University Writing Services
Whether you are brainstorming your first assignment at 91女神 or putting the final touches on your dissertation, 91女神's University Writing Services can offer individualized feedback on your writing and composition process.
University Writing Services is committed to the campus-wide improvement of student writing through one-on-one consultations. We work with students from all 91女神 colleges and departments on academic and non-academic writing. Writing consultants can also provide content-based feedback on cover letters, group projects, multimodal assignments, personal statements, and speeches/oral presentations.
Our role is to support you by offering a variety of consultation options to hone your skills and become a more confident writer. We encourage you to bring in your project at any stage during the composition process, which can include but is not limited to:
- Following assignment or project guidelines
- Brainstorming and identifying the topic you want to write about
- Forming research questions and hypotheses
- Developing thesis statements and arguments
- Organizing ideas (structure, topic/closing sentences, transitions, flow)
- Researching and supporting claims with evidence (source/quote integration)
- Citing and formatting sources properly
- Improving clarity, word choice and phrasing
- Identifying recurring grammar and punctuation mistakes
- Revising drafts and implementing feedback
We cannot guarantee better grades and do not proofread or copyedit essays. We help, but we also ensure that students take responsibility for their work and develop writerly personas. Our end goal is for students to become self-directed learners.
Delivery of Services
Students may choose one of three options to receive feedback on their writing: in-person appointments, online (asynchronous) consultations, and Zoom video conferences. Students can schedule appointments through EAB Navigate - Student located under Applications on the Okta dashboard. Consultations begin on the hour, typically last for 45 to 50 minutes, and are followed by a brief survey. There is a maximum of three appointments per week. Back-to-back appointments are not permitted.
Services for Summer 2024
University Writing Services is offering in-person appointments, online (asynchronous) consultations, and Zoom video conferences starting Monday, May 20 (the first day of summer classes), through Friday, Aug. 9 (the last day of summer classes).
In accordance with the 91女神 academic calendar, these services will not be available during University holidays. The writing center will be closed:
- Sunday, May 26, through Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day)
- Tuesday, June 18, through Wednesday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
- Thursday, July 4, through Friday, July 5 (Independence Day)
During this time, the entire staff will be out of the office and unable to hold appointments or review submissions.
Summer 2024 Writing Center Summary of Services and Policies (PDF)
If you need help scheduling appointments, check out this step-by-step guide for using EAB Navigate - Student under Applications on the Okta dashboard.
For questions, email writing@slu.edu.
Services for Fall 2024
University Writing Services will be offering in-person appointments, online (asynchronous) consultations, and Zoom video conferences starting Wednesday, Aug. 21 (the first day of class) through Friday, Dec. 13 (the last day of final exams).
In accordance with the 91女神 academic calendar, these services will not be available during University holidays. The writing center will be closed:
- Sunday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day)
- Wednesday, Sept. 25 (Wellness Day)
- Thursday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 27 (Fall Break)
- Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 1 (Thanksgiving)
During this time, the entire staff will be out of the office and unable to hold appointments or review submissions.
In-Person Appointments
Students may schedule in-person appointments at the Busch Student Center, suite 331; Pius XII Memorial Library, room 320; and Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, suite 114.
If you are working on an assignment for a specific class, you are encouraged to bring the prompt and grading criteria provided by your instructor. For writing projects that are not class-based (dissertations, journal submissions, master's theses, personal statements, etc.), you are encouraged to bring any guidelines you have received.
Appointments typically begin with a discussion of the context and audience surrounding the project as well as your vision and needs for the finished product. After solidifying the goals, you and/or the consultant will read your work aloud, discussing higher- and lower-order concerns to develop a plan for completing or revising your project.
To schedule an in-person appointment, go to EAB Navigate - Student under Applications on the Okta dashboard and select your preferred location to see the consultants' availabilities.
Online (Asynchronous) Consultations
Asynchronous appointments will take place remotely. Asynchronous means that students and consultants will interact with each other at different times via email rather than physically meeting in person or participating in a live conference online.
The first step is to book an appointment. To schedule an asynchronous consultation, go to EAB Navigate - Student located under Applications on the Okta dashboard. Select "Online (Asynchronous) Consultation" as the preferred service to see all the consultants鈥� availabilities.
