Writers’ Corner Affords Cozy Atmosphere for Student Success

The Writers’ Corner, an arm of the English Department, is aptly tucked into the southeast corner of historic Ordway Hall. Trained tutors are standing by to render free individual assistance to students grappling with virtually any of the numerous writing assignments inherent to the collegiate landscape.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays.

You don’t make an appointment to visit the Writers’ Corner; you just drop in, and a record 1,774 tutoring sessions resulted from drop-ins during the 2015 fall semester. Yet with more than 900 sessions already recorded at this semester’s midpoint, the record is likely to fall.

Moreover, while no less than 85 percent of students served by the Writers’ Corner have gone on to pass the courses for which they sought writing assistance, the success rate for the most recent semesters has consistently eclipsed 90 percent.

“We’re here to help any Amarillo College students with any type of writing assignments they might be working on, whether it’s in English, history, nursing or whatever,” said Joshuah O’Brien, coordinator of the Writers’ Corner.

“Our purpose is not necessarily to help them polish one essay, but to help them become better writers whenever they write, and I think they not only get that, but many become excited by the possibilities it presents,” O’Brien said. “For some, writing assignments can be tedious, frustrating or scary. But when they come in and experience our cozy atmosphere and sit down with one of our smart and friendly tutors, they quickly relax.”

With its coffeehouse motif — alluring furniture, lamps and art spice up the space — this AC Success Zone is also a comfort zone, and there really is fresh coffee on hand.

“The majority of students who come to the Writers’ Corner do so because they lack confidence in their abilities,” said Frank Sobey, dean of arts and sciences and English Department chair. “We want to instill in them the concepts of writing, certainly, but we also strive to help improve their levels of confidence.

“It’s a combination that translates into improved critical thinking, something that will benefit them not only in the classes they are working on at present, but throughout a lifetime of learning.”