UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students at all Penn State campuses looking for help with writing, research and English language support can schedule an appointment or drop in to the Search Bar.
Located in Pattee Library’s Sidewater Commons on the University Park campus, the Search Bar hosts a collaborative learning space for students, by students, to support a wide range of writers. In collaboration with Penn State Learning and the department of Applied Linguistics, the Search Bar student tutors include peer research consultants (PRCs), Writing Center tutors, and graduate consultants from the English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC). These students offer research and writing support to create a peer-to-peer experience available in-person at University Park or virtually for students at all Penn State campuses.
Peer Research Consultation
Peer research consultants help other Penn State students conduct research and use library resources. Students can receive assistance with choosing or narrowing down a topic, writing a research question, finding and evaluating information sources and learning more about navigating the University Libraries’ resources and databases. Students may be referred to the appropriate library subject specialist or service for more advanced assistance.
Peer research consultants collaborate with other tutors from the Search Bar to help support a student’s needs. Tutors have specialization in multiple areas, allowing for quick assistance. Students can schedule an appointment with a peer research consultant on Starfish under “research tutoring” for in-person or virtual appointments.
Monica Gingerich, coordinator for student experience and engagement with University Libraries, said the Search Bar tutors and consultants are trained to provide front-line support to students in any subject.
“Knowing the skills is more important than the specific knowledge,” Gingerich said. “If a student needs more specific help, such as from a subject matter expert, the Search Bar can help them connect to the right people.”
She added that a visit or consultation with the Search Bar can save students time later on.
“Putting that initial time in can give you exponential value,” she said. “It saves you time in the future. These services are available at no additional cost and as I always say, ‘It’s not cheating to ask for help.’”
Peer Writing Tutoring
Undergraduate tutors from the Writing Center @ Penn State Learning are available for conversations about writing to help writers express themselves clearly and meet their writing goals, inside and outside of the classroom. Peer writing tutors work with their colleagues in the Search Bar to help writers through the recursive process of research, writing and revision.
Tabitha Fisher, writing center coordinator for Penn State Learning, spoke about the value of having these resources available in the same space.
“We want writers to see that their research informs how they write about their ideas and vice versa,” Fisher said. “Research, writing and the language you choose when writing are not isolated; they are interrelated and influence each other. We hope these resources can empower writers to make decisions they feel confident in.”
Alyssa Foran, sophomore in the College of Information Sciences and Technology and a peer writing tutor and peer research consultant, said the intersection of research and writing is important.
“Working at the Search Bar has been a great experience,” Foran said. “I think a lot of students believe that research and writing are disconnected, but their intersection is quite important — I think we should consider them simultaneously while we're writing, and not as separate elements to a paper.”
Students can schedule an appointment with a writing tutor on Starfish. Walk-ins are accepted when tutors are available. More information about the Writing Center can be found at pennstatelearning.psu.edu.
EPPIC Individual Consultations (EICs)
EPPIC (English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center) is an academic support center that specializes in working with multilingual and international students on advanced academic writing, speaking, pronunciation, job interview preparation and more. EPPIC’s experienced language specialists offer free individual consultations in the Search Bar to both international undergraduate and graduate students to provide feedback and guidance on written assignments, oral presentations, proposals, thesis writing, interviews, and job applications.
EPPIC also hosts workshops on academic and professional communication, speaking groups (Speak UP), and weekly writing group sessions (Write-A-Thon) in Paterno Library open to all Penn Staters. To learn more and to register for EPPIC's free student services, visit the EPPIC website.