Essays and papers: Writing Center resources for your student

At the Writing Center, your Mason student can enjoy free one-on-one tutoring at any stage of the writing process. We are ready to work with your student on topics ranging from brainstorming for paper ideas and developing a thesis to citing sources and polishing a final draft.

Our principal goals involve supporting students as they write in a variety of academic disciplines and preparing students to write in professional settings. Professionals in all fields rely on processes of feedback and revision to craft high quality documents. The Writing Center will help your student develop and maintain the strong writing and revision habits required for professional success.

The Writing Center hires tutors from an array of disciplines, including creative writing, English, environmental science, global affairs, government, information technology, and linguistics. With this diverse staff, we can work with your Mason student on any kind of writing: essays, research papers, memos, proposals, resumes, cover letters, creative writing, and personal statements for graduate school.

We also have extensive experience supporting multilingual and international students. All tutors are trained to work with multilingual writers, and our English as a second language (ESL) Opt-In Program allows students who request additional support to meet with the same tutor every week throughout the semester.

Your student can choose from a variety of appointment options. We offer face-to-face appointments at four different locations on the Fairfax campus and at one location on the Arlington campus. In addition to face-to-face tutoring, the Writing Center offers the Online Writing Lab (OWL). With this resource, you can submit a draft of your paper and get written feedback from a tutor. We also provide video chat sessions on select weekday evenings for added convenience. During the academic year, the Writing Center is open Monday through Friday and on Sunday afternoons. Students may make up to two appointments per week and up to 15 appointments each semester.

For more information and to make an appointment, your Mason student can visit writingcenter.gmu.edu. Our website also houses writing resources, including over 60 quick-guides that address specific writing-related topics. If your student is seeking writing help, encourage them to visit the Writing Center’s main location in Robinson B, Room 213, or to send an email to wcenter@gmu.edu with any questions.

Courtney Massie
Assistant Director
University Writing Center

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