Writing Center
Questions? Contact Us.
Writing Center
Dodie Forrest
Yakima Writing Center Director
DForrest@yvcc.edu
Jeff Gerhardstein
Grandview Writing Center Director
JGerhardstein@yvcc.edu
Yakima Writing Center
Glenn Anthon, Building #4
Rooms 125B and 177
509-574-4829
Grandview Writing Center
Grandview Main, Building #56
Room L101
509-882-7055
Writing Center
The Writing Center will be closed from 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 12/11, until Monday, 1/6, for winter break.
The Writing Center — on the Yakima and Grandview campuses — is a resource for YVC students and faculty. Our primary purpose is to guide students to become better writers in a college setting.
The mission of YVC’s two Writing Centers is to provide writing support to student writers at all levels of experience and writing skills across the curriculum.
We believe that learning to write well means sharing your writing with others. That’s why the Yakima and Grandview Writing Centers exist—to help you become a better writer by spending time with you on your writing projects. Because we support your thinking and writing, we will not write your papers for you, correct errors, or polish sentences. Instead, we listen to your writing concerns, show you ways to get started, ask questions, offer suggestions and encouragement, and in general help you pay attention to your thoughts as they develop on the page.
- Help you decipher your assignment and start brainstorming ideas
- Listen to your ideas and help you start writing
- Check the focus of your paper to see if it matches the assignment criteria
- Show you ways to organize and develop your ideas
- Offer suggestions and encouragement during revisions
- Help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your paper
- Help throughout the entire writing process, from brainstorming to drafting and final drafts
- Welcome writers from all backgrounds and of all skill levels
- Read, listen, and talk with you about your work in all stages of the writing process from gathering ideas, to drafting, revising, and editing
- Discuss writing strategies
- Answer questions about spelling, punctuation, and grammar
- Show you how to proofread and correct errors
- Respect your decisions about what to change in your writing projects
- Edit your paper for you
- Discuss grades or suggest a grade for a piece of writing
- Correct your papers or do the writing for you
- Take ownership of your paper (you are the writer and ultimately in control of your paper’s outcome)
- Pretend to be the experts of your writing—that is your role
- Pretend to be experts in biology, history, psychology, nursing, nutrition, and so on—that is your instructor’s role
Modes of Writing Assistance
Writing Center Hours
- Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: CLOSED
- Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Writing Center 101
Handouts & Helpful Videos
The Writing Center YouTube Channel contains many helpful videos on MLA, APA, and punctuation.
- Argument Research Analysis Literature Papers
- Common Irregular English Verbs
- Commonly Confused Words
- Lab Reports Scientific Papers
- Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences
- Writing Transitions
- What is a Sentence?
- Revising Your Paper
- Punctuation Patterns
- Transitional Devices
- Fixing Sentence Fragments
- Accessible Checklist for Résumés
- Stages of the Writing Process
- Thesis Statement
- Sunburst Organizer
- Paragraphs
English 085 & 185 Information
English 085, Writing Workshop (1 – 2 credits)
Whether you are taking other English courses or not, you can sharpen your writing and thinking skills in this class. The course guides students through writing assignments (either those from other classes, or ones that we provide to you) and other related work from any or all of your classes.
In the workshop you will get individual assistance from consultants at the center who will coach you in the process of writing, from start to finish. Consultants will show you strategies for gathering ideas, drafting, organizing, and revising your work, as well as how to view grammar “errors” as opportunities to learn.
The workshop also offers guidance in critical reading strategies and provides a place where students can ask questions about academic language and expectations.
You can register for one or two credits. Meeting times are arranged between you and the Center. English 085 is graded on an S/F basis and can be repeated as many times as you like.
English 185, Writing Consultant (1 – 3 credits)
If you enjoy writing or you are anticipating a career as a teacher or writer, or both, then this course offers you a chance to share your knowledge about writing with your peers.
In the Writing Consultant course, you will learn how to conduct successful consultations, offer feedback, and determine the effectiveness of tutoring strategies. Writing Consultants in English 185 meet individually with student writers from all disciplines.
You can register for one to three credits. Hours are arranged.
Prerequisite: a minimum grade of B+ in English 101 and permission of the Writing Center’s director.
The Writing Center Staff
| Name | Job Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Dodie Forrest | Writing Center Director - Yakima Campus | DForrest@yvcc.edu |
| Jeff Gerhardstein | Writing Center Director - Grandview Campus | JGerhardstein@yvcc.edu |
| Joshua Swayne | Writing Center Coordinator - Yakima Campus | JSwayne@yvcc.edu |
| Johnny Roger Schofield | Writing Center Coordinator - Yakima Campus | JSchofield@yvcc.edu |
| Jordan LaMay | Writing Center Coordinator - Grandview Campus | JLaMay@yvcc.edu |
| Peer Consultants |
|---|
| Taylor Hershberger - Yakima |
| Morgan McCann - Yakima |
| Courtney Kryger - Yakima |
| Alissa Machado - Yakima |
| Rilla Roberts - Grandview |
| Karla Alvarez Gonzalez - Grandview |
| Claire Reid - Grandview |