Writing Center
Online support for student writing
Writing is a critical part of your online learning experience and George Mason offers convenient support to help you through our Writing Center. We offer free writing support to Mason students, faculty, and staff. Accomplished graduate and undergraduate students provide our consulting services and deliver our workshops. We work with writers through all stages of the writing process from brainstorming and organizing to revising and polishing. Sessions are offered in person and online. Watch this short video to learn more about what we offer and how to make an appointment:
Need to learn more?
Contact the Writing Center for free writing support, face-to-face tutoring, online tutoring, and workshops.
Phone
The Writing Center offers two types of virtual appointments: Zoom and Written Feedback.
Zoom appointments
You can meet with your consultant on Zoom. You and your consultant can converse and see one another, and you’ll share your screen, so you can both view and discuss your draft. Zoom appointments begin on the half hour and are 45 minutes long, including time spent on technology set-up.
To take advantage of Zoom appointments, you’ll need a quiet place where your talking won’t disturb others, a computer running a recent version of Windows or Mac OS, and a mic, a webcam, speakers, and a fast, reliable internet connection.
Before your appointment
Make sure your microphone, camera, and speakers or headphones are set up and working.
Open your professor’s prompt and the paper you wish to discuss.
About five minutes before the start of your appointment, your consultant will email you with all the information you need to join the online session.
A Few Policies
Zoom appointments cannot be converted to Written Feedback appointments. If the technology does not work, writers will need to make another appointment.
Your consultant will wait for 15 minutes for you to join the session. If you do not join the session by then, the consultant will close the session and mark the appointment as a no-show.
Writers must use a computer or a tablet with a keyboard for video appointments.
Written Feedback Appointments
You can make an appointment to receive written feedback on a draft. To take advantage of this service, you schedule an appointment for a specific time and attach a copy of your instructor’s prompt and your draft to your appointment form. During the scheduled time your consultant reads your draft, provides written feedback, and sends it to you at the end of the time slot. This service works well for writers who aren’t available to meet during our hours of operation.
What kind of feedback will I get?
While the written format doesn’t allow for an extended conversation about your draft, the consultant’s feedback includes the questions and observations, as well as the focus on writing strategies, that you would receive in a face-to-face or Zoom session. Note that consultants can provide instruction and feedback that help you edit your paper, but they cannot edit the paper for you.
How many pages can a consultant read and provide feedback on?
Consultants can usually provide feedback on 3-5 double-spaced pages, depending on the stage of the draft, the complexity of the content, and the issues you’ve asked them to address.
Which file formats do you work with?
Your draft must be in MS Word (consultants can provide feedback on .doc or .docx documents only).
How do I make the appointment?
Go to our home page, log in to the scheduler, and select an appointment slot. At the top of the appointment form, choose “Written Feedback” at the top of the appointment form. You can attach your prompt and draft when you make the appointment, or you can log in later to attach your documents to the appointment form.
When will I get my feedback?
You will receive feedback within one hour of your scheduled appointment. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
What if I forget to upload my draft?
If we don’t receive your draft by the time your appointment begins, your appointment will be designated a “no show” and made available to a walk-in student.
If you have any questions about our virtual appointments, please contact us at [email protected].
If you have any questions, contact the Writing Center at 703-993-1200 or [email protected].