Make an Appointment
The Writing Centre is a welcoming space for learning and adapting to academic writing. We are open year-round for both in-person and online appointments.
To book an appointment, complete the appointment request details (Intake Form).
Please write to us at writingc@dal.ca with any questions or if you encounter any technical difficulties with the link—we will help!
We currently offer three types of appointments:
In-person or Video Appointments (synchronous appointments)
Meet one-to-one with a tutor or advisor to discuss your paper and receive feedback. If you selected a video appointment on the intake form, we will send you a video link for the scheduled appointment time. We recommend synchronous appointments anytime, but especially the first time you come so we can get to know you and your writing style!
Online Review Appointments
After filling out the intake form, please send your document and assignment details to writingc@dal.ca and you will be matched with a tutor or advisor who will read through your paper and make suggestions and offer feedback in the margins. We will then email your paper back to you within 48 weekday hours (sooner when possible), so please factor this time into your assignment time-management plan.
Note: You don’t need to send a finished document to receive feedback. We will review or discuss documents at any point in their creation, including how to get started or getting some help understanding assignment guidelines and expectations.
Drop-in Sessions
Have a quick question about structure, grammar, understanding your assignment details, citation, or any other writing issue? Have a deadline coming up and need another set of eyes on part of your draft? The Writing Centre’s Synchronous fall and winter Daily Drop-in sessions may be just what you need. Held every fall and winter weekday from 1:00-2:00 PM (Atlantic Time), the Daily Drop-in offers students the opportunity to have a short, synchronous conversation with a writing tutor without pre-booking an appointment. Sessions are assigned on a first-come/first-served basis. For quick questions in the spring/summer term, please email writingc@dal.ca and we would be happy to set up a chat!
Example assignments we can help with
- Research papers and course assignments
- Essays (e.g., close reading essays for English classes)
- Science, Engineering, and technical writing
- Sourcing and citing research material (documenting sources)
- Grammar, punctuation, and mechanics of writing
- Conference and class presentations and posters
- Business writing (e.g., work term reports, assignments, policy briefs)
- Applications and letters of intent for admission and scholarships
- Proposals for academic documents and grants
- Interdisciplinary writing
- English as Another Language (EAL) support
Self-disclosure and confidentiality at the Writing Centre
Academic assignments, course progress, and matters of a personal nature are kept confidential in Student Affairs (the Writing Centre is one student support unit within Student Affairs). Your discussion will be considered confidential with three exceptions:
- When an advisor, coach or tutor believes that you may be at risk of harm to yourself or someone else;
- When an advisor, coach or tutor becomes aware that a crime has been committed; or
- When you communicate or do something that is a violation of university policy.
We take your well-being, the well-being of our community members, and your right to privacy seriously.
