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Writing Center

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

Resources for Writers

Long-Term Program

A hand holding up a stack of paper

The Long-Term Program (LTP) enables you to partner with a single consultant for up to a full semester so that you can have dedicated, sustained attention to a major writing project or writing goal. Writers may sign up for the Long Term Program to focus on such things as a multimodal capstone project, a chapter of a novel, multiple medical school applications, or a series of course assignments that culminate in a final essay.  

 

What to Expect

Within your sessions, you will be the content expert; the consultant will serve as a fresh set of eyes and as an "outside" reader who can help you think through your structure, point out areas that need development or clarification, and -- once you have your ideas down -- help you polish your prose. The consultant will also serve as an accountability partner, asking you at the end of each appointment to set a writing goal to meet before your next appointment.

LTP Appointment Length and Frequency

You can meet as infrequently as once every other week, or as frequently as twice a week, depending on the needs of your project; we recommend 50-minute appointments each time. You and your LTP partner will decide on the right schedule at the beginning of the partnership.

Getting Started

Step 1: Is there enough time left in the semester to join?

Enrollment for Spring 2024 semester  is open until March 29th.

After this date, we recommend you make appointments using our regular schedule to work on your project. You can schedule your own appointments up to two weeks in advance.

Step 2: Is my project appropriate for the LTP Program?

First, confirm that your project is appropriate for our Long-Term Project Program:

  1. Are you working toward a single goal – whether one long writing task (like a dissertation or capstone project) or a series of related tasks, such as multiple applications for similar positions, or a set of scaffolded assignments that build to a final writing project?   
  2. Will you be working on this writing project for more than four weeks, total?  
  3. Will you be able to set aside time to read-write-revise between your visits to the Center?

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, your project would be a good fit for the LTP Program!
Book another appointment with your chosen consultant, where you will work with the consultant to:

  • Review the LTP policies.  (need to update these documents to change name to Long Term Program;)] 
  • “Develop a Writing Plan” together. This process will help you set a regular schedule, plan for how you’d like to use your regular meetings, and ensure that you know the right steps to take if your schedule changes.
  • Complete the Long Term Project contract, which includes committing to the LTP policies and finalizing your schedule.
  • Discuss schedule Changes or Questions
     
Step 3: How do I find a consultant to work with?

All of our consultants are trained to work with writers at all stages of the writing process, and they all have different approaches and styles. Past LTP clients have told us that finding a consultant whose particular approach or disciplinary background were good matches was more important than whether the consultant was an undergraduate or graduate student. 

There are two ways to find a consultant:

  • Consultant Directory - Find a  consultant based on their disciplinary expertise -or- teaching philosophy! Take a look at our Consultant Directory located under the People Tab.
  • Availability - Find a consultant whose schedule aligns with yours! The GWWC has one schedule that allows you to choose an in-person or virtual appointment.  Look at who is available at the times you are free (Note consultant schedules repeat weekly.

*Check the Consultants Unavailable for LTP list to confirm your choices are available for an LTP partnership

Book interview appointments

  • Identify 3-4 consultants to interview. 
  • Book appointments with those 3-4 people to identify who you want to partner with on your Long Term Project. (You can book up to three appointments in a week)

What should I do at my interview appointments with potential LTP consultant partners?

GWWC consultants know that many writers will be looking for LTP partners, so they will be expecting your questions.  As the appointment begins,

Remind them that you’re meeting with several consultants to find someone to work with on a long-term project this semester. (Note: If the consultant doesn’t have room to take more LTP clients, you may continue the session as a regular appointment to work on your writing) 

  • Describe the project and your writing goals.
  • Bring in a piece of writing related to your proposed project. Follow the consultant’s lead on that document to continue the session.

After the appointment, reflect on how it went. We recommend meeting with at least three consultants so that you can choose someone whose approach works best for you.

Step 4: What should I do once I’ve chosen an LTP consultant partner?

Book another appointment with your chosen consultant, where you will work with the consultant to:

  • Review the LTP policies.
  • “Develop a Writing Plan” together. This process will help you set a regular schedule, plan for how you’d like to use your regular meetings, and ensure that you know the right steps to take if your schedule changes.
  • Complete the Long Term Project contract, which includes committing to the LTP policies and finalizing your schedule.
  • Schedule Changes or Questions?

