The Writing Program & Writing Center at Bucknell

Writers from all parts of the university community, from first-year students to graduate students, faculty, and staff members seek feedback at all stages of the writing process from Writing Center tutors. (FAQs)

3. How can a peer tutor help me?

By engaging in conversation with you about your project, listening to you read your draft aloud, or helping you brainstorm ideas, a peer tutor can help you put your thoughts into words and get a sense of whether your words convey to another person the meaning you intend. A tutor can help you answer the question that most writers have at some point: “Does this make sense?” Through reflective listening and by asking questions about what he or she doesn’t understand, the tutor can help you to clarify your own thinking and writing at all levels, from organization and content to grammar and sentence structure. (FAQs)

4. Will the tutor correct my spelling and grammar?

No. Writing tutors do not “correct” papers. In a tutoring session, the writer, not the tutor, makes all changes to a draft—in fact, the tutor does not even write on the paper. Instead, he or she will ask you what concerns you have about your paper, and then the two of you will read through the draft together, focusing on your concerns—organization, content, “clarity,” grammar, or whatever aspects of the paper you feel need attention. Usually the writer reads the draft aloud and the tutor follows along, with either person stopping for clarification when necessary. When grammatical issues need to be addressed, the tutor may show you how to recognize a particular kind of error, such as a run-on sentence or a problem with verb tense, and then help you learn to correct such errors yourself. (FAQs)

5. I’m stuck! Will a tutor tell me what to write?

A tutor will not tell you what to write. If you are having trouble thinking of what to say in a paper, the tutor will probably ask you some questions about the class and the assignment, to help you start putting what you know into words. This process may lead to your creating an outline or writing a tentative thesis statement during the tutoring session; or it may help you to formulate a plan for finding out what more you need to know before starting to write (for instance, you may need to look more closely at an assigned text, or ask the professor for more information about the writing assignment). (FAQs)

6. English is not my first language. How can the Writing Center help me?

By engaging the writer in conversation about a class, an assignment, or a draft, Writing Center tutors offer people who are learning English a comfortable, non-judgmental environment in which to practice and refine their speaking and writing skills. Tutors are familiar with common areas in which English poses problems for non-native speakers, and can help writers learn to recognize and address these aspects of their own writing. (FAQs)

7. Are tutors available to help with writing in all subjects?

Yes. While it’s unlikely that a writer with a political science paper, for instance, will end up working with a tutor who is a political science major, all tutors are trained to work with writers from all disciplines. (FAQs)

8. I heard that the Writing Center offers tutoring in math and science courses. Is this true?

Yes. The Writing Center Tutoring Program serves students enrolled in introductory courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. To request a tutor for an introductory math or science class, come to Roberts 100A to obtain a Tutor Request Form, complete the "student information section," take the form to your math or science professor for completion, and return it to the Writing Center. (for more info) (FAQs)

9. How can the Writing Center help faculty members?

The Writing Center and Writing Program offer a seven-day “Workshop on the Teaching of Writing” every August for faculty members who are interested in teaching W courses or who wish to increase or enhance the use of writing in the courses they teach. The Writing Center’s professional staff members frequently consult with faculty members regarding the design of writing course syllabi, writing assignments, responding to student writing, collaborative learning, and other topics related to the teaching of writing. In addition, many faculty members come to the Writing Center for feedback on their own writing projects. Writing Center staff and peer tutors are also available for classroom workshops on such topics as the writing process, peer response and oral presentation skills. (FAQs)

10. Can I drop off a paper and have someone proofread and correct it?

No. (See questions #3 and #4.) (FAQs)

11. Are there any cases when seeking feedback on a draft might be seen as academic dishonesty?

Although most faculty members and students believe that talking about ideas in the context of a tutoring session promotes learning and may help reinforce critical thinking skills, audience awareness, and revision strategies, some faculty members want their students to work alone. Faculty members should communicate their expectations clearly; if they do not, students should ask them to explain appropriate study and writing practices in the course.

Some faculty members do not want students to seek feedback from a tutor who is taking the same course. Should you drop in to the Writing Center and discover that the tutor on duty is a coursemate of yours, the tutor may advise you to work with another tutor instead.

In addition, students should ask their instructors if it is appropriate to seek feedback on a take-home essay exam. Since the Writing Center is not equipped to know the expectations of all faculty members, individual students and teachers must communicate clearly with each other about appropriate practices. If you have questions, please ask your instructor. (FAQs)

12. What should I bring to my appointment?

Bring whatever you have that relates to the assignment or project: any written instructions from the professor, anything you’ve already written for this assignment, the text(s) you are writing about, etc. And, of course, pencil, paper, laptop computer, or whatever you need to write on or with. If you have a draft, it’s best to print it before you come and bring it with you, to avoid having to spend part of your appointment dealing with computer issues. (FAQs)

13. Will my professor (or anyone else) know I came to the Writing Center?

Writing Center services are confidential. At the end of each tutoring session, the tutor and client together complete a brief “tutoring report” summarizing the appointment. One copy is kept for the Writing Center’s confidential records, one copy goes to the client, and a copy can be sent to the professor, if the student wishes. (FAQs)

14. How can I become a writing tutor?

Make your interest known to another tutor, one of the professional staff members, or the Writing Center Coordinator, Steven Styers, in Roberts 100A. We keep a running list of potential tutors and notify them before each training opportunity. Generally, the 1-credit tutor-training class, UNIV 239 – “Working with Writers,” is taught in the spring semester by Writing Center staff members, and a four-week intensive, non-credit training class is offered in the fall. (FAQs)

15. How long before my paper is due should I schedule an appointment?

You should schedule an appointment as soon as you feel that feedback from another person would be helpful—and not so late that you don’t have time to revise your paper after your appointment. Often a student will bring a “final” draft to the Writing Center on the day the paper is due and discover ways that the paper might be significantly improved—if only it weren’t due in an hour! (FAQs)

16. Are appointments always necessary?

No. The library location (Group Study Room 5) is a “walk-in only” site. In Roberts and Vedder, appointments are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. (FAQs)

17. How does the Writing Center help someone with a learning disability?

Often, individuals with learning disabilities need to spend more “time on task” and can benefit from the kind of one-on-one assistance that the Writing Center can provide. The student-centered feedback and instruction available from staff and peer tutors can be helpful for all learners. (FAQs)

18. What is the difference between the Writing Center and the Writing Program?

In Bucknell’s Writing Program, writing instruction is offered “across disciplines,” which means that students may fulfill their writing requirement by taking writing-intensive (or “W”) courses in their majors as well as in other subjects. Students generally take one W1 course during their first year at Bucknell, and two W2 courses during the next three years. For a more complete explanation of Bucknell’s writing requirement, click here.

The Writing Center was established to support the Writing Program by offering one-on-one and workshop support both for writers and for faculty members in the teaching of writing. (FAQs)

19. Is there a fee for using the Writing Center?

No. All Writing Center services are free for members of the Bucknell community. (FAQs)

20. Where do I find the list of writing courses (“W courses”) offered for next semester?

For a list of W courses, click here: W courses

(FAQs)

Writing Center
100A Roberts Hall
phone: 570-577-3141
© Bucknell University 2002
comments to: Sabrina Kirby
last updated: 04/22/2004