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 | Lead Academic Writing Tutor

Jen (she/her) is the Lead 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, plans and hosts all Writing Skills events, and does classroom visits and presentations. She 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, GenAI, and fostering an inclusive writing environment. She has been with Red Deer Polytechnic Library since 2012 and the Academic Writing Tutor since 2019. Her favourite punctuation mark is the em dash—ask her about it sometime!

Mack Keith | Academic Writing Tutor

Mack is an Academic Writing Tutor. He has 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…

Nikki Tosczak | Student Writing Tutor

Nikki is a Student Writing Tutor. She works with students in all aspects of academic writing and can be reached at writingskills@rdpolytech.ca

Nikki is in her second year of the Bachelor of Education program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She hopes to teach English Language Arts or Social Studies at the high school level in northern Alberta or the Northwest Territories. Her writing interests include organizing ideas, essay planning, and research. She has been an RDP student since 2022 and a Student Writing Tutor since Fall of 2024. Her favourite punctuation is the colon: it has so many great uses!

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.