Writing Lab

Description

The Writing Lab is an individual tutorial service provided for those who seek to improve their written English. 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 organizing the essay. They also deal with writing techniques, including how to make smooth transitions and choose an appropriate register. Tutors do not evaluate the merit of arguments or help students analyse, nor do they proofread papers. The services of the Writing Lab are not available to students outside of the English Department of the University of Geneva. 

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.

Spring Semester 2023 Schedule (6 March - 26 May)

Due to renovation work taking place in the English Department, the Writing Lab will take place in several rooms in the Philosophes building for the foreseeable future. Kindly note that the schedules have been slightly modified in line with the rooms’ availability:

Due to this change of location, should you need to consult an exam paper from the Writing Lab, please inform the monitor in advance when booking the appointment so they can pick it up from the department building and bring it to the meeting.

N.B. The Writing Lab will be closed during the Easter Break: 7-14 April 2023.

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. 

Students without a Covid certificate or unable to come in person can request a Zoom meeting using the sign-up form and are invited to send their written work in advance of the meeting to english-dep-writing-lab(at)unige.ch in order to save time and preserve the schedule.

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).

Additional Schedule Information

The Writing Lab runs from 20 September to 27 May (the first week is devoted to administrative tasks - see schedule above for exact start date). Although it is open during ‘reading week’ in November, it is closed most of the winter holiday and over Easter break. There are usually two weeks in January that students may also visit the lab.

Help and Guidelines for Writing

Helpful Documents.