If at any point during your Long Term Project partnership your availability changes (including vacations and sick days), please email the Coordinator at [email protected] for assistance in updating your repeating weekly appointments.

NOTE: Your LTP Consultant partner will NOT be able to make changes to your schedule.

Questions about the LTP Program? Please contact the GW Writing Center Director at [email protected]

 

Pre-Law Support

The GW Writing Center offers writing support for members of the GW community interested in applying to law school -or- actively working on law school applications.

Law School Personal/Optional Statements

Law school applications contain multiple written components, including the personal statement and optional statements. The Writing Center can support you as you brainstorm, draft, and finalize your submission. You may work with any of our Pre-Law Consultants, who are uniquely trained to help you throughout this process and ensure that your statements ultimately answer the question: Why law school?  

What to Expect 
Personal and optional statements are your opportunity to tell your story. Using an outsider’s perspective, our consultants are here to partner with you as you choose your topic, express your narrative elements, and organize your statement. Pre-Law Consultants can guide you in considering the audience and purpose of your story, and articulating the personal strengths and values that make you a competitive candidate. To get the most out of the Writing Center’s pre-law resources, we recommend booking 50-minute appointments early in your application process. 

Workshops

Invite a GW Writing Center Pre-Law Consultant to conduct a workshop on one of the following steps of the personal statement writing process:

  • Brainstorming Topics 
    • Intro to the goal of a personal/optional statement and initial steps of the writing process.
  • Revising a Draft
    • Identifying and achieving goals for your draft and elevating your draft.
  • Finalizing Your Submission
    • Polishing your final draft for submission.

Workshops average 1.5 hours in length.

To request a workshop, submit a GWWC Pre-Law Workshop Request Form. Please allow at least one week from the time of response for us to recruit a consultant for the workshop request. Any follow up to a request should be emailed to [email protected].

 

Pre-Med Support

The GW Writing Center offers writing support for members of the GW community interested in applying (or actively working on applications) to medical school or health professions graduate schools.

Medical Professions Graduate School - Personal/Optional Statements

A medical professions graduate school personal/optional statement is a crucial component of a student’s application. You have gotten the grades, completed the service hours, and now are ready to showcase your unique contributions to the field of medicine through a personal statement. The Writing Center’s Pre-Med Consultants are ready to guide you through every step of the writing process and ensure that you are confident in answering the question: Why medicine?

What to Expect

The Writing Center Pre-Med Consultants work with you during every step of your personal statement journey, as well as during your process of completing research papers, secondary essays, and or medical/health related assignments. Whether that be an open conversation brainstorming session or a final read-through, our consultants analyze the use of narration, tone, and structure in your written pieces, making this process a truly collaborative experience.

You may work with any of our Pre-Med/Public Health Consultants, who are uniquely trained to help you throughout this process and ensure that your statements ultimately answer the question: Why medical school?"

 

 

Workshops

Our Writing Center Pre-Med Professions Consultant Group conducts interactive workshops to develop writing techniques that will aid you during the personal statement drafting process. Topics will include:

  • The importance of guiding questions
  • Creating an outline
  • Defining essay flow

Sign up for a pre-med workshop by clicking the link here. 

 

 

Online Writing Resources

Citation Resources

General

AMA Style

Writing Center Consultants do NOT advise on AMA. Any questions about AMA can be directed to [email protected]. 

APA Style

Chicago Style

MLA Style

Turabian Style

Grammar Resources

 

Resources for International and Multilingual Students

 

 

Science and Engineering Resources

 

 

GW Library Support: Research and Source Gathering

If you need help with research or source collecting, GW Libraries may be a better fit. Their staff can help you brainstorm research questions, create a research management plan, find sources, find or manage data (including in statistics or GIS) and much more. Contact the Library with questions or schedule a research consultation with a librarian.

If you need help with research or source collecting, GW Libraries may be a better fit. Their staff can help you brainstorm research questions, create a research management plan, find sources, find or manage data (including in statistics or GIS) and much more. Contact the Library with questions or schedule a research consultation with a librarian.