Writing and Communication Skills Tutoring

Utilize these excellent resources provided by IUP's Writing Center to enhance your Writing and Communication Skills. In addition to the helpful links below, there are Soft Skill Tutors available online and in person.

Cybersecurity Writing Tutor Training

The specialized STEM-related cybersecurity writing tutors are trained to work online, analyze computer science assignments, understand its technical language, and assess student learning. Videos, pre/post tests, and handouts are all utilized during and after tutoring sessions to provide additional learning. Tutors have helped students in a range of topics from organizing papers to documenting sources.Six tutors with STEM-related backgrounds learned the technical aspects of communicating in cybersecurity fields. Tutors completed 13 training hours in which they were trained to work online with students, to analyze assignments, to understand the technical language of the field, and to assess student learning. Also, tutors created resources to help students during and after tutoring sessions. Tutors made videos, pre-tests and post-tests, and handouts. Finally, tutors helped students with an array of topics. Topics included understanding the assignment, brainstorming ideas, choosing a topic, researching a topic, outlining, writing a thesis and main idea, developing ideas, using examples and details, incorporating research, introductions and conclusions, organization, transitions and flow, voice and style, word and sentence errors, punctuation, documenting sources, formatting the document, and next steps for the writer. To see more from the Kathleen Jones White Writing Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, visit www.iup.edu/writingcenter.

Resources

Help Sheets

1. Citing sources using MLA style
2. Citing sources using APA style
3. Sample paper in APA style
4. Using formal vs. informal language
5. Writing balanced sentences
6. Correcting for subject-verb agreement
7. Proofreading your writing
8. Writing for your audience
9. Avoiding Plagiarism
10. Correcting Fragments, Run-Ons, and Comma Splices
11. Writing effective introductions
12. Using inclusive language
13. Revising passive voice
14. Planning a Problem-Solution Essay
15. Writing thesis statements
16. Using transitional words and phrases
17. Understanding Grammarly
18. Grammarly flaws
19. Tone in Emails
20. Conveying Technical Information in Email
21. Identifying Technical Language
22. Email Etiquette
23. Email for cybersecurity
24. Parts of an Abstract
25. Anatomy of an Abstract
26. Responding to Writing
27. Anatomy of a Memo
28. Making strong recommendations

Audio Presentations and Powerpoints

1. Introduction to using the writing center
2. APAStyle
3. MLA Style
4. Communicating With Professors
5. Writing Professional Memos and Emails
6. Tone in Emails
7. Email Etiquette
8. Abstracts in Context
9. Responding to Writing
10. Memos in the Workplace
11. Writing recommendation reports that work
12. Proofreading
13. Rhetorical Situation
14. Understanding the assignment

Meet with a Tutor

• Meet with a tutor online
• See a tutor in person
• Tutoring is also offered at the Computer Science Department (112C Stright Hall). Download the flyer with details and hours for the spring of 2018 semester.

Feb. 17 Cybersecurity Workshop Materials

1. Workshop Plan
2. Activity Wildcards

Writing Skills Self-Assessments

1. Paragraph Organization
2. Sentence Structure
3. APA Style Quiz

Writing Assignments in Computer Science

1. Network Security Project