Writing Center FAQ
General Questions:
What is a Writing Center?
The Writing Center is a place where students can visit, receive writing advice, and use computers. We also offer tutoring assistance via email. Our tutoring isn’t limited to just Composition I and II class, we help all students from any class with a writing assignment. For more information about what we do, read about our mission.
Can I print in the Writing Center?
Yes, but please limit your usage to ten pages per day.
Can I print double-sided pages?
Unfortunately, our printer is single-sided printing only.
Do you proofread papers?
Not exactly. A proofreading service would fix your paper, returning it without error. The Writing Center conducts tutoring sessions where writing is discussed and suggestions on improving one’s paper are made. Teachers expect to read and grade your ideas, so if we make corrections to everything in your paper, the paper no longer belongs to you, the student.
How long do tutoring sessions last?
The average session may last 20-45 minutes; however, it may be shorter or longer depending on the size of the paper or issue being discussed.
Can I get writing help online?
Yes!; Please refer to the ECHO 2.0 questions below and check out our online tutoring tab on the left-hand side of the screen or by clicking here.
Who are the tutors?
Writing Center tutors vary in age and education level from college sophomores to professionals with master’s degrees. All tutors have at least completed Composition I and II with at least a “B” or better. You can get to know our tutors and lab assistant more on our staff biographies. You can become one by visiting the college's jobs site.
Do I need to make an appointment to see a tutor?
No. All tutoring sessions are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Just stop by the lab during our normal operating hours, and more than likely, a tutor will be able to assist you shortly if not immediately.
Online sessions are a different story. No appointment is needed for email sessions. For more information about online sessions, check out ECHO 2.0.
Can I request a specific tutor?
Students are allowed to request specific tutors to assist them. This can be helpful if a tutor has consistently helped a student with the same assignment. However, the wait time for someone specific usually takes longer compared to a student who wants assistance from any tutor.
Is it okay to come in to the Writing Center even if I don’t have a draft?
Yes! We help students at any point in the writing process, which includes but is not limited to brainstorming, outlining, drafts, formatting, and citation.
What is a yellow slip?
The Writing Center uses yellow slips to communicate what we worked on with you to your professor and to keep track of how many tutoring sessions happen per semester.
Are yellow slips proof that I had a tutoring session?
Yes. We will also fill out additional forms your teacher may require for assignments.
What if I want to keep my visit to the Writing Center private or confidential?
You always have the right to request a confidential session where the yellow slip does not go back to your professor. Please simply notify the tutor during the session of your wishes.
What does ECHO 2.0 do?
ECHO 2.0 is a service provided by OCCC’s Writing Center. Our tutors assist with any writing assignment that you are working on, even on essays outside of English composition classes. We cannot tutor non-writing assignments in other subjects. If you need assistance with other subjects, OCCC has several learning labs to assist you with these fields.
- Accounting Lab
- Biology Lab
- Engineering Lab
- Math Lab
- Nursing Clinical Lab
- Physical Science Lab
- Speech Lab
- Student Computer Center
- World Languages and Cultural Center
I want to tutor online. What do I need to do?
To begin a tutoring session online, you need to submit a tutoring request form. The tutoring request form can be found by clicking on the “ECHO 2.0 Online Writing Tutoring” link in the sidebar of the page. This will bring down a menu of options; click on the Online Tutoring Request Form.
Enter your information into the boxes on the form. You will need:
- your name,
- your OCCC student ID number,
- a functional email address,
- your teacher’s name,
- the name of your assignment,
- and your class.
Next, upload your paper and assignment guidelines. Finally, use the last box on the form to explain to the tutor any concerns or issues you are having with your assignment. If you do not have a paper or assignment guidelines yet, use this last box to explain to the tutor how they can help you. Responding to all of the items on the form will improve the quality of the feedback you receive.
Once you have completed the form, click “Submit Form”. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you entered into the form, along with additional instructions.
When is ECHO 2.0 available?
You can submit an online tutoring request 24 hours a day and 7 days a week; however, tutors will only be able to respond to requests for email during our operating hours. You can also consult ECHO 2.0's hours and availability.
What happens during an email session?
Email tutoring takes place through several email messages between you and a tutor. Students are encouraged to respond promptly to any communication received from a tutor. You do not need to make an appointment to tutor through email.
Email tutoring is great for students who may not be available for tutoring sessions during the lab’s operating hours. Tutoring through this option will take place over a longer time span than a face-to-face session in the lab. If you are using this option, keep in mind that:
- ECHO 2.0 recommends you submit your concerns at least 48 hours before the assignment is due because tutors will respond to your concerns through correspondence over several emails.
- If you are facing a deadline that is less than 48 hours away, you are encouraged to try and visit the Writing Center for an in-person tutoring session.
Can I email my paper to a tutor instead of sending the form?
No. To work with a tutor online, you will need to fill out the tutoring request form. If you try to initiate a session by sending an email to a specific tutor or to ECHO 2.0’s email address, you will be directed to the form. You will receive feedback on your paper only after the form has been submitted.
If you are trying to submit the form and are having trouble, please email us at echo@occc.edu or call us at 405-682-1611 ex. 7379.
My instructor requires that I visit the Writing Center. Will ECHO 2.0 count for this?
ECHO 2.0 sessions are tutoring sessions that achieve the same goals as Writing Center sessions, but it’s up to your professor to say what counts for his/her class. ECHO 2.0 reports back to your instructor just like if you had a tutoring session in the Writing Center. After each online tutoring session, the tutor completes an ECHO 2.0 Report that is sent to the student’s instructor. Always check with your instructor for their preferences.
How will my instructor know that I used ECHO 2.0?
Once your session is complete, your tutor will complete a report that summarizes what was discussed during your session. This report is sent to your instructor to let them know you received assistance. This is very similar to the yellow slip that is completed for sessions done in person. The report is completed once the session is finished, so the faster the session is complete, the faster the report can be sent to the instructor. A report will be completed for every session done through ECHO 2.0, but if you are uncomfortable with this information being reported to your instructor, ask the tutor to remove the instructor’s name from the report.
Why have I not heard back from a tutor or received feedback?
If you submitted a request for a session less than 24 hours ago, then please wait patiently. We recommend students give tutors at least 24 hours to respond to a tutoring request form.
In the meantime, check the email address you entered into the request form. If you received a confirmation email from ECHO 2.0, then we likely received your request and will respond in the order in which it was received.
If you submitted a request for a session over 24 hours ago and you did receive a confirmation email, you can contact the Writing Center at 405-682-1611 ex. 7379 or by email at echo@occc.edu to check on the status of your session. If you requested an email session, remember this is a first-come-first-serve service and we may be experiencing high tutoring volumes; we will respond to requests in the order they were received.
If you submitted a request for a session and you did not receive a confirmation email, you may have entered your email address incorrectly or encountered some other problem. In this case, resubmit your tutoring request form. If you continue to have problems, please contact the Writing Center at 405-682-1611 ex. 7379 or by email at echo@occc.edu.
Special note: ECHO 2.0 cannot respond to requests outside of our operating hours. If you submit a request outside of our operating hours, we will process your request once the Writing Center opens. ECHO 2.0's Hours and Availability
