As a currently enrolled UW–Madison student, you can get Written Feedback from a Writing Center instructor. The instructor will read your work, paying particular attention to your goals and concerns.
MAKING AN APPOINTMENT
The Writing Center’s instructional services are now rolled into one platform–WCOnline! This is the same platform that students use for scheduling their appointments. Now, instead of going outside of the system to receive online feedback, you can upload your draft for Written Feedback right in WCOnline. If you want to learn more, check out this video.
When making an appointment, look carefully beneath the instructors’ names. There you’ll find the type of instruction that the instructor is offering. If it says “Written Feedback & Virtual Meeting,” you will be able to select ONE type of instruction for your appointment.
UPLOADING YOUR DRAFT
If you choose Written Feedback, you will need to upload your draft and assignment information (see upload boxes File #1, File #2, File #3 at the bottom of the appointment form). You are able to upload this material at any time before the start of your appointment. Please note: to receive written feedback, your assignment will need to be uploaded in DOC/DOCX or RTF format.
OUR INSTRUCTORS’ RESPONSE
In the 40 minutes allotted for each Written Feedback appointment, our instructors are typically able to respond to about 6 typed, double-spaced pages. We encourage you to indicate which specific aspects of your draft you’d like feedback on.
Once your instructor responds to your draft, you’ll receive an email notification that your appointment has been modified or that someone has responded to your writing. You can expect to receive feedback the business day after your appointment, unless otherwise indicated.
WHAT SORT OF RESPONSE WILL I RECEIVE?
Your instructor will help you identify one or two areas for revision that can significantly strengthen your work. As in a face-to-face writing conference, our time is limited, so we will not be able to comment on every aspect of your draft in a single review.
WHAT KINDS OF PAPERS CAN I SEND?
Given the length of our Written Feedback appointments, we find that papers of up to 6 pages (double-spaced) are best suited to Written Feedback instruction. If you submit a longer paper, please indicate where your instructor should focus their attention. If you have a longer draft or a series of drafts you would like to work on, try to set up a series of appointments with the same instructor, or consider a writing mentorship.