Frequently Asked Questions
Working for us as a consultant? Click for Employment FAQs.
Getting Assistance
Where are your offices?
A: If you make an appointment online through this Web site, you can find your consultant in Weinstein Hall, Room 402. Sunday night appointments are in Boatwright Library. Consultants assigned to classes keep their own schedules and meet in various spots around campus: check directly with your class writing consultant or professor.
Will you proofread my paper?
A: No, we won't "fix" every error for you. We will help you to revise your work and to correct your mistakes by consulting your assignment, texts about writing, and your own intuition as a writer. In the process, you will become a better proofreader.
What can I do if I have a question while I'm writing?
A: You can contact a consultant directly through our online chat feature! We can answer quick questions and point you to our many online resources. See contact us for more information.
How early should I make an appointment?
A: As soon as possible--and you don't need a finished draft to work with a consultant. Bring your notes and ideas; it is always a good idea to visit the center early in your writing process and a second time once you're nearly finished with a draft.
May I drop off my paper before my consultation?
A: Please do; reading over your paper (even an early draft) and your assignment lets the consultant know about your topic. Be sure to leave a copy of the assignment and please get us the paper no later than 48 hours before you meet the consultant.
Do only poor writers visit the center?
A: Absolutely not. We consult with writers working on their first freshman papers and writers completing senior thesis projects. Graduate students and faculty also visit the center. For any writer, it is a good idea to get an objective reader to review a piece in progress.
My professor referred me to the Writing Center. Am I in trouble?
A: No. We see dozens of students every semester who have been referred to us. Faculty members recognize that working with a consultant provides a excellent opportunity for improving writing. Even experienced writers who need a "second opinion" have been referred to work with a consultant.
I am not a UR student. Can I use the Writing Center?
A: While we cannot offer consultations to non-students, you are free to make use of our online handbook "Writer's Web" and we can refer you to private tutors in the Richmond area. Contact University Instructors of Richmond for more information.
I have writing consultants in my class. What will they do to help me with my papers?
A: Course-assigned writing consultants will write commentary on your first drafts and hold individual conferences with you. Your writing consultants should know your professor's expectations for the assignment; thus, they can guide your work in that class. See the Writing Across the Curriculum program for more information.
Working For the Program
How do I become a writing consultant?
A: You should apply to take English 383 "Introduction to Composition Theory and Pedagogy," a thorough training course offered each semester. You may need to submit a writing sample, but you will need a letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Contact us if you are interested in applying to take the class.
What is the difference in the consulting jobs?
A: If you work at the Writing Center or a dorm, you will be paid hourly and in many cases may not see a draft of a writer’s work in advance. Your schedule will be fixed each week, though you are also “on call” for writers. You may say “no” when you get busy.
If you are assigned to a class, you are more autonomous, working directly for the professor to whom you get assigned. You will be responsible for setting up a schedule to meet writers, and you should expect all drafts to arrive in advance.
What is the process for getting hired after completing Eng. 383?
A: After the semester ends, Dr. Essid and Mr. Carleton assign consultants for the following term. You will be asked, every semester (and late in 383) to complete a preference form that includes a short survey. This step is URGENT. Without the form, that goes directly into a database, requests can be lost. When you complete the form, DO NOT USE INTERNET EXPLORER. Use any other Web browser on a PC or Mac. IE does not work well with many university forms.
When do I need to give my paper work to Student Employment? Or is it HR? Where do I go?
A: When Dr. Essid notifies you of your assignment, if you are working hourly in a dorm or at the Center, Ms. Massee will complete a Job Approval Form for you. If you have never worked on campus before, for any job in our program you will also need to complete an I-9 (immigration) and tax form at the Office of Student Employment in Sarah Brunet Hall. Please bring an original social security card and photo ID (or passport or birth certificate, etc.) in order to complete the paperwork. This step is urgent; without completing the paperwork, you cannot be paid.
How am I paid?
A: If you get assigned to a course, you’ll be paid a stipend. In 2009-2010, the stipend per assignment is $454, paid in two installments near the end of the semester. This requires logging between 45 and 60 hours during the semester. Consultants in classes should keep track of their total hours. If they work more than 60 hours, including any extra help to folks in dorms, friends, etc., let the Writing Center Director know. An extra paycheck can be cut for you.
If you work at the Writing Center or in a dorm, you will submit an online time card to BannerWeb every other week. You can get a copy of the student employee handbook at the following link; the instructions for Bannerweb time sheets are on page 18:
http://studentjobs.richmond.edu/employee/StudentEmplHandbookr1.pdf
Your pay will be determined by your length of employment at UR. On average, a student working 4 or 5 hours weekly will earn approximately the same amount as a classroom consultant.
All new hires will need to complete job paperwork for taxation and immigration purposes. Please have a social security card (original, not a copy) plus a passport or driver’s license to verify your eligibility to work at Richmond.
What’s the workload?
A: Beyond hours worked, those consultants assigned to classes should expect to consult with 12-16 students at least twice per semester, including time spent reading and commenting on their papers.
Working in the Program
If I’m studying abroad, teaching, or doing an internship, will I lose my job?
A: Not at all. To stay on the roster, fill out your preference form online and let the program administrators know when you will again be available to work.
I’m getting friends and dorm residents who want my help. What do I do?
A: Help them! Just be sure to file a Writing Center Report for each appointment. Then we’ll be able to pay you for the time you spend. If you think you will have a lot of time to help those in your dorm, consider working a regular shift in the dorm as a writing consultant. Joe Essid and consultants who have tried this can provide advice about how to make dorm consultations work well.
I want to hold appointments at Boatwright Library or other locations, not in Weinstein Hall. What do I do?
A: Make a sign so writers can find you. In the Library, write “Writing Center Appointments” plus your name and the room you’ll use on the white board by the Circulation Desk. Also e-mail your writers in advance reminding them to check the white board. Students will sometimes forget where to find you and even what you look like.
When assigned to a class, it’s wise to have your signup sheet with you, and make a copy for your faculty member. Be sure to get a list of e-mails for the class from your faculty member.
I’m assigned to a class. Do I need to fill out reports for each writer?
A: No, because this can overwhelm the student proofreader. If you work in the Center, however, a report is required for each consultation. Classroom consultants should work out a system with the professor. In Joe Essid’s sections, consultants write a single e-mail to Joe with advice, observations, and follow-ups for any students. Otherwise, the annotated drafts serve as the record of what you did with writers.
Avoiding Problems Early
My professor wants me to proofread or correct content. I was told not to do that in Eng. 383. What should I do?A: Do as your professor asks. They are the arbiters of what occurs in the classroom. So even if the professor wants you to use a red pen and mark every error, do so. Tell Joe Essid if this bothers you. He’ll do his best at some “faculty development” with your professor.
No-shows are driving me crazy! What do I do?
A: At the Center, during an hourly shift, simply mark the appointment as a no-show on the online calendar. In a class, notify the professor. I would not return a draft to a writer who failed to show up, unless the professor authorizes this. I would make one good-faith effort to contact the writer, and I’d tell the professor that I did so.
When I write a report using the online form, how soon should I complete it?
A: Ideally, send in a form within twenty four hours of the meeting. Faculty often ask for missing reports!