by Madeline Colley ’24
We’re knee-deep into the Fall 2024 semester, and if you’re like me, you’ve already been assigned an essay (and a report, and yeah…you’ve still got to read those chapters). You’re busy. You’re swamped. But one thing you aren’t is alone. Cochise College offers all students FREE tutoring at the Douglas and Sierra Vista campuses.
The Writing Lab is a sometimes-forgotten gem inside the Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC). While the name “Writing Lab” might give you clues about what they do, you might be surprised. Senior Tutor Carissa Ochs sat down with me and told me more about the resources they offer students.
So, What can you help with?
Carissa: “Anything. Whether it’s help with an English paper or a lab report for your science class, we have tutors who can help you outline, draft, or even revise.”
The Writing Lab resources aren’t limited to just coursework.
Carissa: “We can also help with resume writing or even scholarship applications. And, although there is the helpdesk for technology-related concerns, we can often help resolve issues with your Moodle, Textbooks, or whatever you have.”
There are a number of ways to get help from a writing tutor.
Carissa: “You can meet with a tutor in person at either the Douglas Campus or Sierra Vista Campus. We take appointments and walk-ins.”
If you can’t come in person, there are options.
Carissa: “You can either arrange an appointment through Zoom, or we have a Dropbox option. You can submit your paper; a tutor will review it in about 48 business hours.”
What’s something you wish students knew about the writing lab?
Carissa: “Honestly, just that we exist. Before I worked here as a tutor, I didn’t know about the Writing Lab until a peer mentioned it in a class. Even though I’m now a student at the University of Arizona, I still get my papers checked by the tutors here. It’s a great resource.”
Don’t just take our word for it. Ask your teacher about the writing lab, too.
Carissa: “We have quite a few teachers who will bring classes to tour the tutoring center, so they know where it is and what we offer. Even teachers who don’t bring their classes in often direct students to us.”
What if I feel weird about asking for help?
in short, you shouldn’t.
Carissa: “There really isn’t any need to fear tutoring. Any student can benefit from a tutor’s help, even if it’s just for a fresh set of eyes. In fact, we have a saying here. ‘The most successful students aren’t the best students, they aren’t the smartest students, they aren’t the most talented students. The most successful students are the ones who know what resources they have and how to use them.”
What’s one fun fact about the writing lab?
Carissa: “My tech kid is probably going to come out on this, but something I think is cool is that on several of our computers, we actually have mirrored screens. This means that when you come to work with a tutor, you won’t be crammed into one computer. You can have one screen, and the tutor will have another.”
Tutoring On Your Time
So, your paper is due at midnight, and you’ve just finished drafting at ten. Don’t panic. Tutoring and peer revision services are available outside the Writing Lab’s typical hours for any of your registered classes! Navigate to your course in Moodle and hit “tutor.com” to receive 24/7 help. You’ve got this!
For more information visit www.cochise.edu/tutoring.
Madeline Colley is a student content creator for the Marketing, Communications and Advancement office at Cochise College. Her major is English, and she will graduate in December 2024.