Answers to your Questions
Scheduling
Appointments
How do I make an appointment?
If you are experiencing diffculty scheduling your appointment online, stop by the Writing Center office, email cwp@mail.rochester.edu, or call 273-3577.
How far in advance should I schedule my appointment?
During midterms and finals, you should try to schedule an appointment
as early as a week in advance.
What can I do if I can’t get an appointment at the time I want?
We will put your name on the waiting list and contact you by phone or e-mail if an appointment is cancelled.
How do I cancel appointments?
You may cancel your appointment either online, by calling 273-3577, or emailing the Writing Center: cwp@mail.rochester.edu.
Please try to cancel your appointment at least twenty-four
hours in advance so that we may offer your time to someone else.
Do you take walk-ins?
If a consultant is free, we will happily accept walk-ins. However,
it is best to make an appointment since we cannot guarantee that someone will
always be available.
Is there a limit to the number of appointments I can make in one week?
Since the Writing Center wants to see as many people as possible,
there is a limit of two appointments per week. However, if you feel you need
extra time, please contact the Writing Center Coordinator,
who may approve extra time.
How much does the Writing Center charge?
Nothing.
Who can come to the Writing Center?
Although our primary responsibility is to undergraduates, we welcome
all members of the university community–graduate students, faculty,
and staff. During busy times we give priority to undergraduates.
Can I sign up for a weekly appointment with a particular consultant?
Undergraduates may make a standing appointment for the entire semester.
Graduate students
may schedule appointments a few weeks in advance.
How long are appointments?
Can I make a two-hour appointment?
Appointments
are fifty minutes long. The Writing Center generally discourages signing up
for two consecutive appointments. You may, however, sign up for two hours
in a row if you sign up with two different tutors.
What are the qualifications of Writing Consultants?
Writing
Consultants are graduate students with extensive teaching and/or tutoring
experience. While many consultants come from the English Department, others
are graduate students in History, Psychology, Musicology, or Computer Science.
Many Writing Consultants also teach WRT 105/105E (Reasoning and Writing in
the College).
How are Writing Consultants different from Writing Fellows?
Whereas
Writing Consultants are graduate students, Writing Fellows are undergraduates
who have been trained through taking an Advanced Writing and Peer Tutoring course. Writing Center Consultants and Writing Fellows can help you with any
aspect of the writing process in any discipline. Each group possesses different
strengths; whereas Writing Consultants generally have more experience and
expertise in writing, Writing Fellows offer a peer perspective. They may have
taken the class for which you are writing a paper and know what the professor expects
from a student perspective. They also represent a broader range of majors
than the Writing Consultants including many with majors in the social or natural
sciences.
Are different consultants experts in different areas?
Any consultant
can help you with any subject area. Consultants come from a range of disciplines,
and have expertise in many types of writing, including applications, personal
statements, etc.
Is it better to see the same consultant several times or to see different
consultants every time?
We encourage
you to see several different consultants at first to find a person or two
whose style makes you most comfortable. However, it’s entirely up to
you. Some people prefer to develop a relationship with a particular consultant,
whereas other people prefer to get a variety of perspectives.
If you are working on a personal statement, we advise you to see as many consultants
as possible since your audience will consist of several different people,
each with a unique perspective.
Will I always get the consultant I asked for?
You will
usually work with the consultant you requested. A consultant occasionally
calls in sick or is out of town, however. In this situation another consultant
may cover his or her hours.
Will the consultant talk to my instructor or faculty adviser about
my work?
Writing
Center consultants will only discuss your work with your instructor or adviser
if you give them permission to do so.
Will anyone observe my session?
Your session
can be observed only with your approval. New Writing Center Consultants and
Writing Fellows are required to observe a certain number of sessions as part
of their training, but the consultant will always ask your permission before
allowing an observer into your session.
About
Your Appointment
What goes on during an appointment?
The session
focus is entirely up to you. Your consultant will probably start by asking
you to describe the assignment and what you hope to accomplish in the session.
Your consultant will then engage you in a dialogue about your work to help
you accomplish this goal. For a listing for what to expect in a typical Writing
Center session, please refer to What to Expect.
What should I bring to my appointment?
You should
come with questions or an issue that you’d like to address. If you are
working on an assignment, you should bring your assignment sheet, a draft
of your paper at any stage, graded previous drafts if you have them, and your
favorite writing utensil. Computers are also available for your use.
What aspects of writing can you help me with?
We can
help you with every aspect of the writing process. This includes: interpreting
the assignment; brainstorming topics; evaluating ideas; outlining essays;
organizing thoughts; working on rough or incomplete drafts; critiquing and
strengthening arguments; and polishing final drafts.
Can I bring in a piece of creative writing?
We will try to accommodate creative writers. If you would like creative feedback on a creative piece, please contact the Writing Center Coordinator.
Can I bring in a resume?
We discourage
this, as consultants do not receive training in resume writing, so you should
take your resume to the Career Center. However, consultants can work with
you on internship applications and personal statements.
Can I come to talk about writing even if I don’t have any writing
with me?
Absolutely.
We are happy to help you brainstorm for an upcoming paper. We are also happy
to work with you on any area of writing that interests you even if you don't
have a writing project that you are working on.
Am I allowed to
bring the same paper back multiple times?
Yes — as
many times as you like. Most of us revise our essays at least four times.
Will the consultant edit my papers for me?
No, but
the consultant will work with you on editing so that you gain the skills to
do this without us.
Will the consultant help me with grammatical issues?
Yes. In
addition to addressing grammatical issues that arise in individual papers,
we can help you work on general grammatical and stylistic issues.
Can the Writing Center also help me to improve my English conversational
skills?
The Writing
Center’s primary focus is helping students improve their written work.
However, during less busy times of the year consultants can also help students
work on oral communication skills.
Last Modified:
Thursday, 22-May-2008 08:50:15 EDT
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