Student Information

Have questions about the Online Tutor? View a brief video of how to use the Online Tutor and read a few sample online responses: English 11 | Health Policy

Here are answers to some questions you may have:

• I'm not sure what the Online Tutor is.
  The Online Tutor enables you to get feedback on your writing no matter where you are in relation to Chapel Hill. By filling out a simple form, you send a draft of your paper along with your concerns and the assignment to the Writing Center at UNC-CH. One of our writing tutors will read your draft and respond to your specific concerns. The tutor's response will be stored in a password-protected part of the website that you can check and read as many times as you want.
• I haven't been in school for a long time. Can the Writing Center help me adjust to college writing?
  Absolutely. We'd be happy to help you as you pursue further educational opportunities. We know that returning to school can be an alienating and frustrating experience, and we're here to help.
• I want to use the Online Tutor at night and on weekends. Are you open then?
  Yes and no. We respond to submissions during our regular business hours (M-R 9-7 and F 9-4), but you can submit a draft to the Online Tutor any time, any day, and from anywhere. If, for example, your paper is due Monday, plan ahead and submit the draft Wednesday or Thursday of the week before.
• My paper is due tomorrow. Should I bother submitting it?
  Give it a try. You can get a sense of how busy we are by looking at the weather symbol on the submission page. Sunny means you're likely to get a quick response. Stormy means we're swamped with papers. Even if your due date passes, you can tell us you'd still like a response. Many students find it useful to work on long-term writing improvement beyond a particular assignment.
• I'm having trouble figuring out the Online Tutor. Is there someone I can call?
  Of course. During our regular hours (M-R 9-7 and F 9-4) there will be someone at the Writing Center who can answer you questions and/or walk you through the process. We can't submit your paper for you, but we can make sure you're able to do it sucessfully. Our phone number is (919)962-7710.
• Does the Writing Center offer any services beyond the Online Tutor?
  We have a face-to-face tutoring services if you happen to be on campus, and we also maintain a series of handouts that cover most of the writing issues you'll face in college. You can access the handouts here. We also have a grammar hotline for quick questions about grammar. Give us a call at (919)962-7710 and we'll try to help.
• Do I have to use the Online Tutor?
  No. You are not required to use any of the services of the Writing Center. We're here to help you at any stage in the writing process, but you do not have to make use of our services.

Still have questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, email the Writing Center, or give us a call at (919)962-7710.