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Peer Advice 5
| Writing Study Skills Getting Writing Help Help is out there ... Writing is often a solitary activity. We know that we are measured by how well we can write by ourselves. However, it's not necessary to face the challenges of writing all by yourself. You have many resources out there to help you. Learning how to get help from other people and from resources will greatly improve your ability to write assignments effectively. How and when do experienced student writers get help from others as they write for college/university? |
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Frequently Asked Questions: Peer Advice
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Which handbooks or internet sites do you like the most for help with academic writing?
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My favourite internet site is Purdue Owl. It covers a wide range of writing-related topics, from grammatical rules to general tips for academic writing. Despite the sheer amount of information it provides, the Purdue Owl website is well organized and very easy to navigate. It's been my go-to online resource ever since I heard of it. [Scott]
The internet site I like best would have to be Son of Citation Machine! This online tool is great for creating reference lists at the end of papers... although its level of excellence depends on your abilities to fill in boxes correctly. [Elena]
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When do you go to talk to your instructor? What kinds of questions about your paper do you take to your instructor? What do you use email for when you want help from an instructor?
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I email my professors when I need clarification regarding an assignment's criteria or format. For any issues that are deeper than these, I go to see my professors face to face. I think this is the polite thing to do, and it's also much easier to communicate these problems in person. I've made appointments with professors primarily because of trouble finding adequate sources, but I've also made visits in order to bounce ideas around or to submit a draft for review (few professors seem to offer this latter sort of help- take advantage of their generosity if you have this opportunity!). I regret having avoided meetings with professors for the majority of my undergraduate years: in my personal experience, they appreciate the visit and are helpful even when I don't have specific questions in mind. [Scott]
I talk to my instructor any time I am unsure about his or her expectations. If the assignment instructions aren't 100% clear, I ask about them. If I'm not sure about something else, such as how the instructor feels about the use of "I" in a paper, I ask. I use email when I can't make the instructor's office hours, or if the question is quick and straightforward. [Shyla]
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When do you find it's useful to talk to or work with classmates about your writing?
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I find it most helpful to talk with other classmates when I'm trying to work out a good thesis; I don't know why, but I find that bouncing ideas off other people - even just hearing myself say things out loud - really helps me to clarify my thought. [Elena]
I have often found it worthwhile to talk with my peers about the scope and sources of a paper when I am in the planning and refining stages. Even after I have developed a specific thesis, I find it is instructive to talk with others about the possible approaches to and limitations of an argument. Similarly, I've been put in touch with key sources by fellow students who were researching similar topics before. [Scott]
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What kind of help do you think is okay to ask for? What kind of help is not okay to ask for?
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It's not okay to ask for help if you want someone to give you ideas, write or re-write parts of your paper, or edit your grammar mistakes. [Shyla]
I think it's okay for other people give feedback regarding clarity, flow, adherence to instructions, formatting and grammar. It's also okay to ask for help finding sources or to bounce general ideas off people to see what they think. On the other hand, it's unacceptable for other people to give you ideas or edit your paper in any way. [Scott]
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