What to Expect in an Undergraduate Consultation

Writing consultations at the Commons are collaborative, conversation-based sessions designed to support your growth as a writer. 

Each undergraduate consultation is 30 minutes long, and students may schedule up to three back-to-back appointments per day if additional time is needed. Sessions are available in both in-person and online formats.

Below, you’ll find what you can expect from us, and what we’ll expect from you, so that your appointment is productive, supportive, and centered on your development as a writer.

Your Role as a Writer (Student Expectations)

• Writing consultations work best when you come ready to engage in the process. During your session, you can expect to:

  • Share your assignment prompt, goals, and concerns.
  • Talk through your ideas (even if they feel unfinished).
  • Ask questions about feedback you receive.
  • Participate in brainstorming and revision conversations.
  • Take notes and make decisions about how you want to revise.

  You are the author of your work. The session is designed to help you think more deeply about your work, not to change your voice, but to uplift it.

What Your Writing Consultant Will Do (Tutor Expectations)

Your undergraduate writing consultant is a trained peer educator who will:

• Ask thoughtful questions to help you clarify and expand your ideas.
• Provide actionable, forward-looking feedback.
• Help you understand how audience, purpose, and disciplinary expectations shape your writing.
• Support you at any stage - from brainstorming to final revisions.
• Offer strategies for improving sentence-level clarity and organization.
• Engage in collaborative problem-solving when something feels unclear.
• Consider context (due dates, assignment guidelines, course expectations) when offering suggestions.
• Uphold the Writing Hub’s Core Principles and Practices

Consultants will not write or edit your paper for you. Instead, they will help you develop tools and strategies so you can make revisions independently and confidently.

What a Writing Consultation IS

A writing consultation is a collaborative, conversation-based space where you can think out loud, explore ideas, and develop your voice as a writer. It is a place to:

• Worh through ideal at any stage, from brainstorming to final revisions.
• Receive thoughtful, forward-looking feedback that helps you grow.
• Ask questions and unpack assignment expectations.
• Strengthen your understanding of audience, purpose, and disciplinary conventions.
• Practice revision as a meaningful, iterative process.
• Build confidence in your ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

What a Writing Consultation IS NOT

We believe writing is a human, relational, and developmental process. When you visit us, you can expect support that centers your growth, which also means there are a few things a consultation is not:

• Not proofreading or editing. Because your voice and authorship matter, consultants do not correct grammar, rewrite sentences, or “fix” your paper. Instead, they work with you to identify patterns, strengthen clarity and organization, and develop revision strategies so you can make meaningful changes yourself.
• Not a shortcut or last-minute paper repair. Writing develops through drafting, reflection, and revision. While we’re happy to meet at any point in your process, our focus is long-term growth — helping you build tools and confidence you can carry into future writing situations.
• Not a replacement for your thinking. In a moment when automated writing tools are increasingly accessible, we remain committed to writing as a practice of critical thinking and discovery. Our sessions are conversation-based because learning happens through dialogue and reflection. We will not generate content for you, but we will help you deepen, refine, and articulate your own ideas.
• Not a space of judgment. Writing can feel vulnerable, especially when navigating new academic, disciplinary, or linguistic expectations. We approach writing as learnable and developmental, not as a measure of intelligence or worth. Your experiences, language background, and perspective are respected and valued here.

At its core, a consultation is a collaborative space grounded in agency, growth, and integrity. We are here to walk alongside you as you become a more confident and capable writer.