FAQs
About the Writing Center
Making an Appointment
The Online Writing Coach
English Language Support
About the Writing Center
“Where is the Writing Center located and what are your hours?”
The Writing Center’s main office is located on the lower level of the Student and Academic Services Building North (SASB). For more information and for a map, visit the UNC Writing Center Location & Hours page. Hours may vary, so use “Make an Appointment” to see when openings for coaching are available at both of our locations in SASBN and Greenlaw.
“What services are available?”
All Writing Center services are available and accessible in a variety of formats! You can schedule an in-person or Zoom appointment to talk to a writing coach or submit a draft for asynchronous online feedback. If you make a Zoom appointment, the Writing Center will email you an invitation link shortly before your appointment. Workshops and events are available as well. To keep up with the latest offerings, we recommend that students sign up for our weekly newsletter.
“I’d like to schedule a Zoom session, but only in-person appointments are available at times that work for me. What can I do?”
You can schedule an in-person appointment and then change its location to Zoom. On the appointment calendar, find an in-person appointment date and time when you can meet with a writing coach. Schedule the appointment. Once the appointment is scheduled, look for the “My Scheduled Appointments” heading. There you will see the option to change the appointment’s location to Zoom by clicking on “Change location to Zoom.”
“Is the Writing Center handicap accessible?”
Yes. Both of our spaces are accessible by elevator.
“Who are the writing coaches at the Writing Center?”
Both graduate students and undergraduates serve as writing coaches at the Writing Center. Coaches come from departments across campus and receive extensive training from the Writing Center directors.
“How much does it cost to use the Writing Center?”
Nothing. Writing Center services are included at no additional cost to UNC-CH students.
“Is it okay for me to use the Writing Center?”
The Writing Center offers different services to different groups of writers on campus. To learn more about what is available to you, see “Who can make an appointment?” below. Generally, instructors are pleased when students come to the Writing Center. We abide by the Honor Code of the University; since the sessions focus on giving you feedback on your writing, rather than editing or writing for you, coming to the Writing Center does not raise any Honor Code issues. Ask your instructor for permission before coming to the Writing Center to work on a take-home essay.
“Can I get help with writing in a language other than English (for example, an essay written in Spanish for my Spanish literature course)?”
Sort of. If your paper is in a language other than English, we cannot help you with questions about words or sentences, and we cannot read through your paper. What we can do is talk with you about how you have chosen to organize your paper. The Learning Center’s peer tutors can help you with writing papers in many languages—check here to see if there’s a tutor available for your class: Peer Tutoring Appointments.
“Can I get help for a friend or family member?”
While everyone is welcome to use the Writing Center’s online handouts and demos, our coaching services are available only to current students, faculty, and staff of UNC-Chapel Hill. Do not make an appointment to discuss someone else’s writing or submit someone else’s draft to the Online Writing Coach. If your friend or family member might be interested in working with a Chapel Hill-area writing tutor or editor, please refer them to our “Help for Hire” listing.
“Can I get a job at the Writing Center?”
We are glad to hear about your interest in joining our team! Check UNC careers listings for any available full-time or part-time staff positions. If you are an experienced teacher or editor with a graduate degree living in the Chapel Hill area, you may submit a request to be listed on our Help for Hire advertising page. Our graduate student writing coaches are teaching assistants; they are hired through a competitive process each spring to work for the following academic year. During periods when we are accepting applications, you’ll see a position announcement on our homepage. Undergraduate students can also serve as writing coaches; they must first enroll in English 402 and then apply to be hired.
“Can I link to your page or use your materials (online presentations, groups procedures, workshops descriptions) on my website?”
The contents of this website are protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License. You may reproduce materials for non-commercial use only and without making any changes. You must give the correct attribution: (c) The Writing Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. If you want to adapt materials or use them commercially, please contact us first. We would appreciate an email telling us if you are linking to any pages or videos or our site!
Making an Appointment
“Who can make an appointment?”
All degree-seeking undergraduates at UNC-Chapel Hill can make appointments for individual coaching. Graduate students can too, as availability permits.
- Undergraduates: you can make up to two appointments per week, in advance.
- Grad students in the College of Arts and Sciences: you can make one appointment per week, in advance. You can hold only one spot at a time–if you want to make an appointment for this week and next, you’ll need to wait until you’ve completed the first one before you can schedule the second.
- Grad students outside the College of Arts and Sciences: you can make one appointment on a same-day basis; if you are in this category, when you sign in, you will see only whatever appointments are available today.
- Faculty and staff members: you are welcome to use the Writing Center on a walk-in basis once weekly. To help us preserve availability for students, you cannot reserve a time in advance. Appointments begin at the top of the hour.
- Non-degree-seeking students and postdoctoral scholars: you can use the Writing Center on a walk-in basis only, as availability permits. You cannot reserve a time. Appointments begin at the top of the hour.
- Visiting scholars: you are not eligible for one-on-one coaching, but if English is not your first language, you may be eligible for other services. See the English Language Support page for more information.
