College Core Writing Tutors

For undergraduates writing in the Common Core

College Core Writing Tutors act as a resource to help all undergraduate students develop and improve the organization, coherence, and argumentative sophistication of their essays. Writing Tutors work with students through the entire writing process from the crucial moments of brainstorming and questioning, to drafted/outlined material, to full drafts.

Writing Tutors are available during Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters. Appointments are released on a week-by-week schedule, starting on Friday afternoons.

During Autumn 2024, all first- and second-year students can book an appointment using the “Book an Appointment” link below. Third- and fourth-year students must either email writing-program@uchicago.edu to schedule an appointment (if available) per booking instructions detailed in the FAQ, or get on the Drop-In List to see a Writing Tutor that same day.

In Autumn 2024, College Writing Tutors will be available from Week 3 to Finals Week (Sunday, October 13th to Friday, December 13th). Appointments will be released weekly, starting Friday, October 11th. Additionally, please note there will be no writing tutoring during Thanksgiving Break (Sunday, November 24th to Friday, November 29th).

College Core Writing Tutors are available during the following hours:

Sundays	2:00pm – 6:00pm 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Mondays	2:00pm – 6:00pm** 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Tuesdays	2:00pm – 6:00pm** 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Wednesdays	6:00pm – 10:00pm
Thursdays	2:00pm – 6:00pm** 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Fridays	12:00pm – 4:00pm**

**Remote tutoring only.

Please click on the sections below for further information on how to schedule and prepare for a Writing Tutor appointment.

How can a Writing Tutor help me?

Writing Tutors can:

Brainstorm on how to get started on a paper or how to best approach a paper assignment or prompt, particularly in terms of how to construct an argument.
Read a full or partial draft of a paper and comment on its overall argumentation (use of textual evidence, logical flow of argument, persuasive placement of points, etc.).
Read a full or partial draft of a paper and comment on its organization, both globally and at the paragraph level.
Spot patterns of mechanical errors in a student’s prose and teach the student how to identify and correct these patterns.
Make suggestions for how to revise a paper for greater coherence, clarity, and persuasiveness of argument.

What are things Writing Tutors cannot do?

Writing Tutors do not copy-edit, proofread, or otherwise “correct” papers.
Writing Tutors do not fix grammar errors.
Writing Tutors do not interpret course readings or course content for students.
Writing Tutors do not read papers longer than 10 pages, double-spaced.
Writing Tutors also do not meet with students outside available tutoring hours.

How can I book an appointment with a Writing Tutor?

1st- and 2nd-Year Students:

Click the “Book an Appointment” button below the FAQ and schedule an apointment through the system. Please be aware of the following:

Appointments are released on a week-by-week schedule. All appointments for the following week are released on Friday afternoons.
You cannot schedule two appointments throughout the week at one time. Instead, you may schedule an appointment or place yourself on the drop-in list after have completed your scheduled consultation.
If you find that all sessions are booked for the week, you may place yourself on the Drop-In List on the same day you would like to see a Tutor by clicking on the “Get On the Drop-In List” button.

3rd- and 4th-Year Students:

We invite you to email the Writing Program at writing-program@uchicago.edu so we can help you schedule an appointment. When you email us, please let us know:

The days and times you would be able to see a Writing Tutor;
Whether you prefer a remote or in-person appointment;
The course associated with the text you are seeking writing assistance with.

If we are unable to find an appointment that works with your schedule, we will advise you to click the “Get on the Drop-In List” button below the FAQ to meet with a Tutor on the day when you are available.

Note for All Students:

Appointments are released on a week-by-week schedule, starting on Friday afternoons. Any requests for appointments in later weeks should wait until the Friday afternoon before, with detailed availability so that we may best accommodate such requests.

Please note that we do not facilitate requests during the weekend, nor do we schedule same-day appointments. If you would like to meet with a tutor on short notice, we invite you to join the Drop-In List on the day you would like to see a Writing Tutor.

How should I prepare for my appointment with a Writing Tutor?

