FAQs for Students

When should I go to the writing center, and what can you help me with? 

You’re welcome to have a writing center session whenever you feel like you need help. Since we are writers helping writers, we know how important is to use resources like this one! 

We’re here to support whatever writing you’re doing. While most writers request help with academic writing, we also support creative and professional writing, long- or short-form. 

Our trained tutors can give feedback on larger parts of your writing like thesis, organization, and evidence; middle-of-the-road concerns like tone and paragraph structure; and smaller points like grammar and citation styles.  

What if I don’t have any writing done?  

You can still come to the writing center! We’re happy to help you brainstorm and get started. For these cases, it’s best to use our onsite or zoom options, as those better support expanding and creating ideas. 

What should I bring to my session? 

The simple answer: whatever you need to work on your draft! This usually includes at least some of the following: 

• A copy of your draft, printed or electronic. 

• Your syllabus and assignment sheet, or any other materials that will help our tutors understand what you’re writing and who you’re writing to. 

• Your sources, notes, and prewriting. 

• An idea of what you want help with: do you need feedback on how it sounds? How it’s organized? The amount of information? How to cite? These are just examples, but thinking about that head of time will help us help you. 

• A willingness to learn! 

What happens in a typical onsite or Zoom session? 

When you arrive at the writing center or in our Zoom room, the tutor will usually introduce themselves and welcome you. From there, you’ll talk a little about the writing you’re doing and the sort of feedback you want. 

For the rest of the session, the tutor will engage you in conversation by providing feedback, asking open-ended questions, and suggesting changes. You can make these changes during or after the session depending on your preference. 

Okay, but like… what about email sessions? 

Email sessions are a little different, as they are asynchronous. This means instead of talking in real time with a tutor, you’ll get written feedback. 

To do this, we’ll need an email copy of your writing as a Word file attached using the paperclip icon in your email. To ensure we can access the document at the start of the session, we do not accept cloud documents or other word processing formats.  

We’ll also need word or PDF copies of your rubric, assignment sheet, and any other documents that can help us understand the writing. 

The tutor will read your draft during the session and use the comment feature to leave in-line comments. You’ll receive those comments in an email that has an overview of feedback, a link to instructions on deleting comments, and a link to our post-session survey. 

How long will my session last? 

The length of the session depends on whether you made an session or dropped in. Sessions are scheduled for 25 or 50 minutes, typically on the hour, and your walk-in can last up to 50 minutes. Most of the time is spent discussing writing with a tutor; you will also complete some paperwork and develop a plan for after the session. 

What if we can’t finish looking through my whole paper in one session? 

If you’re working on a thesis or capstone, we probably won’t! So, at the beginning of the session, you and your tutor will set some priorities. The tutor will give you feedback you can apply to all of the writing (and other writing you’re doing).  

You’re welcome to schedule another session if you need more help after you have applied our feedback to your whole document. 

Can I just walk in to the writing center for help? 

You’re welcome to walk in onsite and ask for a session. However, we encourage scheduling your sessions because that guarantees you have time with a tutor. Availability is usually limited the end of the semester or the end of the day, so you may be asked to schedule a session. 

Currently, there is no way to conduct walk-in Zoom and email sessions, but you are welcome to call or email for same-day scheduling. 

How do I let my instructor know I went to the Writing Center? 

If you’re required to visit as part of an assignment, or if your instructor is offering extra credit, you can request a session verification email at the start of your session. The writing center will send you an email verifying your attendance. Just give this email to your instructor.