FAQs for Students
Who may use the Writing Center?
If you are a member of the George Mason community--a student, a staff member, faculty, or alumni--you may use the Writing Center's free services. tutees must have a current or former Mason student ID number to use the Writing Center and must register for our scheduling software system before they can make an appointment.
What happens in a tutorial session?
For details on what happens in a standard tutorial session please visit our Policies tab.
How do I schedule an appointment?
All appointments (including OWL) are made through our online scheduler. Simply follow the "Schedule an Appointment" links found throughout the website. Once you have registered a user name and password you will have access to our scheduling system. All white boxes are available sessions. Simply click on a white box, fill in the required information, save, and you're done! Please make sure to arrive on time. If you need more help, you can watch our video describing how to schedule an appointment.
Can I just show up at the time I'd like an appointment and be seen by a tutor?
Sessions may be available for walk-ins, but please know that we are often completely booked, so the best approach is to schedule an appointment in advance online.
I need to cancel an appointment. How do I do this?
You may cancel an appointment as easily as you reserved your appointment. Simply log in to the online scheduler, select the yellow box for the date and time of your appointment, scroll to the end of the form and select "Cancel this appointment." Save the reservation and your appointment will be successfully canceled. If you are unable to get to the internet you may call the Writing Center at 703-993-1200.
Can I just drop my essay off for the tutor to edit and pick it up later?
No. The Writing Center is a tutorial service, not an editing service. We will not edit or proofread your writing. We WILL, however, have a conversation with you about your writing and provide you with helpful strategies and skills so that you can learn to edit your own work.
I have a really long essay. Can I schedule two sessions back-to-back so we can get through it?
No. Our policy is that students are not able to make back-to-back sessions. The reason for this is that after 45 minutes you should have plenty to work with in revisions. We advise you to plan in advance and schedule multiple appointments (you can make two appointments per week) for the same assignment so you and the tutor can dedicate individual sessions to key portions or aspects of the assignment.
The scheduler says sessions are 1 hour. Why did I get cut off at 45 minutes?
Tutorial sessions are 45 minutes in length. The extra 15 minutes gives the tutor some room after your session to provide you with handouts or additional materials to bring home with you and/or to help you schedule your next appointment if you are planning on coming back in the near future. The tutor also spends this time making some notes on your session so that if/when you do return to the Writing Center the next tutor can continue to build on the progress you've made with your writing skills.
I received an email notifying me that my session was labeled as a "no-show." What does this mean?
A "no-show" is what we call an appointment where the tutee failed to appear for the session. If you did not cancel your appointment in advance your session will be labeled a "no-show." Once you have two no-shows your remaining sessions for the current term will be forfeit. After THREE cancellations or TWO no-shows, ESL Opt-In clients will be disenrolled from the program.
I received an email notifying me that I have reached my limit for sessions. How can I get more sessions?
Students may schedule up to TEN sessions per term, including both face-to-face and online writing lab (OWL) appointments. Once you have reached your TEN session maximum you may no longer sign up for sessions during the current term. This policy is in place so that all students have fair access to our services, as we are often very busy. A bulletin board in our Robinson A 114 location has the business cards and information for several private tutors, if you require additional assistance.
Can I get help on an essay exam?
Assignments and essays distinguished as "take home exams" will NOT be tutored unless we have written permission from the professor of the course. You may bring a signed note to the session or the professor can leave permission with the Director, Anna Habib, by contacting her at ahabib@gmu.edu or calling 703-993-8359.
How can I prove to my professor that I visited the Writing Center?
We will provide a visit verification form upon request.
Can I email my paper to the tutor to read before my session?
No. You and the tutor will read through the assignment together during the 45 minute session. Our tutors simply do not have time to read assignments in advance. In addition, it is helpful for you to remind yourself of the work you've already done once you get to the session.
What is the Online Writing Lab (OWL)?
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) is our email-based tutoring service. We aim to have the OWL appointments mimic the face-to-face appointments as much as possible. The tutor will review the writing assignment and prompt for 45 minutes and make observations, pose questions, and suggest strategies for the improvement of your writing which they will return to you at the end of the session block you reserved for your appointment.
I sent an email to owl@gmu.edu for OWL and did not receive my paper back. What happened?
OWL appointments must be made through the same scheduling system as our face-to-face sessions, simply select "Online Writing Lab" from the drop down list of schedules. If you send an assignment to owl@gmu.edu without making an appointment via our scheduling system your essay will not be tutored.
I need help with writing but I'm looking for quick information, not tutoring. How can the Writing Center help me?
The Writing Center is equipped with many writing resources available in hardcopy at all Writing Center locations as well as at our resources tab.
I am working on a group project. Can I bring in the whole paper to be tutored as a representative for my group?
Group projects can be tutored in group sessions if all or multiple members of the group would like to come in for the session. If only one group member is present the tutor can only work with you on the portion of the assignment that you wrote.
How can I become a tutor?
The bulk of our tutorial staff is comprised of graduate students as a part of their teaching assistantships for the MFA and MA programs at George Mason University. There are, in addition, several opportunities for undergraduates who would like to become involved with the Writing Center, including peer tutoring, writing fellows, and office staff. For a breakdown of these positions visit our Opportunities for Students tab.
Can Alumni be tutored?
Alumni are allowed up to five appointments per semester and all other Writing Center policies apply.
FAQ for Faculty
Will a representative from the Writing Center visit my class and give a presentation on the Writing Center's services?
Yes! This is what we call a Writing Center "Roadshow". Tutors are available, upon advanced request, to give brief, 15-minute presentations on the Writing Center's services. Please visit the Information for Faculty tab for details on how to schedule a roadshow.
Can I send my student to the Writing Center for proofreading?
No. The Writing Center is not an editing service. The tutor will provide your student with strategies and skills for editing their own paper, but will not proofread it.
My student speaks english as a second language. Is the Writing Center equipped to help this student?
Yes. All tutors are trained to assist students who speak English as a Second Language (ESL), though we do also have specialized tutoring from tutors with a linguistics background. ESL specialists are indicated with a note next to their names in the scheduling system.
Can I get proof that my student visited the Writing Center?
Yes. We provide visit verification forms upon request by the student.
If I call the Writing Center can you tell me what the tutor and my student worked on in the session?
It depends. Tutees are required to indicate when they sign up for sessions whether or not they give the Writing Center permission to share session content with faculty. If the student says "no" session content is kept confidential.
I am getting complaints that my student was not able to get tutoring for their take-home essay exam. I've encouraged all of my students to visit the Writing Center for help with these essays. Why are they being turned away?
Assignments and essays distinguished as "take home exams" will NOT be tutored unless we have written permission from you. You may either send a note along with the student or leave a message with the Director, Anna Habib, by contacting her at ahabib@gmu.edu or calling 703-993-8359.