FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, for the Fall 2022 semester, Writing Center appointments will be conducted both in-person and online.

No. All tutoring sessions are free of charge to anyone who is currently affiliated with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Due to our goal to make stronger and more confident writers equipped with appropriate writing skills, we do not proofread or edit papers. We are here to share different techniques and methods for you to learn how to proofread or edit on your own in a one-on-one setting. You may bring up your concerns with grammar and mechanics, but please note that writing consultants will usually want to address larger concerns like organization and quality of arguments first.

If you require or desire proofreading, please contact the English department at (808) 956-7619 or visit Kuykendall 402 for a list of freelance editors. While our services in the Writing Center are free of charge, freelance editors may charge a fee. 

No. In keeping with appropriate writing center practices, the writing consultants will not accept dropped-off papers and “correct” them. Our aim is to help you cultivate a range of writing skills that you can apply in your future academic and professional work. We feel this refinement is best achieved through face-to-face dialogue with a writing consultant.

No, we do not accept submissions (electronic or hard copies) prior to your appointment.

You may schedule five appointments at The Writing Center per week. As we evaluate usage of our service, our policies may change.

At minimum, you should bring your assignment prompt(s) or instructions and, of course, your willingness to collaborate and to engage in a productive conversation about your writing.

You can cancel an appointment up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. If you cancel an appointment twelve hours or more in advance, there will be no penalty, and you can freely schedule another appointment; however, cancelling two appointments within 24 hours of their start times will result in your being unable to schedule any further appointments for the remainder of the semester until your account is reauthorized by the Director.

Out of courtesy to your writing consultant and other writers, please arrive to your appointment on time. Your tutoring session will not be extended and will continue to end at the allotted time. After 15 minutes, your appointment will be cancelled and you will be considered a “no show.” If you acquire two “no-shows” in a semester, you must e-mail the Director before making another appointment for the rest of the semester.

Our goal for each session is to help you become a confident writer, which often involves a lot of discussion and trying out different strategies. Depending on the situation, an entire 45-minute session can cover anywhere from a few pages to a few words. If you have a longer paper, we strongly encourage you to schedule recurring appointments to work through one section of your paper at a time.