All MacEwan students are welcome to use our peer-to-peer writing consultation service. During a consultation, you meet one-on-one with a trained writing tutor to discuss your writing and writing needs. Support is offered through in-person and online video chat appointments as well as through written feedback.
Our peer writing tutors can support you at any stage of your writing process, whether with academic, creative, or professional writing. They will help you to understand your assignment guidelines and assess whether your writing goals have been achieved. However, peer writing tutors are not subject area tutors or editors: they will not provide feedback on content or edit your work.
We offer 25-minute and 50-minute appointments, which are scheduled in 30-minute or 60-minute appointment slots.
To every consultation, please bring (1) a written document such as an outline or draft, as well as (2) any associated assignment guidelines or rubrics.
You may wish to consult our Frequently Asked Questions prior to booking your appointment.
The Writing Centre is located in the Library, room 6-202. Please check the Library’s Hours of Operation to plan your visit. The Writing Centre is closed on weekends and statutory holidays.
Scheduling an Appointment in WC ONLINE
Follow this step-by-step guide or the instructions below to schedule an appointment.
- Click on the "Make an Appointment" button below
- Sign in with your MacEwan credentials
- Complete the Registration Form
- Use your registered account to access the services described below
In-Person or Online Video Chat Appointments
Schedule a 30-minute or a 60-minute in-person or online video chat appointment with one of our peer writing tutors to receive support at any stage of the writing process.
If you choose an in-person appointment, please arrive 5 minutes before your appointment time. In-person appointments are in room 6-202 in the Library.
If you choose an online video chat appointment, log into your appointment 5 minutes before the appointment start time and click “Start or Join Online Consultation.”
Written Feedback
If you would prefer to receive Written Feedback on your writing, schedule a 60-minute appointment for Written Feedback and upload your paper (doc or docx only) and assignment guidelines (doc, docx, or pdf). A tutor will review your submission and you will be emailed when the feedback is ready. You can submit drafts-in-progress as well as completed drafts.
When completing Written Feedback, writing tutors either (a) focus on a specific section as per your request or (b) progress through the submission until the appointment is over, which may or may not take them to the end of your document. If you would like further feedback, you are welcome to resubmit the document.
Walk-In Appointments
Walk-in appointments are possible if a tutor has openings in their schedule, but it will still be necessary to make an appointment at the time of the consultation. To be certain you can access our support, schedule an appointment ahead of time.
Trouble Signing In?
After clicking on the "Make an Appointment" button, if you are not automatically logged in to your account, you may have to click on the Client or Student log-in link shown in the image below.
FAQs
Is the Writing Centre free?
Yes, MacEwan students access the Writing Centre for free.
How many appointments can I book?
You can book 1 appointment per day and 2 appointments per week. If you've exceeded the maximum number of appointments but would still like to discuss your writing with peer writing tutors and other writers, you can do so during the weekly Writing Community Drop-In Hours in the fall and winter terms.
How long do writing consultations last?
You can book In-Person and Online Video Chat appointments for 30 or 60 minutes. If scheduling a Written Feedback appointment, you must book it for 60 minutes.
Although consultations are booked for 30 or 60 minutes, your time with the peer writing tutor lasts 25 or 50 minutes. Tutors spend the last 5-10 minutes summarizing the consultation, gathering resources, and preparing for their next appointment.
What can I expect during an appointment?
During an In-Person or Online Video Chat appointment, you will have a conversation with a peer writing tutor about your writing. We think of these appointments as consultations.
The tutor will ask you questions about your writing goals, describe their experience reading your work, and discuss options for improvement. You should expect to take notes during the consultation or, if you're just getting started, to begin writing.
During a Written Feedback consultation, the tutor will also ask questions and make observations, but they will be in the form of a feedback summary and marginal comments on your document.
Regardless of the appointment type, you as the writer retain full control of your work, and tutors will not make any direct changes to your writing. Peer writing tutors will also only focus on your writing. They are not subject area tutors and will not provide advice on content.
Does the Writing Centre offer walk-in appointments or drop-in help?
Walk-in appointments are possible if a peer writing tutor has an opening in their schedule. In such cases, you will still need to book an appointment at the time of the consultation. To ensure you can access support, we recommend scheduling appointments ahead of time.
Drop-in help is available during weekly Writing Community Drop-In Hours in the fall and winter terms. Hours are available on the Library's Workshops & Events page.
Who should use the Writing Centre?
Everyone! Writing centres are welcoming spaces to have conversations about writing. Whether you consider yourself a beginning writer or an experienced writer, you'll benefit from having others read and discuss your work.
Can I get help in a language other than English?
While the Writing Centre can only help you with material written in English, it may be possible to conduct a consultation partially in another language. The languages the Writing Centre supports in each term depends on the available tutors. Additional languages are listed on tutors' individual bios, which you can access from the About Us page.
To request a consultation with a tutor in a shared language other than English, book an appointment with an appropriate tutor and specify the language in the appointment details.
How early in the writing process can I book an appointment?
You can book an In-Person or Online Video Chat appointment at any stage in the writing process, including before you've finished a first draft. If you haven't started writing a draft, you can bring in or upload an outline or other planning documents. If you don't have any documents, you can begin writing during the consultation.
When booking a Written Feedback appointment, you should have a draft in progress or a finished draft.
What kind of writing can I bring to the Writing Centre? Can I bring graduate school or scholarship applications?
You can bring any writing relevant to your academic, professional, or personal growth at MacEwan, including coursework, job applications, and creative writing.
If you would like feedback on graduate school, professional school, or graduate-level scholarship applications, please complete this form to request at 45-minute consultation with a member of the Writing Centre's professional staff.
If you're seeking feedback on other types of applications, you can book consultations directly with the Writing Centre as usual.
Can I submit group work?
Yes, you can submit group work. However, only the work of those present at the consultation can be discussed. As such, you must arrange for all collaborators to be present for In-Person and Online Video Chat appointments if you'd like to discuss the entire document.
Can I submit a take-home exam?
If you have the explicit permission of your instructor, you can submit a take-home exam.
Will you proofread my paper?
No. Peer writing tutors can help you understand grammar conventions, advise you on developing your voice, and learn proofreading strategies. However, tutors will not make any direct changes to your writing or proofread your paper themselves.
Will you evaluate my work or give me a grade?
No. Peer writing tutors can help you determine if your writing is achieving its goals, but they won't evaluate it for a grade or suggest what grade you might receive.
When will I receive my written feedback?
Peer writing tutors return asynchronous written feedback at or shortly after the end of the scheduled appointment. On rare occasions, tutors will return the feedback up to 1 business day after the submission. Plan accordingly and submit as early as possible to ensure you have time to revise your work.
Are writing consultations confidential?
Yes. The MacEwan Writing Centre, like other university writing centres, is an impartial space on campus. Peer writing tutors do not discuss consultations with your instructors or classmates.
This commitment to confidentiality means that tutors cannot confirm to your instructor that you attended a consultation.
Tutors also work on MacEwan-issued laptops and delete downloaded files at the end of every shift.
Licensed under