Make an appointment now by going to our online schedule or by calling us at 765-285-8387.

About Appointments
The Writing Center at Ball State has been working with student writers for over 40 years. We believe that everyone can benefit from having someone passionate about writing look at their work. So we staff our center with undergraduate and graduate tutors who are smart, careful readers. Typically, students make an appointment and meet with their tutor at the designated time and place (either Robert Bell 291 or online).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are appointments?
Appointments are, at most, 50-minutes long. All appointments start on the hour.

How many appointments can I have each week?
Students may have two appointments a week, but only one per day.

What happens during a typical appointment?
Appointments start with informal greetings. The tutor asks the student about the writing task at hand in order to discover the student's goals for the session. Some students want to brainstorm a topic, some want help expanding their ideas, some want to know if their ideas make sense or if they have given enough support, and some want help with language, mechanics, and citations.

Tutors will then ask to read or view the student's project. Depending on the length and goals, they will discuss all or part of the project. The tutor will give feedback, ask questions, and give suggestions. The tutor's goal is not to tell the student what to do, but to discuss with the student issues, conventions, expectations, and rules that are pertinent to the writing task.

At the end of the session, the tutor will help the student summarize the next steps for the project. Students will be asked to complete an exit survey and may schedule a follow-up session.

Can I drop off or email my paper to you?
No. We think students will learn more and we can give better feedback if you are present for the appointment. However, we do offer online appointments if you prefer to work that way. You can choose the online option when making your appointment on our schedule.

Quick Questions

We also answer quick questions by email ([email protected]) or IM (AIM:bsuwritingcenter) during our regular hours.