Writing Skills Tutoring

All Red Deer Polytechnic students, regardless of program or course, can get free writing help through Writing Skills Tutoring at RDP. Find out more in the video below!

Jen Stange | Academic Writing Tutor

Jen (she/her) is an Academic Writing Tutor and the main point of contact for Writing Skills Tutoring. Jen tutors students in all aspects of academic writing including brainstorming, essay planning and organization, grammar, punctuation, revision, and citation. She hosts writing groups, does classroom visits and presentations, and can be reached at jennifer.stange@rdpolytech.ca.

Jen has a BA in Native Studies from the University of Alberta. Her professional interests include editing and proofreading, writing anxiety, and fostering an inclusive writing environment. She has been with Red Deer Polytechnic Library since 2012 and has been the Academic Writing Tutor since 2019. Her favourite punctuation mark is the em dash—ask her about it sometime!

Mackenzie Keith | Academic Writing Tutor

Mackenzie is an Academic Writing Tutor. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Alberta, and enjoys teaching students about writing structure and how to develop compelling arguments in essays. He also knows how writing anxiety can affect someone in their work and studies, and hopes to help ease tensions students may have with creating their assignments. He can be reached at mackenzie.keith@rdpolytech.ca.

Mack’s favourite form of punctuation is the ellipsis, mostly for how it alludes to something more on the other side, but who knows what that could be…

Mandy McKee | Student Writing Tutor

Mandy (she/her) is a Student Writing Tutor. She works with students in all aspects of academic writing and appreciates the opportunity to help others cultivate their writing skills. She can be reached at writingskills@rdpolytech.ca.

Mandy is enrolled in the Bachelor of Education Secondary Years program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She would eventually love to teach English or French Language Arts at the middle or high school level. Her professional interests include building student writing confidence, embedding citations, and organizing ideas. Mandy has been in the Education program since Fall 2020 and a Student Writing Tutor since 2022. Her favourite punctuation mark is the question mark because of its practicality; it's very useful when you're wondering about something, wouldn't you agree?

Haley Nelson | Student Writing Tutor

Haley (she/her) is a Student Writing Tutor who tutors students in all aspects of academic writing. She can be reached at writingskills@rdpolytech.ca.

Haley is enrolled in the Bachelor of Education Middle Years program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She hopes to teach English Language Arts at the middle or high school level in the Red Deer area. Her professional interests include building strong thesis statements and comprehension skills. She has been a student at RDP since 2020 and a Student Writing Tutor since 2021. Some people favour punctuation marks such as colons and commas; Haley, for its sophistication, loves the semicolon.

Our Vision

To create a thriving, vibrant Red Deer Polytechnic writing community where students, staff, and instructors gather to discuss all aspects of academic writing.

Our Mission

Using scaffolded instructional techniques and student-centred learning approaches, we strive to help Red Deer Polytechnic writers discover the knowledge and develop the skills they need to become confident, competent and independent writers.

All Red Deer Polytechnic students are welcome to use our services. Writing Skills Tutoring can help you with:

• Research and planning
• Essay organization and structure
• Developing a strong thesis statement
• Grammar and punctuation
• Any other issues related to writing

In order to become independent learners, students will acquire many types of skills throughout their post-secondary education. Our writing tutors help you develop the writing skills you need in both academic and professional settings. While we cannot proofread your paper, we can teach you how to proofread and edit your own work, skills that will stay with you for life.

Tutors are not permitted to discuss take home exams, resumes, or questions related to course content.

Appointments

During your appointment, you can:

• Share your preliminary ideas and notes for an assignment so you can talk them through with the tutor.
  • Talking them through can help you clarify and focus your ideas.
• Share a draft of your paper, no matter how rough it is.
  • The tutor can comment on which sections are clearly explained and which might need more explanation and support.
• Share your paper in its final stages.
  • The tutor may comment on particular parts—e.g., paragraphs, sentences, word choices—that you’re unsure about.
• Share your nearly finished paper.
  • The tutor can share techniques for editing and proofreading. However, the tutor cannot proofread your paper for you.

What to bring to your appointment:

• Your writing in electronic format
• Pertinent assignment details

Students are allowed to book one appointment per day and up to two per week.

Please be considerate and cancel any appointments or email submissions you no longer need by using the cancellation link in your appointment confirmation email, or by emailing jennifer.stange@rdpolytech.ca.

Arrive on time for your appointment. Students who are more than 15 minutes late may find their session has been given to another student. 

Academic Integrity

The tutor will offer you guidance so you can work more effectively, but cannot go beyond that. If the tutor does more than that, or if the assignment you hand in contains the tutor’s work rather than your own, you may be accused of academic dishonesty or plagiarism, which can result in severe consequences for your educational opportunities. Find out more about academic integrity at RDP.

Code of Conduct

Tutors and students are expected to interact with one another in a polite and respectful manner. Rude, disrespectful or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.