Writing appointments

Please review the information on this page, or in the video above, before booking an appointment. Appointment requests that do not meet our guidelines may be cancelled.

Read time: 5-7 minutes

Download a summary of our guidelines

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What are writing appointments?

We offer 15-minute and 30-minute appointments for you to work with a writing specialist through video chat.

Writing appointments support your development as a confident writer and editor of your own work. Writing specialists do not write, revise, edit, or proofread your assignment in an appointment. In addition, we cannot comment on content, grades, or whether your work meets assignment requirements. However, we can offer you feedback on the clarity of your ideas.

If you would like us to read an assignment draft, please submit it to the Write Site dropbox for written feedback. We do not read through drafts in appointments.

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How to book an appointment

Appointments are available by request.

Please email us to request an appointment. Include the following in your email:

• Your full name
• Student ID
• Phone number
• Course, e.g. ENGL255
• Your availability (days and times)
• Your learning goal for the appointment (read more about this below)
• If relevant, your assignment instructions and any other information about your learning goals

If your writing specialist thinks another service will work better, they will re-route you, such as to the dropbox. If no appointments are available, we will do our best to support you in some other way.

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Learning goals for appointments

If you would like to book an appointment, begin by setting a goal. What would you like to learn or improve on? A writing specialist can work with you to achieve that goal over time. Coaching is about learning over time, not about making this one assignment perfect.

You may want to book an appointment for several reasons, for example to:

• learn more about our services
• understand a writing concept
• plan or outline an assignment
• overcome writer’s block
• learn general writing strategies
• ask specific questions about an assignment draft
• ask 1-2 quick questions about citations, formatting, grammar, etc.

Please do not book an appointment and submit your paper to the Write Site dropbox for written feedback at the same time. You can meet with us for a planning appointment before you submit your paper, or you can book a follow-up appointment after receiving feedback through the dropbox.

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Preparing for your appointment

See the image below to understand your confirmation email.

How do I access my appointment?

1. After you book your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with a button that says “Join your appointment.” You may also meet over the phone.
2. Clicking the button will prompt you to 1) download Microsoft Teams, 2) open Teams in the app if you already have it, or 3) open Teams in a browser. You can log in with your AU account or use it as a guest, though your AU email address is preferred. Please download and test Teams prior to your appointment. This will prevent technical issues and ensure your appointment will be held.
3. Click “Join your appointment” at the time of your appointment and wait for the writing specialist to admit you to the meeting.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

• Please cancel or reschedule with 24 hours’ notice.
• To cancel, please email your writing specialist. You can see who your writing specialist is in your confirmation email.
• To reschedule, please go to your confirmation email. Click the "Reschedule" button, then click “New booking.”

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Guidelines

• Before the appointment:
  • If you have a draft of your paper, use the dropbox instead of booking an appointment. Another option is to prepare specific questions about your draft for the appointment. We will not read through a draft during the appointment.
  • Once booked, please save the appointment to your calendar.
  • Double-check the time and time zone of the invitation to ensure you selected the time that’s right for you.
  • Please do not submit your paper to the dropbox at the same time. If your writing specialist would like a copy of your paper, they will email you to request it.
  • Email your writing specialist with 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel.
• During the appointment:
  • Respect and professionalism are expected in all written and verbal communications with Write Site staff. Please familiarize yourself with Article 3.5 of the Non-Academic Misconduct Policy.
  • Appointments are intended for the student and writing specialist only. Please choose a quiet place where you are alone and can concentrate.
  • It is good practice to always blur your background. This turns your personal space into a professional one.
  • Please contact your writing specialist if you are late or having difficulties joining the meeting. Please keep your phone nearby in case of technical difficulties.
  • If you do not arrive after 5 minutes, the appointment will be canceled so we can support other students. We can assist you to reschedule if you need support. Please contact us.

• 5 minutes before the end of the appointment:
  • Your writing specialist will alert you to the notification that 5 minutes remain in your appointment. Please wrap up the conversation and end the appointment on time. You can ask your writing specialist about booking a follow-up appointment if needed.
  • Your writing specialist will need to end the appointment on time in order to support other students.
• After the appointment:
  • Your writing specialist will email you session notes or resources from your appointment.
  • You can email your writing specialist with follow-up questions.

We look forward to working with you! Please email us with your appointment request or with other questions about our services.