Frequently Asked Questions

• 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 suggestionsbased on the various issues within
a paper. Large issues include a writer's thesis, organization, and
evidence. Smaller, fine-tuning issues include sentence structuce,
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 paper--thesis, organization, and
evidence--are what interest a reader most (including your
professors!). The mechanical issues--sentence structure, word
choice, grammar, and punctuation--at 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 227-7197. 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 and receptionists 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. In order to become a tutor, applicants must be WCU
students who have completed English 101 and 102, must have the
recommendation of three faculty members, and must complete the
interview process. Positions are often available every fall and
spring term.