TIPS FOR VISITING THE STUDENT WRITING ADVISERS


1. SUNDAY - THURSDAY EVENINGS on a Drop-In Basis
The Writing Advisers are available on a drop-in basis Sunday through Thursday evenings and many afternoons. First-come, first-served. Expect your time to be limited to thirty minutes when the Advisers have another person waiting for help. We wish to help you become a better writer and feel working too long with you puts us at risk of taking over the paper and the process.

2. LOCATION - "The Writing Adviser Is In"
Writing Advisers may be in various areas of the CAE, but you will be able to find them by checking the bulletin board in the hallway of the CAE. On that bulletin board, the Advisers will sign in AND indicate their location. Writing Advisers will also put a sign out, "The Writing Adviser is in," either at the table where they are sitting or in the hallway outside the office they are in.

3. WHAT TO BRING
Bring a copy of the assignment, and, if possible, your notes on the professor's instructions about the assignment. Also helpful are your previous drafts and the actual texts and/or notes upon which you are basing your paper.

4. WELCOME TO STUDY in CAE AREA
You are welcome to come to the Writing Advisers as often as you wish for help with any steps in the writing process, including planning, thesis development, drafting and revising. However, remember that you may need time between sessions to re-think and re-write.

5. PROFESSOR RECOMMENDED YOU TO VISIT THE CAE
If you have been told by your professor that you need writing help in a particular area, tell the Adviser at the beginning of your appointment.

6. PROOFREADING
Remember that "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.

7. CAE CONCERNS - WRITING STRATEGIES & TECHNIQUES
You are responsible for the disciplinary knowledge in your paper. Your course professor, a peer advisor, or the science or 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.

8. WAITING TOO LONG? LET US KNOW!
If you waited for over two hours to meet with a Writing Adviser and were not able to do so, please contact Jerilynn Powers at the CAE to document unmet demand. Let us know of your unsuccessful attempt by calling (323) 259-2545, by sending e-mail to powers@oxy.edu, or by leaving a note in the slot on the door of the CAE Office [Room 32]. Please leave your name and e-mail address.

9. EVALUATE OUR SERVICES
We encourage you to evaluate every visit to the CAE, whether to express concerns, or to document your satisfaction. Please give us feedback. Our user-friendly form is at: http://www.departments.oxy.edu/cae/evaltemplate.html