For Students

This page provides resources and handouts for student writers, as well as information detailing our tutors’ specialities and a guide on using Penji.


Rhetorical Analysis of a Writing Assignment
This chart will help you develop your rhetorical understanding of your writing assignment. Who are you writing for? How will you build trust? What are the genre requirements? Use this chart to guide you!

Crafting a “Working” Thesis Statement

This handout will help you get started on a thesis statement to guide your research and writing. Don’t let thesis writing scare you and don’t skip this part of the process! Thesis statements are a great way to help you stay grounded and focused, though they also can (and likely will!) change throughout the process.

POP: Provisional Outlining with Post-Its
This tactile activity will lead you through generating and organizing your ideas. Use post-it notes to experiment with different organizational styles before you begin writing!


The Student Writing & Language Center (as well as the Student Academic Support Center) use the app Penji for all tutoring visits. The PDF below provides step-by-step information and screenshots to demonstrate using Penji.