The University Writing Center (UWC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the University Writing Center only for day students?
No, all STU students may visit the UWC and work with our staff. We are located in KEN 224.
My English is not very strong. Can I still go to the UWC?
Yes! At the UWC, we have many tutors who are bilingual (English and Spanish). However, if you speak another language as your primary language (French, Creole, Chinese, etc.), don’t worry. The staff will be more than happy to work with you and find a way to connect through writing.
What do I need to bring with me?
If you are coming in to work on developing ideas, then you do not need to bring anything. The UWC has writing materials and computers. If you wish to work on a specific assignment, then you are encouraged to bring the assignment sheet and the writing you wish to work on.
For a session, please bring:
· Any writing you have completed so far;
· The assignment, including a description of the assignment from your textbook or your class notes;
· Your questions, even if you don't have a draft yet.
You may want to consider the following:
· Listing characteristics your paper should have in order to meet the goals of the assignment;
· Marking sections of your draft you're unsure of, and writing questions about those sections;
· Outlining what you have written so far;
· Thinking about comments and suggestions that have been made on other papers you have written.
Should the paper I bring to the UWC be saved in an electronic format?
You can bring an electronic version of your paper to the UWC, but it is not necessary. You can bring in a typed copy of your paper, a handwritten draft, or you can save your work to a disk (floppy-3.5, zip disk, CD-Rom, FTP).
My professor just assigned a research project. I really do not understand the assignment. Can I still visit the UWC?
Of course! Although it is always recommended to clarify any doubts about the assignment with your professor, our tutors will help explain and discuss the assignment with you to the best of their ability.
My classmate and I were encouraged to visit the UWC. Can we receive tutoring together?
We recommend having one-to-one sessions between writers and tutors. However, we can make an exception in certain circumstances. If a tutor is willing to work with both writers at the same time, then it will be allowed. Otherwise, the individuals will have to receive tutoring separately.
How will I know which tutor will aid me best?
Each tutor at the UWC has been trained to tutor individuals at any level in their academic careers. Each tutor will be able to help you with your work. Due to the fact that each tutor has his or her own method of tutoring, you have the opportunity of working with different tutors and choosing the tutor you are most comfortable working with.
My paper is due in ten minutes. Can I still visit the UWC?
Although you can still visit the UWC, unfortunately, you will not be able to receive tutoring. Although a tutor has lots of reading and writing experience, it is impossible to go over a paper in less than five minutes. Additionally, if major revisions must be made, you will not be able to make those changes in less than five minutes. This is why we encourage you to schedule an appointment at least a week prior to the due date.
I forgot to make an appointment. My paper is due tomorrow, and each tutor has an appointment. What should I do?
Unfortunately, there is little we can do if each tutor has a scheduled appointment. However, you are welcome to remain in the UWC until a scheduled appointment concludes or if an appointment is canceled. Although we cannot guarantee that a writer will cancel an appointment, we can guarantee that you will receive help if possible.
Can I arrive late for an appointment?
Each student has a 10 minute window to arrive for his or her appointment. After that time elapses, the appointment is cancelled.
My relative and I are taking the same course. Unfortunately, she is not on campus today. She has her paper written and wants a second point of view. Can I bring in her paper?
No. The purpose of the UWC is to help students become better writers. Each person attending a session is responsible for bringing in his or her own original work.
Can I email my paper to the UWC?
Unfortunately, the UWC does not offer online tutoring at this time.
I already wrote my essay. Can I drop it off in the UWC and pick it up when my essay has been revised?
No. At the UWC, our tutors work with students, not for students. The tutor and the student will work together on assignments and tasks. Our tutors do not edit a student’s work; however, our tutors will help develop a student’s editing skills.
Can I let my professor know that I had a session in the UWC?
At the beginning of the session, you must complete a Session Form, which gives you the option of requesting a Report for Faculty Form – which informs the professor that you had a session at the UWC. After the session is over, the tutor will write a report summarizing what took place during the session. The Director of the UWC will then send the report to your professor.