What should I do to prepare for a WA conference?

Try to give your WA time to read your draft before the conference by either handing your paper in on time to the professor or turning in the paper to your WA’s inbox in Pardee 319. Bring to the conference a copy of your assignment should any questions arise. Come with questions you may have had regarding your draft.

What if I need to reschedule a conference?

Try not to reschedule a WA conference, but if you must, provide your WA with ample time for notification. Try not to call him or her up an hour before the scheduled time to cancel an appointment. Know the best way to contact your WA in case this occurs.

What should I bring to drop-in service?

Be prepared for a conference of approximately 30 minutes. Have with you both your draft and your assignment and ideas and questions about how you might like to improve your paper.

What if I have a longer paper that needs more than the 30 minute conference?

Try to plan it out so that you can come in on more than one night for drop-in hours and we’ll be happy to help you out. Just make sure you bring any notes or revisions that happened at the first conference to your second, and so on.

Does it have to be a paper that I bring to drop-in?

No, you can bring in any kind of writing—WAs are trained to help with any type of writing, be it a cover letter or a lab report.

What do WAs do?

We are trained to read your writing and help you look at what we know as “higher order concerns,” like content, organization, structure, thesis, analysis, and transitions, and also to develop a plan for revision in written work. Keep in mind that we’re students just like you! Check out our “WA Stories” page to see what we do.