Online Appointment Options
While we encourage you to make face-to-face appointments when possible to make the most of the Writing Center’s focus on peer-to-peer conversation, we understand that some students may need a different option. For instance, students studying abroad might use our asynchronous option to get some writing help from a completely different time zone! If you’re planning on making an online appointment, use the instructions on this page to help you through the process.
Synchronous Tutoring
If you want to speak with a tutor over video while reviewing your writing together, similar to a normal in-person appointment, you should make a synchronous appointment.
Creating a Synchronous Appointment
You can over a tutor’s name on our schedule to see which tutors are available to tutor synchronously. Many tutors will say “Face-to-Face Only” when you hover over their names; these tutors do not tutor online. Look for a tutor whose availability “Synchronous” as shown here:
This tutor is available for online appointments!
Click on the time slot you’d like to reserve and the “Create Appointment” window will pop up. There will be a box near the top that looks like this:
To schedule an appointment where you will meet with the tutor via video call, choose, “Yes. Schedule Synchronous appointment.” You will then answer the usual questions about your assignment.
At the bottom of the appointment form window, you have the option to upload files in .doc or .docx format, as shown here:
We ask that you upload your current draft, as well as your prompt or assignment description. You can add files at any point before your appointment starts by clicking on your appointment in the schedule and clicking “Edit Appointment” at the bottom of the window.
Click “Create Appointment,” and your session is now reserved.
Joining Your Synchronous Appointment
Open the WCOnline schedule and find your appointment. Click on it to open the appointment window. Here is an example appointment window:
Click on the button that says “Start or Join Online Consultation.” This will open a new tab and begin the session!
To see what the online portal for your synchronous appointment will look like, click here.
Asynchronous Tutoring
Asynchronous tutoring is a different type of appointment where you submit your writing and the tutor reviews it and sends it back to you. There is no conversation between you and the tutor, although you can still let them know your main concerns about the paper through the appointment information. This is not a proofreading service; the tutor will provide suggestions and respond to your writing as a reader, but they will not make “edits” or “corrections” to your work.
This could be a good option for you if your camera and microphone don’t work well, you’ve experienced technical difficulties with other video platforms, or you’re working from a different time zone.
Creating an Asynchronous Appointment
You can over a tutor’s name on our schedule to see which tutors are available to tutor asynchronously. Many tutors will say “Face-to-Face Only” when you hover over their names; these tutors do not tutor online. Look for a tutor whose availability “Asynchronous” as shown here:
This tutor is available for online appointments!
Click on the time slot you’d like to reserve and the “Create Appointment” window will pop up. There will be a box near the top that looks like this:
To schedule an appointment where you will upload a copy of your paper to be read by your tutor independently, select “Yes. Schedule Asynchronous appointment.” You will then answer the usual questions about your assignment. Note: You will also be asked whether you would like the client report form forwarded to your professor at the end of the session; since you will not have the opportunity to speak with your tutor in an asynchronous session, please indicate your choice while making the appointment.
At the bottom of the appointment form window, you have the option to upload files in .doc or .docx format, as shown here:
Please upload your current draft, the prompt or assignment description if you have it, and any other information you think will be helpful. All uploads must be in .doc or .docx format.
Click “Create Appointment,” and your time slot is now reserved.
What Happens in an Asynchronous Appointment
The tutor will spend the hour you scheduled for your appointment reading, reviewing, and commenting on your writing. Shortly after the end of your reserved time, you can expect to receive an email notification with a document attached that contains the tutor’s feedback.
Although you will not interact directly with your tutor, we have asked the tutors to treat asynchronous tutoring as much like a normal session as possible. This means that the tutor will not spend extra time beyond the hour reading your paper, and they will not make direct edits or proofread your work. Instead, their feedback will appear in the marginal comments of your document. Keep this in mind when scheduling, as you will still need to review the tutor’s comments and make your own revisions before the work is ready to turn in.
Where are my tutor’s comments?
After your appointment ends, you will receive the client report form as usual. The WCOnline system does not include file uploads as attachments with the client report form, so you’ll need to wait for a separate email from WCOnline. This will be a notification email informing you that your appointment was “modified,” and your tutor’s comments should be attached to that email. If you don’t see the email attachment, you can go to your appointment in WCOnline, click on it, and scroll to where the file uploads are visible. You can download your tutor’s feedback document from there.
If you cannot find your tutor’s comments in your appointment or as an email attachment, please email us at w.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about scheduling, please call us at (336) 758-5768 or email us at w.