Center for Academic Excellence

Three Guidelines & 10 Tips

For a successful visit with a faculty writing specialist and peer writing advisors

Three Guidelines
1) Maximum of 30 minutes per visit

We wish to help you become a better writer and feel working more than 30 minutes during one visit with you puts us at risk of taking over the paper and process.  Also, although we may not limit the number of student writing adviser visits in a day, remember that you need time between sessions to re-think and re-write.

2) Maximum of one appointment per day and three per week
3) Maximum of five pages per visit

Five pages per visit is all we can realistically assess. Please decide which five pages you would like to review, or plan for future visits. (For senior comprehensives, come early in the process to see a faculty writing specialist. S/he can recommend a writing adviser in your field).

Ten Tips
1) When to find them
  • Faculty writing specialists are available weekdays on an appointment basis. Check the faculty schedules and make your appointment at faculty writing specialists - on-line appointments.
  • Student writing advisers are available on a drop-in basis Sunday to Thursday evenings. See the CAE Bulletin Board, Ground Floor of the Library or check WRITING ADVISOR SCHEDULES on the CAE website.
2) How to arrange a visit
3) Where to meet for your visit
  • Faculty writing specialists are in their offices ground floor library.  Look for directional signs when you come to the CAE area or check the bulletin board.
  • Student writing advisers may be in various areas of the CAE, but you will be to find them by checking the CAE bulletin board. Each adviser will sign in and indicate their location.  A "Writing Adviser Is In" sign will be put either at the table they are sitting or in the hallway outside the office they are in.
4) What to bring to your visit
  • Bring a copy of the assignment, and if possible, your notes on the professor's instructions about the assignment.  Previous drafts and the actual texts and/or notes are helpful but not required.
5)  Timing of your visit
  • Your are welcome to come to the CAE for help with any steps in the writing process, including planning, thesis development, drafting and revising.  We can often be most helpful during the stages of your writing.
6)  What we should know
  • If you have been told by your professor that you need writing help in a particular are, tell the Advisor at the beginning of your appointment.  Also, what are your concerns as a writer? 
7) Proofreading
  • "Proofreading" a paper for spelling and grammar errors is the FINAL step of the composing process. If you want an "edit," we will point out a pattern of error, but will not check every single word.  The writer is ultimately responsible for the text.
8) Your responsibility
  • You are responsible for the content in your paper.  Your course professor, a peer advisor, or the math faculty specialist are resources for improving your disciplinary knowledge.  Our major concern is the writing strategies and techniques you use to articulate your knowledge.
9) Canceling appointments
  • Whenever you cannot make your appointment please cancel via the ON-LINE APPOINTMENTS and/or email the Faculty Writing Specialist. If you repeatedly miss appointments or cancel at the last moment, regardless of the excuse, we will not save you a space in the future.  In particular, do NOT sign up for multiple appointments, with the intention to cancel one or more of them at a later time. 
10) Advice on access
  • The busiest times are evenings before CSP assignments are due and anytime late in the semester. If you are frustrated with your access to writing help for any reason, please contact Jerilynn Powers at the CAE by dropping by the CAE, calling x2545 or by sending an email to powers@oxy.edu.
  • Phone: (323) 259-2545
  • Office: Academic Commons, Ground Floor
  • Schedule an : Appointment