The Writing and Communication Center has several services for MIT faculty members, including various types of class visits, consultations for your own professional writing, and advice on adding a writing component to your class.
Class Visits
You can request a class visit by a member of the Center’s staff for several purposes:
- To explain the services and functions of the Writing and Communication Center to your students (a 5-15 minute presentation)
- To lecture on an aspect of the writing process (as short as 10 minutes or as long as 60 minutes, depending upon your class’s needs)
- To lecture on some particular form of writing that your class will do (10-60 minutes, depending upon your class’s needs)
- To talk about writing an undergraduate or graduate thesis (30-60 minutes, depending upon your class’s needs)
- To lecture on some other topic not mentioned above — we’re open to suggestions.
Oral Presentation Instruction
With significant advanced warning, the Center will set up a brief series of mini-classes on oral presentations for your students. These sessions will take place from noon-1:00 p.m. (or at some other agreed upon time). They will feature a lecture on oral presentation by the Center’s director plus several sessions in which students may practice their oral presentation and receive feedback before making an oral presentation to your whole class.
Private Consultations for Your Own Writing
Since it began in 1982, the Writing and Communication Center has worked with faculty and staff members who are engaged in their own writing projects. You may work with any of the Center’s professional Writing Consultants (simply go to our website, click on “Make An Appointment” and follow the directions to schedule an appointment) or, if you prefer, you may schedule a meeting with the Center’s Director, Elena Kallestinova, by e-mailing her at ek007@mit.edu and putting “Appointment” in the Subject line.
Other Writing Center Services for Faculty
You may also register your course with the Center or obtain advice about how to add a writing component to your class. This site also offers advice on creating effective writing assignments, adding oral presentation components to your courses and writing letters of recommendation. In addition, there is information about teaching ESL students.
To discuss these or other services that the Writing and Communication Center can offer you and your classes, please contact the Writing Center’s director (Elena Kallestinova) by sending an e-mail to ek007@mit.edu.