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WRITING CENTER
Frequently Asked
Questions
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What can I
expect from a tutoring session?
Tutors are here to serve
all Marshall University students who want help with their writing. Tutors
will help with all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming and
outlining to research documentation and revising. Most important, tutors
are trained to help students become more aware of their own writing process
and to build confidence in student writers.
Are there
any limitations to what tutors can do in a session?
Yes. Since tutors are only
here to guide students through the process of writing, students should view
tutors as peers or coaches, not teachers who can guarantee certain grades or
error-free papers. With this in mind, tutors will not
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“Fix” your
paper for you. Tutors are only here to help you to identify and address
your errors yourself.
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Discuss grades
with you. It is your professor’s and your responsibility to identify
course/assignment expectations and objectives. We try to work with
professors as much as possible to understand their assignments, and
tutors are trained in writing theory and practice, but they are not
responsible for assigning grades.
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Be expected to
side with either the client or the professor. Tutors are neutral
parties who are here to help with writing only.
Can I get
help with papers from other classes besides English?
Yes. Most of our tutors
are English majors, but many of them have experience writing in a variety of
other disciplines, so discipline-specific papers are welcome. However, if
your paper is discipline-specific, please bring in all supporting material
in order to help the tutor better understand the parameters of the
assignment, including information regarding discipline-specific conventions.
What are my
responsibilities?
Students are not required
to have a complete draft in order to have a tutoring session, but it is
crucial for students to bring all relevant course documents to the session,
particularly a description of the assignment. The more information tutors
have about your writing task, the more effective they can be in guiding you
through the writing process. Students are also required to be active
participators in their own sessions by remaining engaged and open to
dialogue with the tutor.
What is the
timeframe of a typical tutoring session?
The length of a tutoring
session depends on the complexity of the writing task and the length of your
paper. In general, the minimum time for appointments is 30 minutes, and the
maximum time is 60 minutes. If your paper is longer than 8 typed pages, it
is advised that you make 2 or more appointments in order to work through the
entire paper.
How many
appointments can I make per week?
No more than three visits
per week may be scheduled. In addition, two or more visits should not occur
within the same day.
What if I
have to change or cancel my appointment?
If you must cancel an
appointment, log into the scheduling system and click on “My Control Panel”
in the top left corner. Your appointments will be listed under “My
Reservations,” where you have the choice to modify or to cancel your
appointment. You will receive an email notification with updated
information regarding your appointment. If you have trouble with this
procedure, call the Writing Center at (304) 696-6254 or email us at
writing@marshall.edu.
What if I am
late for my appointment?
If you arrive more than 10
minutes late for your appointment, your appointment may be cancelled so the
tutor can serve a walk-in student. If you are late but the tutor is still
available, you will have your remaining appointment time.
What if I
miss my appointment?
If you miss your
appointment, the tutor will mark you as a “No Show” in our scheduling
system. If you receive more than 3 “No Show” reports, you will no longer be
allowed to make appointments for the duration of the semester and will have
to rely on walk-in availability if you would like to be tutored.
How do I get a session report for my professor?
A tutoring session of
30-minutes or more is required in order to receive a session report for your
professor. Please ask your tutor to fill out a session report at the end of
your session.
May I work
on and print my papers in the Writing Center?
Yes. The Writing Center is
equipped with seven internet capable computers and one printer for Writing
Center patrons’ use. Printing is $.10 per page with the use of Herd
Points. We do ask that students work only on course-related tasks when
using Writing Center computers.
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