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The word is born in a dialogue.....
--M. M. Bakhtin
Old English letter T

Writing Tutors

Writing tutors are available to help all Wellesley writers with their writing, at all stages of the writing process. Like Bakhtin, we believe that writing begins, continues, and ends in conversation. We believe that the best service we can offer you is dialogue about your writing. Tutors are trained to work within a wide variety of disciplines, have a broad-based interest in writing, and demonstrate a sensitivity in particular to the needs of underconfident writers.

Where are the Writing Tutors located?
Writing tutors work in the Learning and Teaching Center, Clapp Library, 3rd floor, most afternoons and evenings, beginning the second week of each semester. For more information, call or email the tutor coordinator: Alexandra Johnson, 781-283-3771.


Writing Tutor schedule


Who are the writing tutors?
They are ten tutors who will work with you on a one-to-one basis, helping you work through all writing-related issues in a variety of disciplines. The tutors are process oriented. Their goal is to help students generate, organize, revise and improve their writing. Tutors will look at work at any stage of the writing process. Indeed, you can go to a tutor before you’ve even written a draft just to talk out ideas for a paper. Tutors will read multiple drafts as the paper evolves between sessions. While tutors can point out grammar problems, they are not intended as proof readers or grammar checkers. They are there to help students develop strong ideas within papers.

How do I know if I should see a writing tutor?
Students from first years to seniors working on a thesis see the writing tutors. If you’re having difficulty even getting started on a paper, a writing tutor will help get it going. If you’ve written part of a draft but feel the paper is lacking a clear thesis or solid argument, writing tutors can help. If you have a first draft but sense that the organization is problematic, a tutor will help find a more solid structure. If you feel the paper is good but want another eye to look it over, a writing tutor is invaluable.

Where and how do I find a tutor?
Tutors are located in the Learning and Teaching Center (LTC) The writing tutors work on a drop-in basis. However, if you feel you want to work with one tutor throughout part of the semester, that can usually be arranged. To make a special tutor arrangement, contact Alex Johnson in the Writing Program. They will help match you with a tutor.

Some tips for making the most of your visit to the writing tutors:

Come early and come often. Consider seeing a tutor as soon as you get an assignment. This is especially important for you if you feel you have no idea how to approach the paper. A tutor can -- and will! -- ask you questions to help you understand the assignment and begin to think of ideas. She can also help you develop a plan for getting the project done.

Bring the assignment sheet to the tutor session. Tutors will want to look over the assignment your professor has assigned so they know exactly what’s been asked.

Bring questions along with your draft. Explain to your tutor exactly what kinds of problems you are having and what help you would like her to provide.

Plan enough time for a tutor to look over your work. Ideally, this means coming at least a couple of days before an assignment is due. Tutors can give most help when you're able to spend as much time as a draft needs. Dropping in just before something is due is not advised. Tutors enjoy helping students through stages of writing and this requires time.

Take notes during your session. Tutors typically will not write on your paper. It is up to you to write down the ideas you discuss, to jot down a possible new outline for the paper, and to try out new sentence structures as the two of you talk.

End each session with a plan. Your tutor has this goal too. Be sure you leave the sesson with a clear next step in mind.

Schedule time with yourself for revision. If you can, allow time to sit down and begin to revise the paper the instant you leave the tutoring session. Don't even go back to your room. Sit right down in the LTC computer lab and begin to write, and don't leave until you've got a good handle on where the paper is going next!

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  • Wellesley College Writing Program
  • Created by: Karyn Lu '01
  • Date Created: June 29, 2000
  • Date Modified: June 13, 2006
  • Expires: June 30, 2008

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