The second step is to complete the Online Submission Form (link provided in the description on the EAB final confirmation page) before your scheduled appointment time. The submission form will provide two designated locations for attachments, one to upload your document and another to upload an optional related prompt or rubric. It is helpful to give as much information about the context and purpose of the project as possible. Please save and upload files in .doc or .docx format.
After completing the required steps, you should receive two email confirmations 鈥� one from EAB Navigate - Student and one from the Online Submission Form.
Starting at the time of your appointment, an experienced writing consultant will begin to make suggestions on how to improve your project for approximately four to seven pages of content. This feedback will consist of marginal comments (using Microsoft Word's built-in comment function), a summary, and an action plan. The consultant will email you from writing@slu.edu by 10 p.m. the day of your appointment. Download the updated document to your computer, as you may not see marginal comments in many internet browsers' "view" function.
If you want additional feedback after an initial draft (or, if you want, a writing consultant to look at an unrelated assignment from a different class), you will need to schedule another appointment and submit a new form. Both steps must be repeated. Indicate the appropriate section that you would like the consultant to review, whether it is the same section or a new range of pages if it is a longer project.
Zoom Video Conferences
Synchronous video consultations will take place in real time using Zoom. Both you and the writing consultant will be able to look at your writing project simultaneously by screen sharing, use the in-meeting chat function, and make annotations. These conferences can be conducted using a desktop computer, laptop (preferred), tablet/smartphone (limited functionality). To communicate with the writing consultant, your device must have microphone accessibility. Webcam accessibility is strongly recommended.
To schedule a synchronous video consultation, go to EAB Navigate - Student located under Applications on the Okta dashboard. Select "Zoom Video Conference" as the preferred service to see all the consultants鈥� availabilities. Remember to save the link to the consultant's personal meeting room on the final confirmation page. Sign in to Zoom on the day and time of your appointment to meet with your consultant.
Visit at Any Point in Your Writing Process
At University Writing Services, we help you work on whatever you are writing. Even the most experienced writers find it useful to get feedback on their work throughout the entire creative process.
Remember Us for Revisions
We can help you work through different drafts of the same assignment. If you plan ahead and make multiple appointments over the course of a project, we can offer even more help. We recommend coming several times a semester. Dividing your writing into smaller steps improves the final product. If our scheduling software does not allow you to make an appointment far enough in advance, please contact Coordinator of Academic Support Alexander Ocasio at alex.ocasio@slu.edu.
Who We Are
Peer Consultants
Peer consulting allows you to voice your priorities, ideas, and concerns. It can be a time to think aloud, organize thoughts and ask questions outside of a classroom setting.
Consultants at University Writing Services are part-time staff, graduate assistants, and undergraduate peers who are trained in the different ways people write and how to talk about writing with others in a respectful and productive manner. Our consultants are good listeners as well as good writers.
- Graduate students work with trained part-time staff and graduate assistants.
- Undergraduate students work with trained part-time staff, graduate assistants, and undergraduate consultants.
Interested in Becoming a Writing Consultant?
Our consultants come from a variety of majors. Consulting is an excellent way to serve the 91女神 community while gaining additional writing, communication, and professional experience.
Writing Consultant Practicum
ENGL 3859 - Writing Consulting Practicum
Credit(s): 3 Credits
Teaches students how to run in-person and online writing conferences. Coursework includes analyzing writing, understanding common academic and professional writing genres, and responding to writers using equity-focused strategies. Three course tracks give students the choice of how they will complete the course: through coursework only, through coursework and service-learning, or through coursework and an internship at University Writing Services (UWS). Internship students consult in UWS during the second half of the term. Students on all three tracks who successfully complete the course are eligible to apply for employment at UWS. Counts toward the English department concentration in Rhetoric, Writing, and Technology.
Attributes: Educ Composition & Rhetoric, English Rhetoric & Argument, Rhetoric, Writing, Technology, UUC: Writing Intensive
Paid Consultants
After completing ENGL 3859, students can apply for a staff position. University Writing
Services usually hires six to nine new undergraduate consultants each academic year
who work several hours weekly.
Paid consultants continue their professional development by training with other staff
members in addition to researching, reflecting, and writing about theoretical principles
that influence current writing center practices.