Do I need to make an appointment?
Yes. While you can sometimes walk in and find a tutor available, we primarily operate via appointments. Appointments are set for 45 minutes, and you're not required to stay the whole time. You can make an appointment up to one hour before an appointment time. Log on to Starfish to find our availability.
What does a tutorial look like?
- tutorials are up to 45 minutes in length
- tutorials are in-person, in the WORD Studio in ODY 137
- your tutor will begin by asking you a few questions so they can tailor the tutorial to what you need and help you both stay on track and ensure a productive session
- the tutor will ask to see the assignment sheet
- the tutor will set an agenda for the tutorial
- you will work through your draft of speech, or you can just talk through what you have done so far
- the tutor will close by asking you if you want the professor to be notified that you had a tutorial
If you don’t proofread, what is it that you do?
We work to improve the overall structure and organization of your argument and make you a better writer and communicator. We will also help you with grammar and punctuation problems when we notice a pattern of them; however, we do not simply “proofread” by fixing everything for you—if we did, you might not learn to find and correct these problems yourself.
What if I don’t have a thesis or have anything written at all?
We’ll help! We are excellent at helping you to brainstorm ideas and to form those ideas into a thesis and outline.
Isn’t the WORD Studio just for first-years?
No, all writers and speakers benefit from getting feedback from others. All scholars and professional authors—even your professors!—have had their work read and critiqued by many other people.
Can you help me with my PowerPoint or my oral presentation?
We can give you feedback on the content and delivery of your speeches, as well as on the content, organization, and layout of PowerPoint presentations.
Will I be able to get a tutor who has taken my class before?
Not necessarily the same class, though since our tutors come from a wide range of majors, you may be able to make an appointment with someone with a background in the subject. Remember all SLU students take courses from a variety of disciplines, and good writing and communication are similar in all subjects, so even a tutor who hasn’t taken a specific course can give you good feedback.
I don’t speak English as a first language. Do you have particular tutors to work with me?
Yes! Although all of our tutors are ready to work with you, we have a few multilingual tutors who may help you feel more at ease. Check Our Staff page and read through their profiles.
Will my professor think I’m a bad student if I come here?
No, they appreciate the extra effort that you have put into your work. Some professors have admitted that when they are stuck between two grades for an assignment, evidence of a WORD visit has bumped the student to a higher grade.