writing Center staff who presented at the National Conference for Peer Tutoring in Writing (Chicago, Nov. 2012).

Left to right: Rebecca Nowacek, Natalie Campbell, Samantha Martinson, and Michael Haen. Not pictured: Beth Godbee, who also presented in a separate workshop.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, contact:
Rebecca Nowacek, Director
Bryan Gast , Assistant Director