Writing Skills Centre

Writing Skills Centre Vision

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

Writing Skills Centre 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 in the Writing Skills Centre. The Writing Skills Centre 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. At the Writing Skills Centre, we 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.