The link to the scheduler is at the bottom of this page. By clicking on it, you agree that you understand and will abide by the policies and procedures described below.
We’re in Kirk 2004.
If you’ve never used the Writing Center before, please note that we’re not a “fix-it” service. We also don’t believe that a Writing Center is a place where bad writers go to get “fixed.” Rather, we provide feedback for you, and feedback is an essential part of any effective writing process. We’ll talk with you about what is working well (and why), and what’s not working well (and why), and we’ll offer strategies for understanding and improving the less effective parts of your writing (and why). We can work with any part of the writing process and with any type of document.
SCHEDULING
The best way to make an appointment is through the online scheduler. BUT WAIT! Read the rest of the page before you go to the scheduler, please. It may save you some grief. If you have trouble with the scheduler, call 785-4484 or email write@truman.edu. You’ll be required to register once with the scheduler. Please fill out the registration completely. It will take a long time to do so (20-30 seconds). Once you’re registered and logged into the system, you just find and click the space (the time/day) that works best for you. Blue spaces are unavailable. Then fill out the brief pop-up appointment form. One VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember: when you fill out the appointment form, fill out the “concerns” box thoroughly. During the consultation, we do ask writers about their assignments and concerns, but it’s nice to be prepared for a consultation when possible.
The scheduling software allows you to upload your writing. Look near the bottom of the appointment form. If you have problems attaching a file, or if you just want to make sure we get the document, use/ask via write@truman.edu.
LONG PAPERS
If you make a half-hour appointment and then bring in a ten-page writing, the writing consultant will read your ten-page writing and then have enough time left to say, “Interesting. See you later.” Consultants need enough time to pre-read papers longer than seven (7) pages. When you set up an appointment, make sure it gives the consultant enough time to pre-read. Our general rule is “at least 48 hours in advance.”
It won’t do much good to make the appointment 48 hours in advance if you don’t also send us the writing in advance (yes, this happens). Don’t forget to attach/send the writing once you’ve made the appointment. If you haven’t sent the writing within 24 hours the appointment, we will cancel the appointment, opening the time up for other writers.
For papers 15 pages and longer, please contact us at write@truman.edu to arrange.
GROUP PAPERS
All members of the group must be present for the consultation, regardless of the division of writing labor. Yes, individual members can come in to work on the sections they wrote.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND GENERATIVE AI POLICY
Writing consultants may point out sections of student writing that might be plagiarized. There are a variety of reasons a consultant might suspect plagiarism, and since consultants want to help writers become better writers, addressing possible plagiarism is a priority. When they say something about plagiarism, they do so because the writing has made them suspect.
Here’s the Writing Center position on the use of generative AI and our policy when working with genAI writing.
TAKE-HOME TEST/DIAGNOSTIC POLICY
If you bring in a take-home test or a diagnostic writing for a consultation, you MUST have written permission from your instructor indicating that the Writing Center may work with you on the take-home test or diagnostic writing. It is up to you to obtain this permission before making your appointment. Your instructor can email us to give permission or discuss as necessary. Diagnostic writing assignments are designed to allow evaluation of the writer’s raw skill and style, before the rest of the writing process (feedback, rewriting, revision) occurs. This type of writing assignment typically occurs during the first few weeks of a course.
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
In order to foster free and open conversations among writers, The Writing Center does not report the names of any clients to any outside constituencies without the client’s knowledge and consent. If you indicate on the appointment form that a faculty member should be notified (by selecting “yes” to the question “Notify Instructor?” and by putting the instructor’s email address in the form), then your name, the date of your conference, and a brief summary of what concerns were addressed will be sent to the designated faculty member. In all other cases, information concerning individual conferences remains confidential and for Writing Center internal use only.
Visit us soon and often! Schedule an appointment using the Writing Center online scheduler.