How we can help
Just a few of the things we can help with:
- Understanding your assignments
- Brainstorming ideas
- Finding or narrowing a topic
- Organizing and outlining your ideas
- Understanding the expectations of your audience
- Communicating effectively in many different forms: essays, letters, artist statements, proposals and more
- Working with sources to support your arguments and ideas
- Improving your English language skills in both spoken and written English
- Improving your vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation
What To Expect
At a Writing Centre appoinment, you can expect to:
- meet a writing consultant who is welcoming, sympathetic, and respectful;
- participate actively in the session: we will ask you many questions as we read through your writing together;
- learn how the choices you make in writing affect your reader, and learn about different choices you might make to change or improve that reader’s experience;
- leave knowing the most important steps you need to take to improve your writing, on this assignment and for future ones;
- over time, build a better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses as a writer and develop strategies to help you improve both!
In Person Appointments
Meet with a tutor in the Writing Centre on campus (we are located on the 2nd floor within the ECU Library) for help with written and studio assignments. You can bring your studio assignment to the office or images of it.
Book an appointment using our booking site: use your ECU webmail + services login information, using only the first part of your address (before @ecuad.ca) and the same password.
The first time you visit, you will be asked to register for the system by filling in a form. You will only need to do this once.
You can book appointments that are 30 or 60 minutes long, and book up to 90 minutes of appointments per week. Appointments are available 10 days in advance.
If you can’t find an appointment, use the waiting list: 75% of people who use the waiting list get appointments when they need them! Visit the FAQ section for more information.
Online Chat + Written Feedback Appointments
We offer two types of online appointments:
1. Online Chat appointments are not that different from our traditional face-to-face appointments, except that, well, you don’t have to physically be in the same room. You still book an appointment for a set time, and you show up for that appointment, but you show up in our online consultation space and use video and/or text to chat. These appointments are great for brainstorming, asking questions about your written or studio assignments, or feedback at any stage of the process through conversation and collaboration.
2. Written Feedback appointments (only recommended for 2nd year and up and for written work) are great for those who are unable to find time to meet with a tutor due to timezone differences. You simply upload your writing and receive your feedback by end of the appointment! These appointments are great when you have a lot of writing already done and have a clear understanding of the assignment. They are not good for brainstorming appointments. Please note, the feedback will be in the form of comments and questions – tutors will not do detailed editing for grammar.
Click here for information on how to book and use Written Feedback appointments.
Here is how to use Writing Centre’s Online Chat appointments in 5 easy steps:
1) Log into our booking site with your ECU login credentials.
2. Find a writing consultant who offers Online Chat appointments. Click on a white square, which indicates an available appointment slot (you can book 30-60 minutes a day, up to 90 minutes a week)
3) Select the appropriate appointment type (Online Chat, in this case):
4) Fill out the rest of the pop-up window form. When it’s time for your appointment, log back into the system, click on your appointment and then click the “START ONLINE CHAT APPOINTMENT” link.
5) Once you click that link, a new window will open showing three panels: a video consultation panel on the left (if camera and mic are turned on), a whiteboard space in the middle where you can upload or paste your text, and a text chat panel on the right:
Most people seem to prefer the text chat option, in which case just turn off your video and start typing in the lower right hand corner.
And that’s all there is to it! Just another easy way to work with the Writing Centre.
Need to cancel or make changes to your appointment?
You have up until 60 minutes prior to the start of the appointment to make any changes. You can simply log back in and click on your appointment to cancel or edit it. If it is past the 60 minute limit, you must e-mail us at writingcentre@ecuad.ca. If you are concerned that you do not have enough writing for your appointment, please consider meeting your tutor anyway for a brainstorming session!
AGP Drop-in Appointments
ABORIGINAL GATHERING PLACE (AGP) DROP-IN with Zoë
Are you curious about the Aboriginal Gathering Place? Do you need a hand with a writing assignment? A second set of eyes on an academic paper? Or even someone to bounce ideas off of? Come on down to the AGP for a drop-in tutoring session with Zoë, graduate student and peer tutor at the Writing Centre! Feel free to come check it out whether you come in with a final draft, an assignment sheet and an idea or anything in between.
- What: Drop-in only face-to-face appointments that are first come, first served.
- Who: for Aboriginal students
- When: Fall 2023 TBA
- Where: On campus (masks required)
E-mail writingcentre@ecuad.ca if you have any questions.
Poster: Zoë L.
COVID-19 Update
As of April 2023, we are offering all three types of appointments: in-person, online chat and written feedback. Please wear a mask to your in-person appointments and if you feel unwell, please book an online chat appointment.
Please email us if you have any questions: writingcentre@ecuad.ca