Writing Lab

Description
The Writing Lab is an individual tutorial service provided for those who seek to improve their academic writing. It is available to all students in the department, from the first year to the master’s level.

Services Provided
Tutors review the skills necessary for writing English academic essays. Meetings often cover structural elements, such as formulating thesis statements, constructing paragraphs, and organising the essay. They also deal with writing techniques, including how to make smooth transitions and choose an appropriate register. Tutors do not primarily evaluate the merit of arguments or help students analyse, and they do not proofread papers. Monitors may not have read the texts you are working on, and their main focus will be to help you in a workshop-style setting, where you can bounce ideas off of each other in a less formal space than your AT and seminar classes. The Writing Lab is an excellent place to work on your writing from a process-based perspective. The services of the Writing Lab are not available to students outside of the English Department of the University of Geneva. Students should not over-rely on this service, and please note that visits are usually capped at five per module. If you need to visit the Writing Lab more than five times per module, this must be approved by the Writing Lab Coordinator, whose email can be found on the staff page.

How to Sign up

You may sign up online at:  https://calendly.com/edwl/.

Please note that appointments become available up to 14 days in advance.

Autumn Semester 2024 Schedule  (30 September - 20 December 2024 and 7 & 8 January 2025)

To find out more about the tutors, please consult the staff pages.
 

Your appointment
You will work one-on-one with a tutor during a 30-minute appointment. Please arrive on time and bring a piece of writing (e.g. brainstorm, outline, thesis statement, paragraph, or draft) that you would like to discuss. If the door is closed, you may wait outside until the previous session has finished.

Cancellations
After signing up you will receive an email confirmation that includes a button to cancel or reschedule. If you cannot find your confirmation or did not receive one, you may contact the Writing Lab by email (english-dep-writing-lab(at)unige.ch) or phone (022 379 70 18). Please cancel at least one hour before so that other students may take advantage of your time slot.

Location
The Writing Lab is located next to the Secretariat in the English Department (CO 213), on the second floor of the Comédie building (12, boulevard des Philosophes).