The Writing Place 

Room 2304 University Library, North Tower, Second Floor
Phone: (847) 467-2791 || E-mail: writingplace@northwestern.edu
The Writing Place is a service of the WCAS Writing Program, Northwestern University.

Directions to the Writing Place | Using the Writing Place | Freshman Seminar Writing Awards | Writing Resources

How to schedule a session with a Writing Place consultant

Email address: writingplace@northwestern.edu

Telephone number: 847-467-2791

Make an appointment

Making an appointment is the best way to ensure time with a tutor.  Appointments may be scheduled for 30 minutes or 60 minutes, though the actual length of the tutoring session is up to the discretion of the tutor. Most sessions will be 30-45 minutes.

To make an appointment

• Click the "Make an appointment" link here or on the front page of the Writing Place web site.
• If you are not yet registered with our appointment system, click the registration link and complete the required information. Your user name should be your Northwestern e-mail address.
• Log in with your user name and password.
• Browse the calendar to find the date and time you want.
• Click on any white box, which indicates an available appointment time. Each box represents 30 minutes.
• Complete the information in the window, including a detailed description of what you'd like to work on during a session.

You may make

• an appointment up to 8 days in advance.
• only one appointment per day
• up to two appointments per week

If you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, be sure to cancel by logging into the scheduling system, clicking the "cancel or modify an appointment" link, and deleting or modifying your appointment. If you do not have computer access, you may call the Writing Place at 847-467-2791. If you miss an appointment without cancelling, you may be restricted from making appointments in the future. However, you will still be able to use the Writing Place on a drop-in basis.

Just drop by

If you have not made an appointment in advance, you can stop by for a drop-in consultation. When people are waiting, we will put your name on a waiting list and see you on a first come-first serve basis. If you'd prefer to arrange for an appointment at another time, check the Writing Place online calendar and request an appointment (see instructions above).

Schedule a telephone or chat consultation

While we believe face-to-face discussions yield the best results, we know that writers are not always able to come to the Writing Place. If you have a full time job or are off-campus for an extended period, you are welcome to arrange an appointment by telephone or internet chat. (We no longer respond to papers by email.)

Telephone and chat appointments are available only for NU students, faculty, and staff who are registered with our scheduling system. Telephone and chat consultations should be scheduled for 60 minutes: 30 minutes for the tutor to review your paper in advance and 30 minutes for the actual discussion. You only need to be on the phone (or online) for the last 30 minutes.

To schedule a telephone or chat appointment:

• Make a 60-minute appointment using the scheduling system described here.  The tutor will review your paper for the first half of the appointment
• In the "what do you want to work on" box, (1) indicate that you are requesting a telephone or a chat consultation, along with your telephone or IM contact information, (2) explain why you need this kind of appointment rather than a face-to-face discussion, (3) provide telephone or IM contact information, and explain what specific issues or questions you'd like to discuss with the tutor.
• Email a copy of your paper in advance to writingplace@northwestern.edu. Please indicate in the email the time of your appointment and the name of the tutor with whom you've scheduled the appointment.
• If you have made a telephone appointment, call the Writing Place (847-467-2791) approximately 30 minutes after the starting time, so that you can have a 30 minute discussion with the tutor. If you have made a chat appointment, be available online at the time of the appointment.