Our Sessions

Wondering if your paper sounds right? Worried about your thesis? Maybe you just want someone to give you helpful feedback? You’ve come to the right place. Tutoring Sessions are the Writing Center’s primary service.

In these sessions, you sit down and talk through your writing with a fellow student. Sessions are one-on-one to ensure that you and your tutor can focus on your writing for the 25-minute time period.

Want more time with your tutor? Depending on tutor availability, it’s okay for you to schedule two sessions in a row, which would reserve 50 minutes of time with a tutor.

How to Make an Appointment

You can make an appointment by using our online Bookings page.

You can also make an appointment by visiting the Writing Center in Building 25, 6th Floor. If you have questions, please call us at (206) 592-3444.

Come to the Writing Center with your ideas, draft, assignment sheet, and/or questions.

How Does a Tutoring Session Work?

Sign-up

Make an appointment using our online Bookings page, or by walking into the Writing Center or calling our front desk.

Sign-in

When you come in for your appointment, please sign in on the computer. We use this record to track how many students are using our services. Be sure to check in at the front desk to let them know you are there.

Greetings and Introductions

Tutors who are working wear name tags. The staff member at the front desk or any available tutors are happy to direct you to your tutor.

The Purple Sheet

We just need to know a little about you, what your assignment is, and what areas you’d like to focus on during your session. The tutor will take notes during the session, and then you can take the “purple sheet” with you when you leave.

The Assignment

If possible, please bring in a copy of your teacher’s instructions for the assignment. It helps the tutor understand what you’re doing and gives you the opportunity to check your understanding of the assignment.

Planning the Session

What do you want to accomplish?

The tutor can help you identify priorities, but you decide what’s most important to your learning. Check out the page about the spiral to better understand how and why tutors prioritize in sessions!

Reading aloud

Reading aloud while the tutor listens and reads along is a fast and powerful way to get both the tutor and you to focus on your writing. You’ll be amazed at how many changes you’ll think of yourself as you hear your own words being read aloud.

What is the tutor doing while I’m reading?

While you’re reading, your tutor will listen actively and check for these important criteria:

• Does your paper fit the assignment?
• Is it focused on a central topic and/or thesis?
• Is it clearly and effectively worded?
• Is it well edited for grammar, spelling, and punctuation?
• Are you using sources appropriately and effectively?

We are also just interested in listening to what you’ve written.

Why doesn’t my tutor make corrections and write comments on the paper?

The tutor’s job is to help you discover how to make choices about your own writing, so you’ll be a better writer after each session. When you make your own changes and take notes on your own paper, you’re actively learning how to better your writing. The purple sheet will have all the tutor’s notes, and you will be able to take this with you.

So the tutor talks with me, and I revise and edit my own writing?

That’s right! And when you’re done, it’s your work and not anyone else’s. You have used your resources, learned to write better, and improved your own paper. Congratulations!

How do we end the session?

We discuss what you’ve accomplished, plan your next steps together, and help you sign up for another appointment! (Don’t forget to clock out on the computer.)
We look forward to working with you! Stop by any time—we’re happy to help.