Writing Coaches

Writing Coaches

Having trouble with academic writing? Get help from the writing coaches! SUSS is launching Writing Coaches to SUSS students who might need help with their written assignments such as TMAs.

These specially trained writing coaches will provide students with targeted feedback during one-to-one sessions. By going through your writing assignment, our writing coaches can help students to better understand the areas in writing that need improvement, as well as learn the key techniques involved in different parts of the writing process.

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1. Guidelines for Students Requesting Writing Coaches

The SUSS Writing Coaches aim to provide all SUSS students with individualised one-to-one coaching on academic writing by SUSS postgraduate students trained in TESOL/English language teaching.

Coaching will cover the following aspects:

  • understanding assignment instructions
  • understanding expectations of academic writing such as the style, tone, organization and language appropriate for academic audience and purpose
  • using sources, citations, quotations and paraphrases
  • going through previously marked assignments to better understand the areas in writing which need improvement
  • giving one-time feedback for improvement on a portion of the draft of an assignment to be submitted (i.e. Not more than 10% of the total word count of the assignment and the coaches will not provide further feedback on the draft after the consultation)
  • techniques involved in different parts of the writing process and for improving the style, tone, organization, cohesion, coherence, grammar and mechanics
  • upholding high standards of academic integrity

For the coaching session to be productive, you need to upload assignment instructions, previously marked assignments or a small portion of the draft for a new assignment before the session. You are reminded to come prepared. If you attend without any uploaded materials, you may be allocated some time during the session to write for a practice question.

Writing coaches will NOT

  • write the assignments for the students
  • proofread or copyedit the drafts of assignments to be submitted
  • cover the coaching of TMAs in SDE101, SDE102 and SDE105.

The coaching session only covers linguistics/writing aspects in the English Language and will not touch subject matter in specific disciplines. The submissions from students are only for the particular sessions the students booked with the writing coaches. No information will be circulated outside the writing sessions between the students and writing coaches.

2. Writing Coaches Schedule

 

3.30 pm - 4.30 pm

4.30 pm - 5.30 pm

5.30 pm - 6.30 pm

6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Mon

Coach C

Coach C

Coach C

 

 

 

Tue

 

 

 

Coach D

Coach D

Coach D

Wed

Coach C

Coach C

Coach C

Coach D

Coach D

Coach D

Thu

Coach H

Coach H

 

 

 

Coach H

Fri

Coach E

Coach E

Coach E

Coach E

Coach E

Coach E
  • * No mass booking of slots is allowed. Every student can book a maximum of 2 appointments at any one time.
  • ** Coaching/consultation period is from 24 Jan 2022 to 29 Apr 2022. The schedule is reflected as above except that there will be a reduced number of slots from 31 Jan – 4 Feb 2022. All coaching will be conducted via e-Coaching until further notice. Availability of slots can be accessed from the ‘Book Now’ button below. Coaching/consultation is not available on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays (including eve of Chinese New Year). There will be additional slots from 7 – 11 Feb 2022.
  • *** You are highly encouraged to make cancellations at least a day prior to the booking, as last-minute cancellations would deprive other students of a chance to take that slot.

Book Now

Note: No-shows or last-minute cancellations will be recorded. Repeated occurrence will cause future bookings not to be prioritised.
Reminder emails will be sent by your writing coach a few days prior to the appointment. Please remember to respond and/or to upload your document, otherwise your booking may be cancelled.

3. Walk-in consultation

Update: In view of the current campus guidelines due to COVID-19, all appointments are e-Coaching slots only. There will be no walk-in consultation until further notice.

  • Students are strongly encouraged to book an appointment and upload their documents in advance so that the assigned writing coaches can individualise their feedback and guidance for more effective coaching.
  • In the event that the student does not manage to make an appointment in advance, he/she may walk in the venue (Blk C, Meeting Room C.3A/C.3B) at one of the time-slots as shown in the above table. If there is an available coach during that time slot, the student can request for a consultation at the venue using the same online booking system. If there is no available coach for that time-slot, the student should book and wait for the next available time-slot.

Please note that writing coaches need some time before the coaching session to go through the documents – such as assignment instructions, previously marked assignments or a small portion of the draft for an assignment to be submitted. Therefore, students who choose a walk-in consultation should not expect to get as detailed feedback and specific guidance from the coach as those who make an appointment and send their documents to their assigned coaches in advance.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Writing Coaches

Writing Coaches

Who are the coaches who are giving me feedback?
Our coaches are SUSS students trained in TESOL/English language teaching.
No, the coaching is for previously marked assignments or for a portion of the draft of an assignment.
You are encouraged to upload documents (e.g. assignment instructions, a previously marked assignment, a portion of a draft which is not more than 10% of the total word count of the assignment) during the booking of a time-slot. You may like to bring a notebook or a laptop to take notes during the session.
Do I need to hand in anything at the end of the session?
No submission will be required at the end of the session. However, you would have to complete a short feedback form by the writing coach when the session has ended.
This is intended to be a one-to-one coaching on academic writing. You and your friends are encouraged to sign up for separate sessions.
No, it is not compulsory to sign up. WC offers undergraduates one-to-one coaching on their writing skills. For other writing workshops conducted by TLC, please refer here :http://tlc.suss.edu.sg/writing-workshops.html

Reservation of time-slot and Attendance

Please inform the coach in advance whenever possible. If you are more than 15 minutes late, the coach may cancel your appointment and take up consultation with walk-ins.

You will find a link to cancel your appointment inside the confirmation email that was sent to you.

You may upload the assignment at the point of booking. If it has not been uploaded a day before the appointment, the coach will email you. Please reply to the coach with your document.
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