Graduate Students

No matter what graduate program you are in or how long you have been an academic writer, a visit to the University Writing Center can be invaluable. Graduate sessions have many of the same essential elements as undergraduate sessions; however, because graduate students are generally more experienced writers, tutors usually focus on slightly different concerns. Many graduate students find that simply having a planned time to work with a tutor on their writing keeps them on track to complete large projects on schedule.

Because graduate-level papers tend to be longer and more complex, graduate students are allowed 60-minute sessions if an hour is available. (During peak times, the schedule may be able to accommodate only a 30-minute session.) In addition, all graduate-level papers are reviewed by faculty tutors.
Graduate-level papers often involve a great deal of research. Faculty tutors can provide some assistance with finding sources, but your best resource for research is the University Library’s Research Help Desk.

To make the most of your visit to the University Writing Center:

* Plan ahead:  Schedule a tutoring session several days before your writing project is due so you have time to continue work on your assignment(s). During peak times such midterm and finals when everyone has course papers and portfolios due, the UWC gets busy!  To make sure you can schedule a session at a time that’s convenient for you, call 274-2049 or 278-8171 and reserve a session in advance.

* Come prepared:  Tutors help best when you help them understand your writing project.  Bring assignment sheets, class notes, and/or instructor comments with you.

* Bring a draft-in-progress:  Tutors will help you see ways to revise your draft.  No draft yet?  Tutors can talk with you about understanding your assignment and about strategies for getting started.

* Bring realistic expectations:  Long graduate-level papers usually require more than one tutoring session.

* Come in while response from tutors can help:  UWC tutors specialize in helping students see ways to revise their drafts.  Tutors can offer only limited help on the day papers are due.

* Come ready to work with tutors:  Tutors do not have you all the answers.  The most valuable sessions happen when students and tutors work together to improve a piece of writing.