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ASC Writing Center: FAQ

How much does it cost?

The Writing Center is a free service to all RIT students (undergraduate and graduate), as well as faculty and staff members.

Do I need to make an appointment?

No. Students are seen in the order in which they arrive, on a first-come, first-served basis. However, it is important to remember that there is higher demand during midterms and finals, so there could be a line. Please plan ahead and try to arrive early.

What should I bring with me?

Bring a hard copy of your draft, a copy of your assignment, your course syllabus, and if you have one, your grammar handbook.

What should I do before I come to the Writing Center?

We ask that you carefully read over your draft, correcting as many errors as you can. Mark the places where you have questions for the instructor. Be ready to explain the assignment to us.

How much time will you spend with me?

This is up to the discretion of the instructor, and/or the number of other students waiting. We will generally spend fifteen minutes or 10 pages with each student, especially during high traffic times.

Can I use your computers to work on and print my papers?

Yes. We have two computers and a printer for use by students who are receiving help in the ASC Writing Center.

Can I drop my essay off and come back later to pick it up?

No. As an instructional Center, we believe that you will get the most out of the experience by sitting down with one of our professional staff members.

Can I bring in take-home tests/exams?

No. We have a Center policy against giving instruction on exams. We believe that this would give some students an unfair advantage. Exams are designed to test what you know, not what someone else knows.

Will you notify my professor that I received help in the Writing Center?

The only course that we report to professors is COLA’s Writing Seminar. It was decided that reporting some basic information to the teachers of these classes is an excellent way to provide more effective support to beginning writers. All other courses are not reported.

Will you read graduate thesis projects?

See “Guidelines for Reading Master’s Theses” on the Writing Center’s home page (under “Help With Your Master's Thesis”).

Will the Writing Center help me contest a grade or evaluate my professor’s written comments on an assignment?

No. Grievances should go through your professor and the course’s home department.

What writing support is not provided?

Although we try to meet as many of your writing needs as possible, there are several services that we do not provide:

• We will not proofread or edit drafts of your papers.
  
• We do not guarantee that the papers that we help you with will receive an A.
  
• We will not discuss the grade of an assignment, or guess what grade your assignment will earn.
  
• We do not promise that every problem that you are experiencing in your writing will be “fixed.”
  
• We will not point out every error in your draft.
  
• We will never read tests/exams.
  
• We do not read drafts on laptops. We ask that you bring a hard copy of your assignment with you.
  
• If you have a longer draft, of if there are other students waiting, we may not read your entire draft, at the discretion of the instructor.
  
• We will not read more than ten pages of any given draft.
  
• We do not, and cannot fix serious “English as a Second Language” (ESL) issues. We recommend that these students explore the offerings of the English Language Center (ELC).

I’m a College of Engineering student who has earned a grade of CF (Conditional Fail) on my written exit exam. What do I do now?

You need to contact Andrew Perry (andrew.perry@rit.edu), the Director of the Writing Center, to set up an appointment for a "Plan of Work." At this meeting, the details for fulfilling this requirement will be thoroughly explained.

Who runs the Writing Center?