How to Enroll

1. If you are enrolled in English 100, 100+101, 110, 120, 135, 140, 165, or ESL 400, you have free access to the Writing Center and do not have to register for English 850 or ESL 850. If you are not enrolled in these courses, you can use the resources in the Writing Center by enrolling in English 850 or ESL 850.

2. If you have not already registered for English 850 or ESL 850, come to Room 18-104 and ask the aide for an add slip and an authorization code. Then register for the class. Because English 850 and ESL 850 are open entry classes, you may add them any time during the semester.

3. Go to the bookstore and purchase a special manila folder in the textbook section under English 850 or ESL 850. All students, even those who have taken English 850 or ESL 850 previously, must purchase this folder. Bring your folder to 18-104 where it will be kept throughout the semester. It contains class record forms that you will fill out. You will receive English 850 or ESL 850 credit for the time you spend in 18-104 filling out the forms. Each time you come to the center, you must also retrieve your folder from the file cabinet and place it on your desk.

4. Bring the folder and your proof of registration to the Writing Center, Room 18-104. (If you register on WebSMART, please bring a printout of your WebSMARTschedule.)

5. You will be asked to fill out a Writing Center Record form and sign the Writing Center Policy and give them to the instructional aide at the front desk. At this time, you will be given a topic on which you will write an appropriate diagnostic sample to help your instructor evaluate your needs. This is a mandatory requirement. Allow about an hour for this.

Making an Appointment

1. Whenever you use the facility, you must check in and out using the Attendance Computer in 18-104. You will not receive credit for your time unless you follow these procedures.

2. It does not matter to which instructor's section you were assigned at registration. You may make an appointment with any instructor who is available at a time convenient for you. It is to your benefit to keep a regular time to attend the Writing Center and to establish continuity with a single instructor through the semester. You will find the appointment schedule posted on the bulletin board near the front desk. Near the posted schedules are reminder slips that you may use to make notes of the day and time of your appointments.

PLEASE KEEP ALL APPOINTMENTS, OR CALL TO CANCEL AS FAR IN ADVANCE OF YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT AS POSSIBLE. CALL THE WRITING CENTER NUMBER AT:

(650) 574-6436

and tell the aide your name, the time and day of your appointment and the instructor with whom you are scheduled to meet. Leave a message if there is no one to answer your call.

If you fail to cancel a scheduled appointment, you will be counted as a "No Show" for that time. The "No Show Penalty List" will be posted on the bulletin board next to the schedules. If you miss two appointments and have not called to cancel, you will lose the right to make another appointment.

3. At your first appointment, you will discuss a contract with your instructor. This will include yoru own view of your needs and goals for taking English 850 or ESL 850 as well as the instructor's analysis of your entry sample. You may alter your contract or change the emphasis at any time.

4. The records for your appointments are kept on your student folder and initialed by the instructor. You should also record the dates that you work in the Writing Center in the spaces provided on the folder. We ask that you log on to the attendance computer each time to work in Room 18-104 whether you are here to keep an appointment or to work on your assignments..

5. Your English 850 or ESL 850 folder should always be kept in the filing cabinet at the Writing Center, as well as copies of all your assignments from this class. At the end of the semester we ask that you leave your entry sample, your exit sample and your student-instructor agreement. You may take any other work with you if you wish.

6. At the end of the semester you will write an exit paragraph before your last appointment with an instructor. At this time, you will discuss your progress during the semester. Like the entry sample, the exit paragraph is required in order to receive credit for the course.

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The Writing Center
Building 18-104
(650) 574-6436

The English 800 Lab
Building 18-102
(650) 574-6539