What we do

The Naval Academy's Writing Center was established to foster the writing development of midshipmen, and we provide assistance with any sort of writing, from essays assigned by course instructors to creative writing.  Some of the many tasks we can help you with include:

The Writing Process

• Getting started
• Choosing a topic
• Generating a thesis statement
• Organizing an argument
• Using effective transitions
• Editing and revising
• Preparing introductions and conclusions

Writing Research Papers

• Citations
• Bibliography
• Style books

Improving Basic Writing Skills

• Complete sentences
• Verb tenses
• Punctuation
• Agreement
• Paragraph structure

Writing for Special Audiences

• Preparing for essay exams
• Writing about literature
• Preparing lab reports, abstracts, and summaries
• Organizing resumes
• Composing letters or applications
• Writing in a military context

What to expect in a Tutoring Session

The Writing Center staff are English professors, military instructors, and trained midshipman volunteers who will work with you in a one-on-one tutoring session.  These sessions usually last fifty minutes (one period), although they may be shorter.  Each session will focus on your concerns.  We can help generate ideas, address large questions of organization and structure, and assist with more specific issues of syntax and grammar.  We won't write your paper for you, but we will walk through the assignment with you, offering suggestions for development and improvement.

More than Writing Help

In addition to offering tutorials, we have a variety of materials and resources available for your use:

• Computer/printing workstations
• Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and snacks
• Reference books
• Writing handbooks
• Literary works and anthologies

Group Lectures and Workshops

We offer other instructional services other than regular Writing Center appointments.  If you teach, are taking a course that involves writing, or have an interest in one of the following, please call to inquire:

• Classroom lectures on writing skills
• Workshops on creating and grading writing assignments
• Small group writing workshops