Texas Tech University

For Faculty

Synchronous Online Consultations at the GSWC

by Joshua Blount, eLearning Editor

The TTU Graduate Student Writing Center (GSWC) has filled a vital role for the university by offering graduate students writing assistance for the many documents they produce. The services the GSWC offers include: one-to one writing consultations, Thesis & Dissertation Boot Camps and workshops that address a variety of writing-related topics.

As of Fall 2017, the Graduate Student Writing Center is offering synchronous online writing consultations for online and distance students. The GSWC will also hold online consultations for onsite students who have trouble meeting face-to-face in the writing center or who prefer using the online platform. Associate Writing Center Director Dr. Kristin Messuri offered her thoughts about this accessible service.

"The Graduate Student Writing Center is dedicated to making our services accessible to graduate students, and we understand that not all graduate students can visit the writing center for a face-to-face appointment. We believe all writers, regardless of discipline or skill level, need constructive feedback in order to develop their written communication skills, and we are thrilled to reach more graduate students through our synchronous online consultation service."

Messuri also provided insight about what students can expect during their writing consultations (onsite or online). "These consultations are meant to be very interactive: consultants ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss writing techniques and the writing process. The WCOnline platform facilitates these sorts of collaborative discussions. Writers can import documents, and consultants can see them make changes in real time. Consultants and writers can communicate through the platform's videoconferencing and chat functions. After the consultation, the writer can log in and view all changes made to the document, which is useful as they revise."

Through the services that the GSWC offers, students not only receive instruction and guidance for their work, but they also are developing their own writing skills during the process. Messuri states, "Since collaboration is central to writing center pedagogy, one of the greatest benefits of WCOnline is that it enables us to have interactive conversations with writers in an online environment. Writers develop their skills through feedback that directly addresses their writing concerns. Consultants often ask questions to help writers clarify their thinking and writing and, in turn, writers can continue the dialogue as they think through our comments. Such conversations are essential to the writing process."

Any graduate student that would like to set up a writing consultation at the Graduate Student Writing Center must schedule an appointment by visiting www.grad.writingcenter.ttu.edu and click the appropriate link to schedule an appointment. Students can also schedule a writing consultation by calling (806) 742-2476, ext. 1, or by email at gradwritingcenter@ttu.edu.

GSWC Writing Consultation

GSWC Writing Consultation
Photo courtesy of GSWC Facebook