Campus and Online Tutoring

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Writing Center has converted to an online-only format while classes are being offered remotely. You can email writingcenter@madonna.edu or use this link to make an appointment: calendly.com/muwritingcenter

We provide free writing support at any stage of the writing process to both undergraduate and graduate students. 

A Few Notes:

• Appointments are half an hour
• Only one appointment can be scheduled per day
• Up to 3 appointments can be scheduled in one week
• If you are a no-show or cancel/reschedule less than 24 hours in advance for more than 2 appointments in one week, we may have to suspend making appointments for you for the following 5 days.

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Online Tutoring

The Writing Center offers online tutoring through Blackboard Collaborate videochat to all students, whether you are in an online program or simply prefer the convenience of online tutoring. Appointments for online tutoring sessions are available by appointment any time during the Writing Center's normal business hours. 

Blackboard Collaborate Instructions 

To set up an online appointment with the Writing Center via Blackboard Collaborate: 

1. Email the Writing Center at writingcenter@madonna.edu to set up a 30-minute appointment (remember that we do not look at papers on the day they are due) or use this link: calendly.com/muwritingcenter   
2. Email your draft to writingcenter@madonna.edu at least one hour before the appointment. Make sure to send your draft as an attachment from your @my.madonna.edu student email. 
3. The Writing Center will email you back with a link to your online tutoring session.
4. Click on the link to connect at your appointment time. The first time you use Collaborate, you may want to join the session a few minutes early so that you can familiarize yourself with the various Collaborate features.
5. You and your tutor should be able to see each other via Collaborate at the appointed time. If you don’t, check the camera icon at the bottom of the window. If there’s a diagonal bar across it, click the camera icon to activate the camera view.
6. Make sure there’s no diagonal bar across the microphone icon (also at the bottom), too, so that the tutor can hear you.
7. If you prefer to type back and forth to the tutor, use the chat feature on the right-hand panel (you may need to click on the purple arrow at the bottom of the screen to open this panel).
8. At the end of the session, make sure to provide the tutor with your student ID number.
9. Exit the session by clicking on the small picture icon at the bottom of the screen and selecting “Leave session.” 

What to Expect at Your Tutoring Session

• Your tutoring session will last for approximately 30 minutes.
• If your paper is long (5 or more pages), you may need to schedule more than one appointment. Tutors can only look at one assignment per tutoring session. 
• You and the tutor will begin by discussing your assignment  - even if you haven't started writing it yet (if you have the instructions or rubric, showing that to the tutor is helpful). The tutor may work with you on all of your paper or just part. You will get feedback and suggestions. 
• The tutor will not edit your paper, as their job is to help you learn to be a better writer. They'll give you tips about finding and fixing your own errors. 
• If your professor has asked you to provide proof that you received tutoring in the Writing Center, you can ask the tutor to send you a confirmation email that you can then share with your professor.