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 Pickler Memorial Library 107.
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, send it to write@truman.edu.
LONG PAPERS
Making the appointment: If your draft is 7 pages or longer (double-spaced), please consider creating an hour-long appointment, but certainly both make the appointment and send the writing at least 48 hours in advance of the consultation. That gives the consultant time to pre-read the work.
Getting your work to the consultant: It won’t do much good to make the appointment 48 hours in advance if you don’t also send us the writing. Don’t forget to attach/send the writing once you’ve made the appointment. Even if you’ve made the appointment 48 hours in advance, 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.
GROUP PAPERS
All members of the group must be present for the consultation, regardless of the division of writing labor. For online consultations, the Zoom + Google Drive option must be chosen. Put each group member’s email address in the “Concerns” box in the appointment form. The consultant will share the Zoom link with the group members a few minutes before the consultation. A hybrid consultation is possible (group members both Zooming and face-to-face), but the consultant must approve.
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.
The Writing Center position on the use of generative artificial intelligence (e.g. ChatGPT) to write in an educational setting is fairly simple. As shorthand, “AIw” represents writing generated by artificial intelligence. When students are asked to write in order to think through a subject (writing to think) or to communicate their understanding of a subject to an audience (writing to communicate), the use of AIw prevents learning that results from such educational processes. The use of AIw circumvents the engagement of a student’s experience with the experiences, words, and ideas that make up the subject of study, and such engagement is learning itself. Because the use of AIw is an intentional act, most often driven by the need to save time, prevent stress, and/or avoid a difficult subject, such use also reduces motivation to read and/or engage in discussions of the subject.
Until the university provides access to a secure AI detection service, writing consultants cannot detect the use of AIw with any confidence. However, consultants are encouraged to point out sections of student-owned text that have characteristics associated with AIw (simplistic/superficial subject coverage, odd phrasings, lack of human presence in syntax/usage/metacommentary, bizarre references/sources, etc.). If a consultant mentions AIw, it is not an accusation of AIw use. The consultant is simply pointing out that the writing has one or more hallmarks of AIw, and the student risks an AIw check and response from their professor (who may have personal access to secure AI detection).
If you are tempted to use AIw to avoid stress, save time, and/or avoid engagement with complex ideas, please make an appointment with a writing consultant and/or subject-area tutor (if available), or go talk with your professor.
TAKE-HOME TEST/DIAGNOSTIC POLICY
If you send 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 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 scheduling form that a faculty member should be notified (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!