The Writing Center at Washington University

The Writing Center is a free service for all students (both graduate and undergraduate) currently enrolled at Washington University, as well as for faculty members. We will work with students on essays, senior theses, personal statements, and more.

Our tutors are writers who help writers through the process of revision. Students come in at all different stages of the writing process, from brainstorming all the way to the later drafts. We listen to student concerns, read written drafts, and then discuss larger issues of the work first, such as thesis, organization, development, and clarity of the ideas. By talking with the tutors, students strengthen and clarify their ideas throughout the writing process. Tutors will not edit or proofread student papers. Instead, we will identify patterns of error in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation and help students become editors of their own work.

Tutorials are one hour long, and begin on the hour. If the student brings in a draft, the tutor will spend the first portion of the tutorial reading the draft carefully, and then the student and tutor will have a chance to discuss the paper for the remaining time.

Tutorials are by appointment or on a walk-in basis, but since we tend to get quite busy, we recommend that students call and make an appointment.

Students can have up to two appointments per week (no more than one appointment a day). If you schedule an appointment and can't make it, please call and cancel in advance. Since we keep a waiting list, we would like to accomodate as many writers as possible.

Listen to a tutorial session here.

Interested in becoming a peer tutor? Find out more about tutor training.