Preparatory Pointers: Before an Appointment at the Writing Centre

Students often ask: what am I supposed to bring to the Writing Centre? When in the writing process should I come for a consultation? 

Preparation and follow-up are essential in your interactions with the Writing Centre. So, here is the deal:

When should I visit the Writing Centre?

You are welcome in the Writing Centre at any stage of your work. It is often helpful to come in the beginning, to bounce ideas off another brain, and for help with the best ways to organize your thoughts. Once you have written a draft, or even just a few paragraphs, the Writing Centre can help with the structure of your paper, and provide a few suggestions if you've come across any problems in your writing (this sentence sounds funny, but I don't know why!). It may also be helpful to bring in a paper that has already been graded, as it might be a good idea to discuss feedback from your professor. If your last assignment was littered with comma splices or dangling modifiers, the Writing Centre can explain what exactly these common problems are, and suggest ways to avoid them in the future. 

The most important thing is that you leave plenty of time after your consultation to make revisions to your work. The Writing Centre has limited hours, and since it is not a proofreading service, you want to make sure that you have an opportunity to implement what you learned in your session without being in a rush!

What should I bring to my appointment?

When you have an appointment at the Writing Centre, it is always helpful to bring the assignment sheet and any other course material that establishes what is expected for the assignment. It helps if you already have an idea of what you are writing about, whether it is scribbled down on paper or just in your head. The Writing Centre will not provide ideas, so you should already have considered the important aspects of the topic.

How often can/should I visit the Writing Centre?

It will be helpful to visit the Writing Centre often to help develop your writing skills, and to practice them on a variety of assignments. Over time, you will become more capable and therefore more confident in your writing skills, and will need to visit less often. Won't that be nice?!