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Announcements

The Writing Lab will close on Friday, December 6 at 1:50 p.m. for the fall semester. We will not be open Finals Week. 

We will reopen Monday, January 13 at 9 a.m. for spring semester. Good luck with finals, everyone!

Welcome to the Writing Lab!

We are excited to work with you this semester to help you with your academic, personal, and/or professional writing. The Writing Lab is staffed by English professors who want to help you succeed with all of your writing projects. Check out the video below to hear what we do to help students. 

https://youtu.be/CxZIxmrzXXc

Here are just some of the ways we can help you:

Free One-on-One Writing Help
The Writing Lab is a drop-in service, so there is no need to make an appointment. Sessions typically last 15-20 minutes depending upon faculty availability. For more information on a typical in-person session, click on the Typical Writing Lab Session tab above.

Free Handouts, PowerPoint Presentations, and Videos
The Writing Lab offers all kinds of handouts, PowerPoint presentations, and videos on all kinds of writing topics. To access our materials, click here. 

Free School Supplies
The Writing Lab sponsors the School Supplies Pantry where Parkland staff and faculty have donated new or gently-used school supplies such as notebooks, loose leaf paper, folders, index cards, sticky notes, binders, pens, pencils, and highlighters. Just stop by and take what you need. We do ask you be mindful of others and only take what you immediately need. You can always come back for more later. 

Online Writing Assistance through Pear Deck Tutoring

The Writing Lab does not offer online writing assistance directly; we are a physical drop-in service. However, Parkland College does offer online writing assistance through a service called Pear Deck Tutoring. With Pear Deck Tutoring, you can either engage in a live session with a tutor or you can drop off a document and get feedback within 12 hours. Click here to watch a brief video about how Pear Deck Tutoring Works. For more information about Pear Deck Tutoring, please look under the Writing Lab Hours to the right.

Writing Lab Hours

The Writing Lab will close on Friday, December 6 at 1:50 p.m. for the fall semester. We will not be open Finals Week. 

We will reopen Monday, January 13 at 9 a.m. for spring semester. Good luck with finals, everyone!

Writing Lab Hours for Fall 2024

The Writing Lab is open for in-person assistance as follows:

  • Mondays - Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
  • Fridays: 9 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. 

Online Writing Assistance

The Writing Lab does not offer online writing assistance directly; we are a physical drop-in service.

However, Parkland College does offer online writing assistance through a service called Pear Deck Tutoring. With Pear Deck Tutoring, you can either engage in a live session with a tutor or you can drop off a document and get feedback within 12 hours. Click here to watch a brief video about how Pear Deck Tutoring Works.

To request online assistance from Pear Deck Tutoring, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Cobra homepage and log into your account. You have to be logged into your Cobra account to use this service.
     
  2. Click on the Tutoring link on the top right of the page.
     
  3. Scroll down to where it says Pear Deck Tutor on the left side of the page.
     
  4. Click on the Click here to connect to Pear Deck Tutoring - Instant Online Tutoring.
     
  5. Decide which kind of service you want: live tutoring vs. having someone review your writing within 12 hours. 
     
  6. Select the big yellow Get Tutoring Help button and follow online instructions.

Parkland College Library
2400 West Bradley Avenue
Champaign, IL 61821

217/373-3839
Fax: 217/351-2581