For remote appointments (15 or 16)…

Please prepare your document to be shared with the Tutor by creating a link to view it in Google Docs.
Check-in for your appointment up to 30 minutes in advance. Use the Check-In Link in your appointment confirmation email to check in. This will let your Tutor know you are ready to begin your session.
At your appointment start time, you will receive an email inviting you to join the Zoom meeting with your Writing Tutor. Please click on the Zoom link to begin your remote tutoring session.
At the beginning of your session, please send the Writing Tutor the GoogleDocs link to your document in the Zoom chat.
If you do not respond to the Tutor’s email or enter the Zoom meeting in ten minutes, you will have forefeited your appointment. If your appointment has been forefeited, we ask that you get on the Drop-In List to be seen by a Writing Tutor that day. You may also make another appointment later in the week if there are any openings.

For in-person appointments (17 – 20)…

Please bring your document to your tutoring session.
Use the entrance of the Harper Memorial Library East Tower and head up to the 3rd Floor. Enter the Cathey Learning Center and turn left to follow a hallway toward the North Reading Room. You will arrive at a large room full of cubicles – your appointment will happen in one of the above-mentioned cubicles at your scheduled time.
We suggest you arrive at least 10-15 minutes in advance of your appointment. Check in for your appointment up to 30 minutes in advance by using Check-In link in your appointment confirmation email. You may also scan a QR code at the cubicle to check in.
Your Tutor will call your name at your appointment start time. If you do not respond, they will call your name or text you five minutes later. If you do not respond, you will have forefeited your appointment.
If your appointment has been forefeited, we ask that you get on the Drop-In List to be seen by a Writing Tutor that day. You may also make another appointment later in the week if there are any openings.

For All Appointments: Please e-mail ccwt@lists.uchicago.edu for any issues regarding your appointment on that day.

What happens if I put myself on the Drop-In List?

Know that you are putting yourself on the Drop-In List for the same day you sign up. Once you check in, Writing Tutors will only reach out to you during the same day and time they are working.

Make sure to provide any notes to Tutors about your availablity. You will be contacted via email at your available time, so please make sure to check your spam folder for any invitation emails that may have been filtered.

If you are waiting for an in-person appointment: Please arrive at the North Reading Room on the 3rd floor of the Harper Memorial Library and wait for your name to be called. Make sure to bring your document with you to share with the Writing Tutor.
If you are waiting for a remote appointment: Please wait for a Writing Tutor to e-mail you with a Zoom link. Prepare your document to be shared with the Tutor by creating a link to view it in Google Docs.

If you have any questions about your appointment during the time you are scheduled, please e-mail the Tutors at ccwt@lists.uchicago.edu. You may also send questions or concerns to writing-program@uchicago.edu, and we will respond during normal business hours.

Book An Appointment

Get on the Drop-In List

ESL/EAL Writing Tutor

For multilingual College and graduate students seeking support for written English

The ESL/EAL Writing Tutor is trained by the English Language Institute to provide support for non-native English speakers seeking assistance with their Core writing assignments. The ESL/EAL Writing Tutor helps students build their knowledge of North American academic stylistic features and conventions related to the proper integration and citation of sources. The ESL/EAL Writing Tutor can also provide analysis of sentence level structural errors and teach students strategies to avoid these moving forward.

Undergraduates receive priority to work with the ESL/EAL Writing Tutor, but graduate students may be seen on a drop-in basis if no one is waiting.

In Autumn 2024, there will be two ESL/EAL Writing Tutors:

Abigail Hill will be available for remote appointments on Sundays from 6:00pm – 10:00pm CST.
Bingjie Hsieh will be available for in-person appointments on Tuesdays from 4:00pm – 8:00pm.

To work with Abigail or Bingjie, sign up at this link (undergrads only). The ESL/EAL Writing Tutor schedule is available here.

Graduate Writing Tutors

For Master's and PhD students seeking writing consultation on academic works in progress

Through UChicagoGRAD, Graduate Writing Tutors are available to meet one-on-one with graduate students about academic works in progress, such as conference papers, journal articles, and coursework papers. Writers set the agenda; during the consultation, tutors help writers devise a plan for moving forward by acting as a sounding board, mobilizing their expertise in analyzing academic writing, and suggesting revision techniques.

For more information on how to schedule an appointment with a Graduate Writing Tutor, and other writing resources available to graduate students, please consult the Academic Support page on UChicagoGRAD’s website.