Frequently Asked Questions
NuWrite FAQs
Can I link NuWrite to our department’s home page or my Blackboard site?
Why am I unable to get into some NuWrite communities?
Can I access resources that are in private communities?
How can I learn what groups on NuWrite are posting material that might be helpful to me, my students, my instructors?
One way to find material on NuWrite is to look in a field that might offer that kind of writing advice, such as Social Science Writing or Writing in Psychology. Another way is to enter a term in the search box, such as “sample proposals,” “research papers,” or “lab reports.” [to top]
Can I link NuWrite to our department’s home page or my Blackboard site?
Yes, you can make a link on your department’s home page or in your Blackboard site by simply adding an external link and pasting in the URL of the main site or the community home page that interests you. If you prefer to have an icon that looks like the name in the NuWrite banner, contact Brian Nielsen (b-nielsen@northwestern.edu) in Academic and Research Technologies (A&RT) to get the art work. [to top]
In a Blackboard site, you may want students to navigate to a community home page or to specific resources. Any of these can be added as external links. However, you need to notify Brian Nielsen in A&RT about the course in which you are creating the link(s) so that he can make sure that your students will have the correct privileges to access the link(s). [to top]
How do I start a user group?
If you would like to start a NuWrite community, contact Penny Hirsch (phirsch@northwestern.edu) to discuss your idea. [to top]
Why am I unable to get into some NuWrite communities?
Most resources on NuWrite are available to the public, but some are intended to be shared with specific user groups, such as faculty teaching writing in a specific field or course or students enrolled in a specific workshop series, major, or minor. That is why we use Northwestern’s “passport” system to restrict access. "Public" items (in blue) in these private areas may be available to anyone and can be found through the search box.
Faculty can access more areas of NuWrite than students can. If you are a graduate student teaching assistant, you may need special permission to access a faculty area. Contact the NuWrite administrators to be added to a group.
Can I access resources that are in private communities?
Some resources in restricted communities are still available to everyone. If you cannot access a specific community for a type of resource, try looking for it in the search box. [to top]
I am an international student; does NuWrite have any resources that can help me with writing in English?
Yes. Much of the general advice about writing should be helpful to you, such as information on avoiding plagiarism or style advice for writing in the sciences or social sciences. In addition, NuWrite posts information for non-native speakers. Use the search box, entering terms such as “non-native” or “ESL” to find material.[to top]
I am a TA, responsible for grading some of the written work in a course, and I have not been trained in writing. Does NuWrite have material that can help me grade papers efficiently?
Yes, NuWrite has a number of resources to help TAs and faculty with grading, but some of it appears in restricted areas. Contact Penny Hirsch (phirsch@northwestern.edu) to discuss the material you would like to find, and she will be able to help you gain access to it. [to top]
