Health Sciences Writing Consultants

Current Tufts students on the Boston Health Sciences Campus may register for one 45-minute session per day and up to two sessions per week. There is a maximum of eight sessions allowed per semester per student. 

Consultants will only work with a student on a take-home exam IF the student presents written permission from the professor at the time of the session and makes it clear when signing up for the appointment that the assignment is a take-home exam.

Our consultants are trained to facilitate learning by:

• being respectful, professional, and competent
• focusing on the student’s overall learning
• tailoring sessions to each student’s capabilities
• contextualizing tasks and skills and clarifying their relevance to future academic tasks
• listening actively, empathetically, and analytically
• acknowledging and addressing different learning styles and individual differences
• modeling skills and the use of resources
• emphasizing process versus product
• providing non-directive, student-centered sessions
• referring students to additional resources as appropriate

Students are expected to:

• respect the consultant’s professional role
• understand that a consultant facilitates learning
• understand that the consultant is meant to supplement, but not to replace, other resources such as the professor, the Teaching Assistant, and the course material
• prepare for sessions by bringing appropriate materials (textbook, course syllabus, notes, writing implements)
• bring specific questions and concerns to the session
• actively participate in the learning process
• take responsibility for their own learning
• accept that consultants will not edit, proofread, and rewrite projects

1. To clarify the expression of your ideas
2. To better manage a long writing project
3. To strengthen your argument
4. To ensure your reader can understand you
5. To learn to write within disciplinary conventions
6. To work on writing flow and style
7. To improve choppy and awkward sentences
8. To learn proper citation and documentation
9. To improve English grammar & vocabulary
10. For encouragement, reassurance, and motivation

1. To have someone 'fix' your grammar
2. To have your tutor proofread or edit your paper
3. To let someone rewrite the paper for you
4. To have someone tell you what to write
5. To receive help on the paper's subject matter