English 850: About the Course
What is English 850?English 850 is a course that allows you to make regular one-on-one appointments with an English instructor who will help you with your writing. After you enroll in the course, you will be asked to choose a Writing Center instructor who is available during the hours that you can come. Your instructor will give you assignments throughout the semester to address your specific needs. For this course, you should plan on meeting with the same instructor for each of your conferences.
Do I need to enroll in English 850 to use the Writing Center?
If you are enrolled in English 100, 105, 110, or 165, you have free access to the Writing Center and do not have to register for English 850.
How do I enroll?
1. To register for English 850, add the course on WebSMART or go to the Admissions Office.
2. If you are unable to register through WebSMART for English 850, come to the Writing Center (Room 18-104) and ask the instructional aide to help you register for the class. Because English 850 is an open-entry class, you may add it any time during the semester.
3. Attend an Orientation session at the Writing Center. Check your CSM email or call the Center for dates and times.
4. Speak with one of the instructional aides in the Writing Center. He or she will show you how to sign up for your first conference and will make sure that you have a folder that we will keep in the center. In addition to the folder, you will have an Online Reporting Form. This is a Google doc that will have a record of your plan for the course, and a sign-off for each conference that you have with instructors in the center.
5. Prepare an Entry Writing Sample before your first conference so that an instructor can evaluate your needs. Keep this sample in your folder permanently.
6. Every time you come in to work in the Writing Center, remember to sign in and sign out using the touchscreen computer at the front desk. This records the hours that you complete for the course. Over the semester, check that you are meeting the required hours.
7. Before your last conference with an instructor, you must prepare an Exit Writing Sample. At the last conference, you and your instructor will discuss your progress during the semester. The instructor can then sign the “Last Conference” section on the Online Reporting Form.
