CITL provides peer tutoring writing services to Memorial's undergraduate and graduate students at every writing skill level and in any subject, discipline, program or faculty. 

What Do Peer Tutors Do?

Our individualized tutoring approach, provided by peer tutors who are Memorial students themselves, is not a proofreading service. Instead, peer tutors work with students to help them learn how to better proofread and edit their own academic writing. Through socratic questioning, these peer tutors help students at all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming to final revisions. The student is a vital part of the exchange and an active, engaged participant throughout the process.

Students who haven't started writing can get help with:

• Interpreting assignment prompts and understanding their instructor's expectations for an assignment.
• Brainstorming ideas.

When students come in with a draft, peer tutors first focus on these higher-order concerns (HOCs):

• Organization and structure.
• Thesis development and clarity.
• Argument development and transitions.
• Evidence and support.
• Audience awareness.
• Tone and style.

When the HOCs are addressed, tutors move on to lower-order concerns (LOCs) like grammar and punctuation.

This tutoring process is adjusted as necessary for students with English as an additional language.

Accessing Writing Services

You can encourage students to access writing services by sharing information about peer tutoring, including mentioning the service in your course syllabi. Feel free to use this suggested wording:

CITL's writing services include one-on-one peer tutoring for academic writing, which is available in person and online to Memorial students at all writing levels, and in any subject, discipline, program or faculty, who want to improve their academic writing. This individualized service supports you at all stages of your writing process, from brainstorming to final revisions. The knowledge you receive from working with a peer tutor helps you more confidently proofread and edit your own writing assignments. Visit CITL’s writing services page (mun.ca/citl/student-learning-solutions/writing-services/) for more information, including tutoring appointment scheduling and academic writing resources, or email them at writing@mun.ca.

We also invite you to explore our collection of resources and share these with your students. If you have questions about CITL's writing services, please contact us at writing@mun.ca.