- Does my paper have to be finished before I come in?
- Do I need to make an appointment?
- What if I can't keep an appointment?
- May I drop my paper by and pick it up later?
- How much of my paper will a tutor write?
- Will I have my ideas criticized or my paper edited to shreds?
- Will revising my paper based on a tutor's suggestions guarantee me an A?
- What if my experience at the Writing Center isn't positive?
- I would like to work in the Writing Center. What positions are offered?
Q. Does my paper have to be finished before I come in?
A. No, you may visit the Writing Center during any stage of the writing process, and sometimes it's even more helpful to come before you begin. For any visit, be sure to always bring your assignment. Tutors will assist with brainstorming for ideas, organizing thoughts, and formulating a thesis. These appointments are collaborative in nature and often get writers off to an enthusiastic and productive start.
Q. Do I need to make an appointment?
A. Last year the Writing Center conducted 3,754 conferences with writers, and the use of appointments helped to manage this demand. If you schedule an appointment, our staff will know when to expect you and can guarantee that a tutor will be available. However, if you are in the library and want help, drop by; we will make every effort to assist you.
Q. What if I can't keep an appointment?
A. Students sometimes find that papers are not ready to be discussed or that something comes up to interfere with a scheduled appointment. If you call us at 227-7197 and reschedule or cancel, we can offer your appointment time to another student.
Q. May I drop my paper by and pick it up later?
A. No, students must be present to work with a tutor. After all, the paper is yours, isn't it?
Q. How much of my paper will a tutor write?
A. Tutors will make suggestions based on the various issues within a paper. Larger issues include a writer's thesis, organization, and evidence. Smaller, fine-tuning issues include sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and punctuation. It's up to you, the student, to understand the tutor's suggestions and to revise your paper based on your new understanding. Ask questions and make notes for yourself for later. The more a tutor knows what you're thinking, the more helpful the tutor can be.
Q. Will I have my ideas criticized or my paper edited to shreds?
A. No, tutors strive to improve the writer rather than simply the paper and to help students enjoy both the writing process and their time in the Center. Your ideas will remain central to your paper. All writers, even published ones, make use of and value other readers.
Q. Will revising my paper based on a tutor's suggestions guarantee me an A?
A. No, a tutor's suggestions can only help to strengthen the paper, not perfect it. Understanding the reasons behind a tutor's suggestions will enable you to make meaningful revisions. Remember, the larger issues in the paperthesis, organization, and evidenceare what interest a reader most (including your professors!). The mechanical issuessentence structure, word choice, grammar, and punctuationat their best contribute to the success of the larger issues. Nobody (including yourself!) enjoys reading a paper where faulty mechanics get in the way.
Q. What if my experience at the Writing Center isn't positive?
A. Just as students have different personalities and working styles, so do tutors. We value our diversity as a staff and recognize that not all students will connect well with every tutor. If your experience is neither pleasant nor helpful, please contact Barbara Hardie, the director, at 227-3686 or bhardie@email.wcu.edu. She will try to connect you with a more compatible tutor for your next visit.
Q. I would like to work in the Writing Center? What positions are offered?
A. All tutors in the Writing Center are students at Western Carolina University. Some are graduate assistants, some have work-study grants, and others have non-work study positions. Graduate assistants provide one-on-one tutoring in the center, while undergraduate students work in the Writing Fellows program, which places trained tutors in courses. If youre interested in applying for a graduate assistantship from the Writing Center, please contact Director Barbara Hardie (828-227-3686; bhardie@email.wcu.edu). To become a Writing Fellow, applicants must be WCU undergraduate students who have completed English 101 and 102. To find out more about the Writing Fellows program, including an online application, visit or contact Associate Director Maryann Peterson (828-227-3426; mpeterson@email.wcu.edu).