Distance Learning

What We Do

The Writing Center offers tutorial sessions free of charge to all graduate students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary. We work with writers at all stages of the essay process: we can brainstorm a topic to get you started (Skype or a telephone connection is a must for this), read a work in progress, or take a look at your prized final draft.  In this last case, however, be forewarned: a good tutor will always find room for improvement, offering a suggestion or two to even the most spectacular essayist.  Of course, you are in charge of construction: whether you decide to build on those suggestions is entirely up to you.  

We focus on what we deem the higher-order concerns of logic and style. We ask, for example: Is the thesis viable, or is it too general/deductively flawed/inarguable opinion or fact?  Is it dexterously argued throughout the paper’s entirety, or are there digressions?  Is evidence accurately and adequately marshaled to support that thesis?  Are there redundancies, or vague passages?  Is tone consistent throughout, and is the audience effectively considered?  What of the introduction and conclusion: do they offer, respectively, a provoking and specific basis for the argument in question and conclude that argument with an satisfying statement of impact?  These are only a few of our considerations, and they are meant to give you some sense of our modus operandi. 

While we may note lower-order grammar and syntax concerns on a global level, we do not edit these in your paper line-by-line.  It is assumed that graduate students have a fluent working knowledge of English grammar.  That said, if your tutor recognizes a pattern of error in your use of colons, contractions, citation format, et cetera, he or she will likely mention it to you along with pointing out instances of it in your paper. Your tutor will also help to ensure that you are familiar with the rules enough to correct such errors on your own.

To dispel any mistaken perceptions, we emphasize this writing center is not a place of remediation that judges writers by their writing and punitively corrects what is “bad;” such affective terminology is not in our lexicon.  Nor are we a drop-off proof-reading service that fixes all typos and grammar errors, as a mechanic would tinker under the hood while you wait.  Bring your elbow grease because we’ll be working in tandem on the engine of your argument!

How long are tutorial sessions?

One hour.

How often can I sign up?

Once bi-weekly.

What can I submit?

Send your essay draft (if you have it) as well as the assignment or prompt.  Tutors can read an outside limit of ten pages an hour.  One paper per session, please.

When do I sign up for a session?

Please allow time for scheduling up to two weeks in advance of your due date. You'll always be scheduled within seven days of requesting the appointment, and that will provide you with another seven days to ready the paper for submission following the appointment.  Emergency scheduling is available, but cc your paper to azeller-michaelson@holyapostles.edu to ensure it's received.

When do I send the paper?

Email text to be critiqued, along with the prompt/assignment, to the Writing Center dropbox at least twenty-four hours in advance of your scheduled session.

What if I have to cancel?

Please email submitpaper@holyapostles.edu within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. Emergency cancellations can happen any time.

How will the tutorial session proceed?

Live Chat (preferred method): Upon receipt of your paper, your tutor will confirm your appointment via email and send you his or her Skype name.  At the time of your appointment, make sure you're in front of your computer with Skype open. Additionally, those without the ability to Skype may use the synchronous chat feature within the Holy Apostles email system to interact with your tutor. Just make sure that you and your tutor know how you want the session to proceed prior to your trying to make contact with one another.

Written Critique:  In the event you're unable to do a live chat via Skype, you may still sign up for a session. Your tutor will use that hour to read your essay and submit written comments by the hour’s end.  While our preferred method for tutorials is to be synchronously engaged with one another for the purpose of creating a collaborative atmosphere, we are able to work asynchronously when necessary.