About the Writing Center

Yale College
The Writing Center
P.O. Box 208225
New Haven, CT
06520-8225   USA
writing@yale.edu

Writing Partners

 

Please note that Writing Partners only work with Yale College Undergraduates. See Tutoring for Graduate Students if you are a graduate student who needs help with writing.

Writing Partners are Yale College or graduate school students selected for both their writing skills and their ability to talk about writing. Writing partners do not read papers before the appointment, so they will often focus on the beginning of your text or other short sections that you know need help.

Writing Partner Hours:

Sunday - Thursday: 3-5pm and 7-9pm
Friday: 3-5pm

Fall Break: Writing Partners will be available through Friday, November 20. We will be closed starting November 21, and will reopen on Monday, November 30.

Reading Period: Writing Partners will be available through Friday, December 11. We will be closed during Exams and will reopen after classes begin in January.

Writing Partners work at The Writing Center, 35 Broadway (directions below). When you come to see a Writing Partner, you should bring with you:

1. Two copies of your draft
2. A pen
3. A copy of the assignment
4. For evening and weekend hours, you must have your Yale ID to get into the building.

Of course, if you haven’t written a draft yet, you may come with notes and the assignment and get help planning your essay.

What to expect

Since Writing Partners do not read papers before the conference, you’ll spend time at the beginning explaining the assignment, after which the writing partner will read your draft—or at least the beginning and any section you’ve asked to focus on. The writing partner will ask questions to help you clarify your meaning, as well as give you advice about effective strategies for structure, analysis, and developing a thesis. The writing partner will not tell you exactly what do to fix your essay, but will help you figure out strategies for revision and will prompt you to take notes on the suggestions that arise. Writing partners can also help you with grammar and style, although not by proofreading your whole essay; instead, the two of you might edit a paragraph together, looking for suggestions that you can then incorporate into the rest of your paper.

Directions

The entrance to 35 Broadway is at the back of the building. Take the passage between Mory’s and Toad’s off York St. Turn left into the small courtyard. 35 is next to the Off-Broadway Theater. Take the elevator to the second floor, and turn left. Once inside, turn right and look for Room 220, 219, or 218.