Writing is key to helping students learn, clarify, organize, and articulate important concepts, ideas and information. Students improve as writers when they are provided with instruction and guidance relevant to their assigned tasks and the opportunity to revise with feedback. We’re here to help you guide your students through their writing processes and to help your students perform well as writers.
What can instructors in any department do to help students improve their writing?
Let your students know about our services.
Students in any subject and course on campus can get writing help from the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center. If it’s writing, we can help!
- Import our informational Canvas page into your own Canvas course site(s): Log in to Canvas and search in the Canvas Commons (see main menu on the left side of the page when you log in), and search for “Writing Help: Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center”
- Include the following statement on your syllabus and/or on your Canvas site:
Getting feedback from the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center while you’re in the process of working on a paper is a great way to improve the quality of your writing. You’re encouraged to talk with trained writing consultants about getting started on a paper, organizing your ideas, finding and citing sources, revising and polishing final drafts, grammar, and more. For instructions about how to make and attend in-person or online appointments, see the “Making and Attending Appointments” page. Updated information about JAHWC services is always available on their website home page.
If English is an additional language for you, you’re encouraged to make appointments using the ESL Writing Help schedule; the specially trained consultants who work there will provide you with the best possible assistance. You may also want to make use of the Canvas site, “Writing Resources for Multilingual Writers,” which offers a broad collection of resources and information. Self-enroll at https://utk.instructure.com/enroll/FTABWR.
Contact writingcenter@utk.edu with any questions.
Social media: Twitter: @UTKWritingCtr; Instagram: utkwritingctr
Provide students with a flyer:
ESL Writing Help (for students for whom English is an additional language)
Veterans Writing Help (for students who are veterans or active military service members)
Request a short presentation to your class about our services. To do so, contact the JAHWC at writingcenter@utk.edu. (We prefer to offer via ZOOM, but we can do in-person presentations as well.)
Let students know they can get help anytime during the writing process–the earlier the better!
Let students know about our Writing Guides page that includes reputable resources for writing in specific subjects.
If you allow students to use AI tools while working on writing assignments, let students know about our page on AI Tools and Writing: Information for Students
If you’re teaching a first-year English composition course, please let your students know about the English 103 or 104 1-credit elective writing support courses by directing your students to this “Writing Workshops” page.
Refer students directly to us.
We’re always eager to help your students, and referrals for individual students are welcome anytime. Please contact the director at writingcenter@utk.edu with information that will help us work with the student you refer.
Due to the volume of students we serve, we’re unable to provide effective help when an entire class is required to visit all at once. Therefore, please do not require your entire class to visit all at one time.
Do you want to give students Extra Credit to visit the JAHWC?
If you want all of your students to have an opportunity to get writing help, we ask that you 1. complete our request form, follow the guidelines below, and please contact us at writingcenter@utk.edu with any questions:
A few additional considerations to maximize your students’ experience with us:
- Let us know what your assignment is. If you require your students to visit the JAHWC, send us a written description of the assignment your students are working on so that we can best help them. Email it, with your name and the course name & number, to writingcenter@utk.edu.
- If you have a class with large enrollments, stagger your students’ visits. Arrange students into groups and ask one group to visit for one paper, another group for another paper, etc.
- Remind your students that they need to complete their appointment 3 days in advance of your due date. This is so that they can get an appointment, which wouldn’t be possible if all students from the class tried to visit on the day a paper is due.
- Proof of attendance: On the evening following each kept appointment, students receive an automated email from WCOnline, our appointment system, requesting that they fill out a satisfaction survey. This survey request email is their proof of attendance—they can print, screenshot, or forward it to you as you wish.
Give the following information to your students:
- Complete your appointment at least 3 days in advance of the assignment deadline. (This is so that you can get an appointment, which wouldn’t be possible if all students from the class tried to visit on the day a paper is due.)
- Make appointments at https://UTK.MYWConline.com.
- Most UG students should use the Undergraduate Writing Help schedule. Multilingual writers may select ESL Writing Help, and Veteran or Active Military students may select Veterans Writing Help.
- See these instructions for making and attending appointments.
- Know what to expect from a writing consultation. The Herbert Writing Center offers feedback on work in progress, including understanding your assignment, getting started on an assignment, reviewing first drafts, and more. We don’t line-edit, but we will answer any questions you may have about correctness. Be prepared for an interactive conversation; don’t show up just to “get the credit.”
- See this page on How to Make the Most of a Writing Consultation, and this article on “Why Visit your Campus Writing Center?”
- Contact writingcenter@utk.edu with any questions.
- Make appointments at https://UTK.MYWConline.com.
Are your students working in groups on an assignment?
Contact us at writingcenter@utk.edu for details about how your students can meet with a writing consultant in a group appointment.
Do you need proof of attendance of your students’ visit to the JAHWC?
Ask students to forward you our automated survey request email, which is sent out each evening from WCOnline (our appointment scheduling system) to each kept appointment.
Are writing centers only for “bad” writers?
Some people mistakenly think of writing centers as a “remedial” service. However, while we certainly can and do help writers who have demonstrated some kind of writing “problem,” we work with ALL writers at all levels of ability and prior training. For example, a great many honors students seek out writing feedback because they’re committed to producing excellent written work. As all faculty know from firsthand experience, all writers benefit from the opportunity to engage in conversation and receive feedback on their writing.
Attend one of our teaching-focused workshops.
“Writing in the Disciplines” Faculty Workshops
Come to our Spring 2025 “Writing in the Disciplines” Workshop Series! This semester, the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center will host four opportunities for interactive faculty workshops, two in-person (with lunch provided) and two via Zoom. Professorial, Lecturer, and GTA faculty from any department across the university are invited. These workshops are designed to be applicable in any discipline where writing is a required component, whether short reflections, technical reports, or long research essays. We hope you’ll join us!
Details and Registration Info
February 27th & 28th
“Writing Self-Efficacy: How to Build Students’ Confidence as Writers”
April 3rd & 4th
“Beyond the Red Pen: Best Practices for Responding to Student Writing”
Questions? You can always reach us at writingcenter@utk.edu OR call/text 865-974-9869.
Looking for our other resources for instructors? Click Here
Access our resources for instructors.
If you teach a Vol Core Written Communication (WC) course, visit our page on Teaching a “WC” Course.
If you’re thinking about how AI use might impact writing and writing instruction, visit our page with resources for instructors on generative AI and writing instruction. We also have developed a page for students with guidelines to consult before using generative AI tools.
Reach out to Dr. Matt Bryant Cheney, our Assistant Director for Faculty Development and Community Engagement, to talk about ways we can help you help your students become better writers. Matt is here to talk with you about designing meaningful writing assignments that help students write effectively in your discipline; ways to offer effective feedback on student writing; demystifying academic writing for your students; navigating AI use in your class, and more. Here is a direct link to his booking page: Click Here to Schedule
The “IW” Grade
For more information assigning the Incomplete due to Writing (IW) Grade, see our page on the “IW” Grade procedure.
Reach out to Dr. Matt Bryant Cheney, our Assistant Director for Faculty Development and Community Engagement, to talk about ways we can help you help your students become better writers. Matt is here to talk with you about designing meaningful writing assignments that help students write effectively in your discipline; ways to offer effective feedback on student writing; demystifying academic writing for your students; navigating AI use in your class, and more. Here is a direct link to his booking page: Click Here to Schedule