- Alumni, students at other schools, community members, and families: coaching is not available to you, but please use our Tips and Tools.
In our calendar system, the day begins at midnight. If you are having trouble using the system and are not certain why, please contact us.
“Do I need to make an appointment to talk with a coach at the Writing Center?”
Yes, while it’s sometimes possible to be seen on a walk-in basis, the best way to ensure a coach is available to meet is to reserve an appointment time. You can view the appointment calendar after logging in with your onyen credentials here: Writing Center Appointment Calendar.
“Can I choose a particular writing coach?”
Yes. When you make an appointment you have the option of choosing a particular writing coach; you will see the names of coaches who are available. All coaches are trained to help you with any of your writing needs or concerns, regardless of the kind of paper you’re writing or the discipline you’re studying.
“What should I do if my onyen does not work or I do not have an onyen?”
You need a valid UNC onyen to make an appointment. We cannot make an appointment for you. If you do not have an onyen or the system will not accept it, contact onyen Services at onyen.unc.edu.
“What should I do if no appointments are available?”
At some points in the semester, the Writing Center’s calendar can fill up as much as two weeks in advance. If you cannot find an appointment time that works for you, here are your options:
- Continue to check online several times a day, as you would if you were trying to register for a closed class. If someone else cancels, that time will open up.
- Submit your draft to the Online Writing Coach—but be aware that if we are full face-to-face, we probably also have a long queue of online submissions waiting for responses. The weather symbol on the sign-in page for the Online Writing Coach will give you an idea of how busy we are.
- Try to be seen as a walk-in. Come to the Writing Center at the top of the hour and let the person at the front desk know that you are hoping to see a writing coach. If someone else fails to show up for his/her appointment, you can claim that slot. If everyone who is scheduled shows up, though, you will not be seen.
- Please click the “CAN’T FIND APPOINTMENT” link on the appointment scheduling page so we can keep track of appointment demand. Do not leave a message there and expect a response; if you need to contact us, call or email.
“What should I do if I need to reschedule?”
On the on-site appointment calendar login page, choose “Cancel an Appointment.” After canceling the appointment you no longer want, you can click “Make an Appointment” to look for a new appointment time. You may want to check to be sure another appointment is available before you cancel the one you currently have reserved, as our calendar is sometimes very full.
“How far in advance do I need to cancel my appointment?”
Although you (and only you) can cancel until right before your scheduled appointment, we prefer that you cancel at least 24 hours in advance so other students have the opportunity to make an appointment. If you absolutely cannot get to a computer to cancel, please call (919)962-7710 to let our staff know that you will not be at your appointment.
“What happens if I don’t cancel and then don’t show up for my appointment?”
You will be entered into the database as a “no-show” for that appointment. If you fail to show up for several appointments, your future appointments may be cancelled, and you will be required to meet with a Writing Center staff member before resuming use of Writing Center services.
“What if I am late to my appointment?”
At 10 minutes after the hour when your appointment was supposed to start, you will be entered as a no-show and your coach may be reassigned.
“What happens during an in-person or Zoom appointment at the Writing Center?”
Appointments in the Writing Center are 45-minute conversations with a writing coach about your writing. The coach will read through your paper with you, answer your questions, and work with you to strengthen your paper and your skills as a writer. You and the coach may discuss any aspect of your writing project or process.
“What kind of writing can I bring to the Writing Center?”
You can bring any sort of writing to either the online or on-site Writing Center. We give priority to academic work, but we are also glad to provide assistance with application essays, grant proposals, or other writing. If you are working on an honors thesis, master’s thesis, or dissertation, you should plan to schedule multiple on-site visits to focus on parts of the longer project.
“What kind of help will I receive from a writing coach?”
Writing Center coaches will discuss your writing assignments with you and share strategies for approaching a topic, organizing a paper, developing your style, or correcting recurring errors. Writing coaches may also direct you to other resources for further assistance. Writing coaches will not edit or proofread a paper or write any part of your paper for you.
“Will my instructor know that I have used the Writing Center?”
That’s generally up to you. If you are an undergraduate who is working on an assignment for a course, as part of our services, the writing coach will ask your permission to send a conference summary email to your instructor. This report describes what you and your coach worked on during your session (e.g. “Maria and I talked about the focus of her paper on the breast cancer scare and how she might reorganize the first and sixth paragraphs to strengthen her argument. We also discussed the difference between passive and active voice.”). Conference summaries let your teachers know that you have taken the initiative to improve as a writer; they do not evaluate you, your assignment, or your instructor in any way. Most instructors are pleased to learn that you have visited the Writing Center. Your teachers see your work here as a sign that you are a productive, conscientious student who knows the value of good writing skills and who has the wisdom to make use of this resource. Note that we always send conference summaries when students bring in portions of their take-home exams (see the next question for more information).
“Is it okay for me to bring take-home exams to the Writing Center?”
