Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to our most commonly asked questions are available here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us.

• What is the Writing Workshop?

  The Writing Workshop is a peer tutoring program designed to provide assistance at any stage of the writing process, from initial brainstorming to final drafts. Tutors are sophomores, juniors, and seniors, selected and trained to work with students in an informal, non-judgmental setting. Tutors can help students solidify an idea, develop a thesis, organize a paper, or tighten and unify an argument. Tutors can help with sentence structure, style, and grammar, although they are not trained copyeditors and will not simply serve as proofreaders before a paper is turned in. Tutors are available to help students become better writers over the course of their college careers, not to help them earn better grades on a specific assignment.

  Students are invited to bring in any type of writing from any field — essays, lab reports, seminar papers — and anything in between.

  Scheduled appointments in the Workshop are one-on-one and usually last for an hour. We are also available for drop-in assistance.

• Is the Workshop open for drop-ins?

  Yes. This option works best for those looking for "spontaneous support" or those seeking limited feedback. On-duty tutors work with students who drop in only if they are available (i.e., if tutors are not working with students who've scheduled sessions in advance)

• Can I make an appointment?

  Yes. Priority time in the Workshop is given to students who have scheduled an appointment through Accudemia. Scheduling an appointment in advance assures students an hour-long block of one-on-one time with a peer tutor.

• Can I choose which tutor I work with?

  Yes. You can make an appointment and choose from the tutors available during your preferred time slot. All of our tutors are trained to work with writing across academic disciplines, but each tutor's areas of specialization are listed here in case you'd like to work with someone familiar with the conventions of your field. This option is generally most useful for thesis students or upperclassmen doing advanced coursework.

• Should I use ChatGPT to help me write?

  No. Read our Word about Plagiarism and this op-ed by our director to help you understand why.

• What is a Writing Partner?

  The Writing Partners Program offers extended one-to-one tutoring for less experienced writers and student concerned about meeting writing demands in multiple courses. Writing Partners are tutors who are matched with a specific student to provide individualized guidance and support throughout the semester. The schedule of the Writing Partners Program operates independently of the regular Writing Workshop schedule; Writing Partners and their students decide when and where to meet.

  To request a Writing Partner, please fill out and submit this form. (Please note that all Fall 2023 Writing Partners have been assigned; the form will reopen in the fall semester.)

• Where is the Writing Workshop located?

  The Writing Workshop has two physical locations, one in the main lobby of Sawyer Library (in the small study rooms on either side of the entrance doors) and one in a study room in Schow Library (room 010).

• What are the Writing Workshop hours?

  The Writing Workshop is typically open in Sawyer Library from 10am to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 4pm on Fridays. Our hours in Schow are 6pm-10pm Sunday-Thursday. Please check here for the most up-to-date schedule, which sometimes varies slightly.

• Who should I contact if I have a question about the Writing Workshop?

  For more information about the Writing Workshop, please contact the Director of Writing Center.

• How can I apply to be a Writing Tutor?

  The application cycle for new Tutors and Partners opens each spring. Rising sophomores are encouraged to apply for this paid campus job, as tutors become increasingly skilled over time and this position, once acquired, is automatically renewed until graduation, even if tutors study away. That said, rising juniors and seniors are also eligible to apply. Note that applicants from all disciplines, including Div III, are encouraged to apply; the writing center seeks broad representation from across the disciplines. Writing tutors must be able to work at least 4 hours per week throughout the semester, and must be on campus for the fall semester of their first year of working as a tutor. Watch Daily Messages and Handshake in the weeks before Spring Break for an announcement about hiring for the following year, and email the Director of the Writing Center with any questions.

• Wait, the Dunbar Writing Prize is now under the WC?

  Yes! In the summer of 2023, administration of the Dunbar Prize for Writing about Student Life moved from the fellowships office to the Writing Center. We look forward to reading your submissions!