The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin - Madison
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About The Writing Center
General Information and FAQs

The Writing Center's programs are staffed by six professional writing instructors, 47 doctoral teaching assistants from composition and rhetoric and literary studies, and 55 undergraduate Writing Fellows. All tutors in Writing Center programs are highly trained, expert readers and are qualified to offer help with writing in all disciplines and at all levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is everything here free?

The Writing Center does not charge for any of its services. Our individual instruction and workshops are offered free of charge to all currently registered University of Wisconsin-Madison students.

Can I sign up for appointments or workshops by phone or email?

We do not make appointments for individual instruction by email. For individual instruction, you may make or reschedule an appointment either by coming to the Writing Center (6171 Helen C. White Hall) or by calling 263-1992.

To cancel an appointment, please call 263-1992 any time. Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we can give the time to another student.

If you do not show up for an appointment, or cancel it very late, you may not be given any more appointments that semester: "No-shows" and later cancellers deny other students a chance to use the Writing Center, and we take that very seriously. Please help us to make the most of our resources.

Almost all Writing Center workshops require advance registration; please register through the web page of each individual workshop. Unless otherwise indicated, all Writing Center workshops meet in or adjacent to 6171 Helen C. White Hall.

Who can use your computer lab?

The computer lab is open during regular Writing Center hours and is available to all UW-Madison students. Our computer lab is also a teaching facility and will occasionally be closed for classes. Keep in mind that this lab, unlike the DoIT labs, does not have support staff. If you think you’ll need a lot of computer assistance, you may want to work at a different lab.

How can I send good old-fashioned campus or US mail to the Writing Center?

The Writing Center, Department of English, 6171 Helen C. White Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 North Park St., Madison, WI 53706 - USA

How can I schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment at the main Writing Center?

You may call our friendly and knowledgeable telephone staff at 608-263-1992 or visit us in 6171 Helen C. White Hall, 600 North Park St. – Madison, WI.

During the first three weeks of classes, in both the fall and spring, the Writing Center’s telephone is staffed: Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fridays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

From the fourth week of classes through the final week of classes (and excluding breaks and holidays) the Writing Center's telephone is staffed: Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Fridays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please note that if you call this number at any other time you will hear a recorded message with basic information about the Writing Center.

How can I register for a Writing Center workshop?

Start here to learn about our Writing Center workshops. You can register for a workshop on each of the individual workshop pages.

How can I confirm or double check my registration for a Writing Center workshop?

To confirm or double check your registration, you may call our friendly and knowledgeable telephone staff at 263-1992, write an email.

How can I cancel my registration for a Writing Center workshop?

To cancel your registration, you may fill out the registration cancellation form.

How can I arrange to work with a Writing Center instructor on a writing assignment?

You may make face-to-face appointments for in the main Writing Center or walk-in (first-come, first-served) at one of our satellite locations.

You may submit a draft (5 pages or less) for email instruction.

You may work in an online "chat" conference on a draft that is 5 pages or less.

How can I ask a quick question about writing?

Do you have nagging questions about sentence structure? Is some grammatical rule causing you to lose sleep? Don't know where to begin with a documentation style? If so, send your questions to the Writing Consultant.

I'm a UW-Madsion professor, an academic staff instructor, or a teaching assistant. How can I arrange a Writing Center instructor to visit my or co-teach my class?

Your students are more likely to visit the Writing Center after a member of our staff has made a brief presentation about our services in your class. Every year, we make such presentations in undergraduate and graduate courses across campus.

Arrange a class visit.

How can I learn more about teaching with writing?

You can learn more about the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program here.

How can I learn about becoming an undergraduate Writing Fellow?

Writing Fellows are assigned to Writing Intensive or Comm-B courses in which they work closely with professors as well as student writers. Learn more here.

I'm a professor or academic staff instructor. How can I find out more about having a Writing Fellow work with one of my courses?

Professors teaching small Writing Intensive or Comm-B classes without TAs can ask to work with Writing Fellows. Learn more here.

How can I get permission to link to the Writing Center website or use Writing Center instructional materials for my teaching?

If you would like permission to add a link to the Writing Center on your website or to use handouts reproduced from the Writer's Handbook, please email us here.

We have developed numerous handouts that you can duplicate for use in your teaching. For many of these handouts, see our website, under “Writer’s Handbook,” or request a copy of a specific handout to be sent to you via campus mail by email.

How do I give the Writing Center feedback about the website?

At the Writing Center we believe in revision. Ask anyone.

But it’s not just what we tell everyone who walks in the door. It’s what we do. This web site is no exception to our rule. We’re constantly revising, improving, and responding to the feedback that people are kind enough to take the time to give us.

You can be one of those people! Please, take a moment and fill out this form to tell us what you think about our web site, or about anything we do (in an official capacity, of course). We appreciate the opportunity to make our resources more useful to you!

How do I ask a general question or one about a topic not listed above?

If you have questions about any of the Writing Center’s services, please send email to wcenter@writing.wisc.edu. You can expect an answer within two business days.