SDSU Writing Center

Welcome to the Writing Center, a free service for SDSU students and faculty.

Anti-Racism Statement

In light of recent events and protests happening nationally and globally, the Writing Center affirms our support of the Black Lives Matters movement and social justice movements in general that seek to create more equitable and inclusive conditions in society. The Writing Center recognizes that racism is as pernicious as it is abhorrent, and we stand in solidarity with those who protest against and seek to overturn its effects. In striving toward a truly equitable future for all, we are committed to combating racism at every juncture. Read our full statement.

The SDSU Writing Center supports students by providing the following:

One-to-one sessions with tutors to discuss any type of academic writing
Workshops to familiarize students with different aspects of writing
Classroom presentations to explain how students can best make use of the Writing Center
Reference materials about academic writing
Advice from SDSU Writing Tutors

The Center also supports faculty through the following:

Consultation regarding designing writing assignments to help students achieve course learning outcomes
Professional development workshops for faculty and graduate teaching assistants

Advice from SDSU Writing Tutors

Writing Center tutors are also SDSU students who have a lot of writing experience to share.

Advice for First-Year Writing Students

GO TO CLASS

This is probably the most important thing you can do in terms of helping yourself with any class. In class, you can ask questions, which is often better than emailing your professor later in the day to ask something reviewed that morning. You also have direct access to your peers who can collaborate with you to break down harder materials, assignments, or to form a study and support group.

The Break Down for a Scientific Paper

Oftentimes students will come to the Writing Center needing to write their own scientific research paper or needing to synthesize/summarize information from already written papers and don’t quite know where to look or start. This will provide brief explanations of the contents and purpose of each section of a scientific paper, which will hopefully help you understand how to quickly break down a research paper to find the specific information you are looking for.

How to Write a Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph is typically the shortest part of the essay, yet it often leaves students scratching their heads and wondering what to write. I’ve noticed that students who come into the Writing Center often ask for help with their conclusions and seem to be unclear regarding what should be included. There isn’t an exact formula for ending your paper, but here are some basic tips that you can keep in mind.

Writing a Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is important because not only does it make you stand out from other job candidates, but it allows you to write professionally about why you are a good fit for a specific organization. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression on how your educational background, experiences, skills, and goals align with the prospective company.

How to Write a Resume

Writing a resume can seem like a daunting task to many people. Some students worry that they won’t have enough experience to include, while others have so much they struggle to fit them on one page. Even more students are unsure what to include in the first place. While there isn’t one absolute template for building a resume, here are some tips that students can keep in mind.