Writing Consultations

A writing consultation is an opportunity for UBC students to receive formative peer feedback on their writing at any stage in the writing process, from first drafts to final revisions. Doctoral Writing Consultants ask non-judgemental and non-evaluative questions, and offer observations using a pedagogically sound approach based on research in the field of writing studies. The formative feedback aims to provide students with strategies for revision.

Writing consultations are for all UBC students, writing in any discipline or profession, at any level of expertise. We serve students new to university writing, masters students in professional and academic programs, and doctoral students completing course work or writing the dissertation.

Doctoral Writing Consultants provide feedback (aimed at revision) on any and all documents: assignments set during a first-year writing course, thesis and dissertation chapters, and research articles for publication. Other examples include scientific abstracts, grant and scholarship applications, and all forms of creative writing.

Writing consultations are beneficial for a number of reasons. They support students at no cost, providing feedback additional to that of instructors, teaching assistants, and peers. Writing consultations motivate students to reflect on the particular writing situation. For example, Doctoral Writing Consultants might ask about the purpose of the document, the intended audience, the overall organization or structure, and the in-text citation practices.

Writing consultations aim to introduce students to a broader perspective about the typical kinds of writing practices that take place at a research institution like UBC. Students can book multiple appointments (one a day, two per week), and choose to consult the same or a different Doctoral Writing Consultant, from within their own discipline (as available) or outside of their discipline.

This video further explains the benefits of a writing consultation.

There are two types of feedback available: a twenty-five minute in-person dialogue via an in-person writing consultation; a twenty-five minute written feedback writing consultation, which takes place in real time, but not face-to-face. At the end of a written feedback writing consultation, the Doctoral Writing Consultant re-uploads the document with written commentary for the student to download.

Writing consultations are available once a day, twice a week. They can be booked up to fourteen days in advance. Writing consultations are limited to once a day, twice a week for accessibility and pedagogical reasons. First, there are many students at UBC Vancouver and they all deserve equal opportunity to book a consultation. Second, more sessions per day or week risk providing a greater amount of feedback than can be incorporated in a revised draft.

Writing consultations are limited to twenty-five minutes for accessibility and pedagogical reasons. First, there are many students at UBC Vancouver and they all deserve equal opportunity to book a consultation. Second, sessions of longer than twenty-five minutes risk providing a greater amount of feedback than can be incorporated in a revised draft. The same is true of more than one session a day, or more than two a week. Our goal is to make your time with us as impactful as possible, while serving as many UBC Vancouver students as possible.

Visit WCOnline. Using the “Schedules” tab at the top of the page, select either the written feedback schedule, or one of the in-person locations. Click on an available appointment slot and complete the appointment form to secure your booking. Prior to your appointment, select “Attach File” and upload your .doc or .docx document for review during the consultation. If relevant, upload the assignment description and/or rubric as well.

If you have booked an in-person appointment, arrive at the location of your booking no earlier than 5-minutes prior to your appointment time. Details of the location, including a map, will be emailed to you with your booking confirmation.

If you have booked for written feedback, the Doctoral Writing Consultant will provide feedback via the comment function in Word and re-upload your document. You will receive an email when this has happened.

Watch this video demonstration for further information.

Writing consultations are given by a team of Doctoral Writing Consultants representing a broad spectrum of UBC disciplines, from Biomedical Engineering to Education, from Neuroscience to Forestry, and from Public Health to Creative Writing! All Doctoral Writing Consultants are trained in providing the same pedagogically-informed feedback derived from detailed research in the field of writing studies. You can meet with the same Doctoral Writing Consultant over a succession of appointments, or you can select different consultants to get different perspectives on your writing.

Upload the document you want feedback on prior to your appointment time using the “Attach File” option in WCOnline. If you also have the assignment description or rubric, upload those as well. Complete the appointment form specifying what you would like feedback on.

If your appointment is for written feedback, that is all you need to do. You will be able to download your feedback from WCOnline at the end of the appointment time. If your appointment is in person, arrive at the location of your appointment no more than five minutes before your appointment time. You will receive a map specifying the location when you receive the email confirming your appointment.

You may submit co-authored articles and co-authored research papers for a writing consultation (but not group assignments). You must tick the box on the writing consultation appointment form to confirm that the document is co-authored. After the writing consultation, the feedback must be shared with all co-authors. If you are booking an in-person appointment, only one co-author can attend. A consultant will not meet with more than one student.

Yes! Faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical researchers who would like a writing consultation should contact the CWSC Program Manager Dr. Patty Kelly.

Email the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication: cwsc.info [at] ubc.ca