Tutors in the Writing Lab are eager to assist
you with your writing and will do their best to address the concerns you
have. That's why we hope you will tell us what you're thinking about your
draft and let us know the kind of help you're seeking. However, our policy
is that we will not merely proofread a paper for you, correcting errors while
you sit back and observe. Our purpose is to enable you, to work with you
so that, when the conference is over, in person or over the Web, you will have
learned something that will help you in the future. Correcting surface
errors in one paper while you sit back and watch (or leave to do something else)
is not going to teach you much of anything about writing.
We will not ignore
technical matters in your writing. In fact, if we notice a pattern of
error (in sentence structure or pronoun reference or use of the apostrophe, for
example), we will call your attention to it and help you address the problem.
Indeed, we can help you become a better proofreader. But our purpose is
not to correct errors for you. Our time is better spent helping you
address issues of focus, development, organization, and style. Correctness
is important, but it can wait until near-final drafts, after the most important
work has been done.
Allow at least a day for revision after you confer with a
tutor
Please try to allow yourself at least a
day after meeting with a tutor before you have to submit the final draft to your
instructor. You will probably need that time to revise. There is
little point in meeting with a tutor an hour before the paper is due--if you
hope to make significant improvements in the draft.
For information on specific
proofreading matters,
go to the Tutorials section of the Online
Writing Lab.
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