We're dedicated to helping you become a stronger, more confident writer. We focus on academic writing for courses and career-related documents. In addition to assisting you with your writing project, we'll help identify what you do well and what you should focus on in the future. We also offer workshops and presentations on writing topics.
Topics we address include:
- Understanding assignment prompts
- Brainstorming and research strategies
- Documentation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
- Thesis development and argumentation
- Organization
- Grammar and punctuation
- Quote integration
- Clarity and coherence
Projects we can help you with include:
- Academic essays
- Personal statements, resumes and cover letters
- ELL practice
- Test preparation (GRE, GMAT, CLEP, etc.)
- Websites and electronic portfolios
- Personal and creative writing
- Capstones, dissertations and theses
- Conference papers
- Speeches and presentations
Work with a Writing Coach
Our writing coaches are NIU undergraduate and graduate students. They're pursuing degrees in a wide range of subjects and understand the nuances of discipline-specific writing. They receive training before they meet with writers. Learn about becoming a writing coach.
Drop-in Face-to-Face Sessions
We offer drop-in face-to-face sessions Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Founders Memorial Library 152. We're closed on university holidays.
Virtual Sessions
We offer virtual sessions through our Tutor Matching Service (TMS) schedule system. See the individual tutors for their virtual availability. Use your NIU Z- or A-ID email and filter the school to Northern Illinois University to create an account and schedule appointments.
Find a Tutor
Get Help from a Librarian
In addition to master’s degrees in library science, the faculty librarians at University Libraries have additional advanced degrees and experience in other disciplines. Among the many things they can help you with are:
- Refining your topic
- Selecting appropriate resources to consult
- Building effective search strategies in database resources
- Evaluating the results of your searches
- Determining how best to incorporate them into your research projects
The subject specialist librarians assist undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff. They're available in person when University Libraries is open, by chat or text during business hours via chat on the library's website, or by appointment over the phone, Teams or another format.
Find your subject specialist librarian Get live research help