For take-home exams, some instructors specify whether you may or may not bring your work to the Writing Center. If this issue is not explicitly addressed in the prompt, we depend on your sense of whether the instructor has recommended the Writing Center or would condone a visit for take-home exams. Since your instructor will know from the conference summary that you have been here (we always send them for exams), it is your responsibility to make this determination. If you have any questions about whether it is appropriate to get feedback from the Writing Center on take-home exams, ask your instructor before you bring in your draft or submit it online.
The Online Writing Coach
“Who can submit drafts to the Online Writing Coach?”
Current students, faculty, and staff can submit drafts to the Online Writing Coach. Submissions by undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences that are related to academic courses will receive priority, followed by those from Arts and Sciences graduate students; others may sometimes receive slower responses. During busy times, we may not be able to respond to all submissions before their due dates. You must be affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to use the Online Writing Coach. Note that all drafts submitted must be the submitter’s own work; you cannot submit a paper on behalf of a friend, family member, or student at another school. Doing so would constitute an Honor Code violation. If you are a non-UNC educator or technology professional and would like to see the forms students fill out when they submit drafts, please contact us.
“Can I make face-to-face appointments as well as use the Online Writing Coach?”
Yes. Just be aware that both Online Writing Coach and scheduled appointments count toward your total number of sessions per day or week.
“Can I request that a particular writing coach respond to my submission?”
No. Writing coaches respond to submissions on a fixed schedule. If you want to work with a particular coach, please schedule an in-person or Zoom appointment.
“How often can I submit something to the Online Writing Coach?”
So that our writing coaches may serve as many people as possible, we limit individual services (appointments or Online Writing Coach sessions) for undergraduates to a maximum of one per day or two per week (whichever comes first). Graduate students, faculty, and staff are limited to one individual visit or Online Writing Coach session per week.
“How long a document can I submit to the Online Writing Coach?”
You may submit a document of any length, but to provide time for the writing coach to read your draft and write a thoughtful response, we limit the number of pages we read to about 7. If you have a lengthy paper, particularly a thesis or dissertation, it could be helpful to make an in-person or Zoom appointment. You are also welcome to submit small portions or excerpts of your writing to the Online Writing Coach.
“What if I need to change something about my submission? What if I attached the wrong file by mistake?”
Log into the Online Writing Coach and click on “Submitted Drafts.” You can change your answers in any of the text boxes. You may also replace your original file attachment with an updated file. Changing your submission is not possible once a coach has claimed it and begun to work on it; if you need to speak with us about a submission at that point, call us at (919) 962-7710.
“When will a writing coach respond to the draft I submit through the Online Writing Coach?”
That depends on how busy we are when you submit your draft. When you submit your paper to the Online Writing Coach, the weather symbol will tell you how busy we are and give you a sense of when you should expect a response; in most cases, it is likely to take one to three business days. Please note that we are open for only a few hours on the weekend; weekend submissions are not likely to receive a response before Monday. When demand is particularly high, we may not be able to serve you in time for our comments to be useful; this is particularly true if your submission is not course-related.
“How do I know that a writing coach has responded to the paper I submitted online?”
You will receive notification by email that your paper is ready.
“How do I retrieve the writing coach’s response to my paper?”
Follow the link from the notification e-mail, log in with your onyen and password, and then choose “Submitted Drafts” or “My Submissions” from the menu that appears.
“Can I review the writing coach’s comments on a paper that I submitted earlier to the Online Writing Coach?”
Yes. To review a writing coach’s comments in the new Online Writing Coach, navigate to the Writing Center homepage, click the “Online Coaching” link and enter your name and password, then choose “Submitted Drafts” to view your personal archive.
“Who will have access to the material I submit in the Online Writing Coach?”
Only you and the Writing Center staff. When you first enter the system and complete a profile, you create a corridor of restricted access to our system. That corridor allows you and the staff at the Writing Center to interact and maintains space for us to hold your work for you in the Writing Center. All work with the Writing Center takes place within the guidelines of the University Honor Code.
“How do online conference summaries work?”
Like on-site summaries, online summaries are sent to your instructor following a conference. Like on-site summaries, they do not evaluate you, your instructor, or the assignment in any way. They describe your concerns and the writing coach’s suggestions to you regarding the paper. Most instructors are delighted to learn that you have worked with the Writing Center. Your teachers are likely to see your work here as a sign that you are a productive, conscientious student who knows the value of good writing skills and who has the wisdom to make use of this resource. Online summaries are sent to the instructor when the writing coach finishes responding to your paper; they are archived on this site. You can see the conference summary for each submission on the page where you retrieve the coach’s comments.
“How can I get the most out of my online coaching session?”
Give your writing coach as much information as possible. Your coach will be relying on your submission form for context. It is particularly important that you let the coach know what your top concerns are; this will help focus your coach’s attention and comments. Remember, the coach is not your TA and cannot judge what aspect of your paper needs the most work; it is up to you to ask for the kind of feedback you think will be most valuable at this stage in your writing process.
English Language Support
Please see our ESL FAQs page.