Information on Program Tutors
This document applies to writers with recurring tutoring sessions in their program. Most often, this document applies to Core or All-Level programs.
What We Do
The main goal of our tutors is to assist writers in becoming more confident and proficient. Tutors do this by focusing upon each individual work as an independent step in the overall development of a writer's process. While we do not line-edit or proofread, we do teach writers effective self-editing. Tutors give feedback, offer suggestions, discuss writing strategies, and emphasize the importance of a solid writing process. Tutors are not teachers or evaluators; a tutor is a peer who assists writers as they grapple with the act and art of writing.
Because we value writing as a process, our primary concern is encouraging better engagement in the act of writing rather than trying to improve a single piece of work.
How This Works
During your initial appointment, you will get acquainted with your tutor and discuss your writing expectations for the quarter. After your initial appointment, we encourage you to create a weekly appointment with your program tutor. Scheduling frequent sessions allows for the recognition and exploration of your writing process.
Your appointment will be more productive if you bring two printed copies of your current work, a copy of your current assignment, and any books you are using. Proofreading drafts beforehand will appropriately prepare this material for your session, and we recommend also completing an Author’s Note, which focuses your tutor’s response to your writing. Blank copies of the Author’s Note are available in the Writing Center or on our web site.
Writing tutors can meet with you even if you have no writing. Instead, consider bringing a question about writing, a prospective thesis sentence, or a rough outline or idea.
A Typical Session
Most appointments last 50 minutes, though 25 minute appointments are also available. Interacting with your tutor, you will determine the focus of your session. Your tutor may suggest that you brainstorm, free-write, outline, organize, clarify ideas, rewrite specific passages, or discuss your writing process and strategy in order to get the most out of your visit.
Policies
If you will be unable to attend your appointment, please call the Writing Center as soon as possible. We will help you to reschedule your appointment.
If you miss two consecutive weekly appointments without canceling beforehand, your future appointments will automatically be canceled. You will then be responsible for setting up a new appointment with your program tutor.
Any information that you provide to the Writing Center is considered confidential and used only to schedule and track your appointments with us. We do not disclose records of appointments to anyone other than individual writers interested in reviewing their visits to the Writing Center.
Other Services Offered
Other resources are available through the Writing Center, including our extensive handout library covering a range of writing questions, our in-Center resource library, and our free writing workshops. If you require more time with a tutor, you are encouraged to make additional appointments. You are allowed up to two appointments per week.