Before Your Appointment
If you have never visited the Writing Center before, please read through the content on this page as well as the center's policies to help you get the most out of your session. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Using Your WC Online Account
First, you will need to create an account on our online scheduling website, WC Online. Either follow the instructions below -or- watch our How to Make a WC Online Account video.
WC Online has accessibility option available through Text Only
- Visit the WC Online website and select “Click Here to Register.”
- Fill out required personal information. You must use your @gwu.edu domain GW email address.
- If you wish, personalize your notifications. To do so, select the drop-down boxes next to each feature (e.g. “When I make an appointment.”)
- iCal link: syncs to your personal calendar (iMac and Outlook users)
- Text messages: sends a reminder text about appointments to your cell phone number
- Complete by clicking the "register" button and the system will send you a confirmation email - YOU MUST click on the link in this email to activate your account.
- To make an appointment, log in and look for an open 25 minute (one white block) -or- 50 minute appointment (2 consecutive white blocks). Click on the appointment start time and fill out the appointment form. You will receive an appointment confirmation email.
- Note that ALL Zoom appointments need to be 50 minutes long to allow for troubleshooting issues.
WC Online has accessibility option available through Text Only
- Visit the WC Online website.
- Log in using your GW email address. Your password may differ from your password for email.
- Select the current semester from the drop-down menu.
- Choose “log in.”
- To make an appointment (also see our How to Make an Appointment videos), log in and look for an open 25 minute (one white block) -or- 50 minute appointment (2 consecutive white blocks). Click on the appointment start time and fill out the appointment form. You will receive an appointment confirmation email.
- Note that ALL Zoom appointments need to be 50 minutes long to allow for troubleshooting issues.
WC Online has accessibility option available through Text Only
- On the WC Online login page, select the link “Click here to Reset your Password.”
- Enter your GW email address in the pop-up module.
- A link will be emailed to you that will allow you to reset your password to one of your choosing. Note: If your account has been blocked (i.e., you have accrued three missed appointments in a single semester), you will be unable to reset your password. Contact the Writing Center for help.
How to Videos
Check out these helpful video examples for how to use GW Writing Center systems!
Coming Soon!
Preparing for the Appointment
What to Bring
You should bring any and all relevant materials to your appointment. These can include drafts, professor’s or TA’s comments, the assignment prompt, relevant course readings and research materials. Our consultants cannot read through everything in one sitting, but it is still useful to have these materials to reference when questions about the assignment arise. Please note that we do not accept or review your writing ahead of the appointment.
Steps of the Writing Process
Think through each of these steps before you come in for your appointment. Knowing what stage you are at with your project will help you identify where you need the most support.
Figuring Out the Assignment
Our consultants can assist with clarifying assignments and helping writers find what direction to take their work. Bring any relevant prompts or syllabi from the course to these sessions. Some faculty also find it helpful to get feedback from consultants on how students are likely to read the assignment prompt.
Brainstorming
It is entirely possible to come in for a brainstorming session empty-handed, without any writing in place, with the goal of leaving with solid ideas and a plan of action. Preparation is different at each stage of the process, and coming in early when a project is in the conceptual stage can be the best preparation of all.
Developing an Outline
Writing consultants can help you develop a clear structure and argument for your assignment, whether you have a short essay or a dissertation. Bring any relevant information to these sessions, such as assignment prompts and source material.
Drafting
It can be helpful to share early drafts of your project with a consultant to see how a fresh reader sees what you have written. For instance, do the words on the page match what you intended them to say? Are there places where your reader needs more information? Is the signposting clear? etc.
Final Revisions
The Center can certainly provide sentence-level grammar support on final drafts, but please keep in mind that we are not a copy-editing/proofreading service. We ask you to engage with us in conversation so that you will learn to identify patterns of error and correct these writing issues on your own. Our consultants are not here to “fix” your paper. They are here to collaborate with you on strengthening your writing on the whole. Our goal is to help our clients build confidence and learn how to self-edit in the future.