UHCL Writing Center
FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)

What can I expect from a writing conference in the UHCL Writing Center?
Our main goal is to help you become a better writer. To that end, we will review your work, ask you questions about your goals for the project and general concerns you have about your writing skills, and then provide feedback designed to help you learn strategies that you can apply to future writing projects.

What kind of feedback do you provide?
The kind of feedback you receive will depend on your work, your specific concerns, and the amount of time you have for revisions. If the tutor believes that you have not addressed major rhetorical issues, he/she will encourage you to work on these concerns first because they are crucial to a successful paper. If you have concerns about mechanical issues, the tutor will also help you learn to edit for these problems. If you come in for a conference the day the paper is due, the tutor will be more limited in the type of help he/she can provide because you will have less time to revise. We do recommend you come in early in the semester and that you work your tutoring sessions into your writing process.

What do you mean by major rhetorical concerns?
What we call major rhetorical concerns are those aspects of your paper that affect your ability to send a clear and convincing message to your reader. When students write in response to instructor assignments, one of the first things we look at is whether they have done what the instructor asked. Sometimes, writers need help understanding the assignment or analyzing what strategies will work with specific audiences. If the paper requires a thesis statement and we cannot distinguish one, we will discuss that with you. If we feel you have not supported an argument with sufficient evidence, or you have not organized your discussion clearly, we will point that out. There are many more aspects of a well-developed paper, and we are eager to work with you on any of these in a conference.

What if I can't get started on the paper and have nothing to bring? Should I cancel my appointment?
Sometimes writer's block will interfere with your ability to generate ideas, but you do not have to be finished with your paper before you come see us. In fact, we can help you by explaining specific strategies for generating ideas and organizing. If you are stuck, please keep your appointment. We will gladly help you get started again.

But will this feedback help me improve my paper?
In most cases, your paper will probably improve as a result of the revisions you make based on our feedback. The quality of your final product will depend, however, on the work you do after you leave the Center. Papers do not come in "broken" and leave "fixed," nor can we guarantee that your professor will give you an "A" on a paper simply because a tutor looked at it.

Can you help me with my grammar?
Yes, but the kind of help we provide involves teaching you to improve your grammar skills. We won't simply take your paper and "fix" it for you. We will help you understand the mistakes you make and learn editing strategies you can use for future projects. The UHCL Writing Center does not provide editing or proofreading services for members of the campus community.

I am a non-native speaker of English. Can you help me?
Absolutely? Our tutors enjoy working with non-native speakers of English. All tutors receive training in this area. We are pleased to have an assistant director, Ms. Maradee Kern, who is a specialist in working with non-native speakers. IF you want to work on your language skills, we recommend you make an appointment with Maradee to establish a set of goals for the semester and to schedule weekly visits if you wish. We also offer Conversation Hours several times each week for students who would like to practice their English skills in a relaxed, small-group environment. Workshops for non-native speakers are also scheduled frequently throughout each semester.

What if we don't get through the whole paper?
We can't always read a whole paper, and we can't always read every paper you write in a given semester. This is not a problem however, when the goal is to learn writing strategies you can apply yourself at any time. What you learn about the first part of your paper in a conference can easily be applied to the rest of it after you leave the Center--whether it is about rhetorical concerns or mechanical ones. In fact, we expect you to work on your paper before you return for another conference to discuss it.

Can you help me with documentation?
We provide assistance with many different types of documentation. All tutors are at least familiar with MLA, APA, and Chicago, but some are more proficient with one type than another. We recommend that you ask the receptionis for a tutor familiar with the type of documentation you are working with when you schedule an appointment, or check under "Tutor Specialties" when making an appointment on-line. Bear in mind that when we work with you on documentation, we will follow the same philosophy explained above by helping you do the work yourself, rather than doing it for you.

Why do you limit appointment times?
One obvious reason is that we want tutors to be available for as many writers as possible. In addition, we believe that writers are ultimately responsible for their papers, and that they prefer to retain this authority. We do not want to take over your project by providing too much feedback. Our goal is to help you learn strategies that will make you a more proficient and confident writer. To do that, you need to practice what you learn on your own. We schedule 45-minute appointments so we do not overwhelm you with feedback but instead provide you with specific issues you can work on. You can return later with questions.

Can I drop off my paper for a tutor and pick it up later?
Our policy is to work with the writer, one-on-one, so we will not "work on" your paper without you being present. However, we can schedule a "read-ahead" session for the tutor if your paper is over seven pages long. This will allow for a more productive session dedicated to revision strategies or other concerns. Inform the receptionist if you would like to schedule a read-ahead for a long paper.

Are you open nights or weekends?
Yes! We are open Sunday afternoons and at least two nights each week (see website for current hours). If you enjoy the convienience of this expanded availability, please come see us during these times so we can continue to offer them.

My course meets off campus. How can I use the Writing Center?
We offer on-line tutoring for students who find it difficult to come to campus. Via our Center for OnLine Tutoring (COLT), you can request an email response, a phone chat, or an online chat session (using AIM Pro.) We guarantee a response within three working days. To submit a paper, please visit our website at www.uhcl.edu/writingcenter and click on "Online Tutoring." (NOTE: Online submissions should not exceed seven pages unless a read-ahead is scheduled.)

How do students become tutors?
All tutors in the Writing Center take a three-unit, semester-long training course in which they learn about writing center theory, composition theory, and the writing process. They also practice specific strategies and skills for working with writers one-on-one. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please ocntact Dr. Diepenbrock, the Writing Center Director, at 281-283-3356 or diepenbrock@uhcl.edu .