Writing Centre

During your appointment, tutors can assist with any stage of writing for your assignment, including:

• brainstorming and choosing a topic
• developing a thesis
• supporting and developing ideas
• organizing your essay
• revising a rough draft of your essay
• citing sources and using reference material
• improving sentence structure
• understanding punctuation

Tutors at the Writing Centre do not provide simple proofreading of your assignment. Instead, they will teach you skills to improve your writing that can be applied to future work and to further develop your own voice.

Book a 25-minute appointment up to 12 days in advance. Appointments can be booked in person, online through video chat, or asynchronously through document upload. Log in to WCOnline, our booking platform, using your VIU email address and password. If you study at the Cowichan or tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus, they have their own Writing Centres that can provide assistance. Visit the Cowichan Writing Centre or tiwšɛmawtxʷ Writing Centre websites for full details.

• All students may book up to two 25-minute appointments per week or one 55-minute appointment.
• Grad students may book two 55-minute appointments per week.
• If an appointment needs to be cancelled, we encourage students to cancel at least 30 minutes before the start time to give the opportunity for other students to use the time.
• Appointments will be made available to others if a student is more than 15 minutes late for a 55-minute booking or 5 minutes late for a 25-minute booking.
• If the time you're hoping to book is already reserved, you can place your name on the waitlist. If an appointment is cancelled during your waitlisted period, you will receive an email.
• If you're running late, please contact us: phone 250-740-6330 or email writingcentre@viu.ca.
• Three no-shows in one semester will result in a suspension of future bookings for the rest of the semester.
• Tutors will not discuss grades or help you with any examination material, including take-home exams.
• After multiple appointments on the same essay, tutors reserve the right to withdraw assistance at their discretion to ensure that the essay remains your own work.
• Information from your instructor always takes precedence over information from a Writing Centre tutor.

The Writing Centre is currently closed and will reopen in the Fall.

Where is the Writing Centre located?

• The Nanaimo Campus Writing Centre is on the fourth floor of the library (Building 305).
• The Cowichan Campus Writing Centre is located in Learning Centre room 120.
• The tiwšɛmawtxʷ Campus Writing Centre is located in room 153.

How much does the service cost?

The Writing Centre is a free service for current VIU students.

Who are the tutors?

The Writing Centre is staffed by VIU faculty members, usually instructors from the English Department and International Education. Tutors change from term to term.

Do I have to work with the same tutor every time?

Each time you book an appointment, you can choose your tutor depending on availability. It’s a good idea to work with a variety of tutors.

What should I bring to the tutorial?

Bring a copy of the assignment you’re working on and an idea of what you’d like to accomplish in the tutorial. For example, you might say, “My essay doesn’t flow.” The tutor will then help you with transitions and coherence. Or you might say, “The assignment calls for 1500 words, but I’ve got only 600.” The tutor will then help you to develop your ideas in greater depth and breadth.

Can I bring non-academic writing like a cover letter for a job I’d like to apply for?

Yes, tutors can help you with any writing project.