University Writing Centers

 Searching the term "writing centers" gave me a multitude of different results, those which differed depending on the search engine in that Google produced results tied to my location while Microsoft Edge seemed to produce results based on the prominence of the universities. From the results provided, I chose to investigate Trinity College, Harvard, and Old Dominion University, each of their websites being noticeably different from the other and each possessing distinct strengths and weaknesses. Trinity College had the most aesthetically pleasing website, making the best use of colors and pictures to help students navigate the page. The site also performed the best in connecting to its history, as the other two provided no information about their center's origins. Harvard is the only website that doesn't explicitly define its mission or goal in a designated page or dropdown bar. I think that the areas in which the websites excel or need improvement in are testaments to each university's respective priorities when operating the website. Trinity and Old Dominion both have relatively simple websites, with emphasis on color scheme and the incorporation of pictures depicting interactions between students and writing staff, as though their primary intent is to create a welcoming atmosphere. The intent is also made evident in their wording, which stresses inclusivity and the idea that any student involved in any part of the writing process has a place at the center. Harvard, on the other hand, takes a much more practical approach which stresses not just the importance of going to the center but also the use of the vast amount of alternative resources the website provides. I think that this a clear example of knowing one's audience, which in this case is comprised of students who are already some of the top scholars in the nation and would thus likely need little encouragement to seek improvement in their writing.