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 Academic Skills Centre: FAQs1. What is the ASC?We help students learn the skills needed for success in university. These include essay writing, critical reading, study skills, seminar presentations, time management, note taking, lab writing, mathematics, citation and exam preparation. 2. Will you proofread my essay?We are a teaching service and provide instruction in grammar, style, organization and other writing skills. Nobody learns from watching somebody proofread an essay. We help develop editing skills students can apply independently. Questions about specific content should be addressed to course instructors. We provide guidance on developing analysis, organizing arguments, and general principles of writing. We may not always need to read an entire paper but will read three or four pages and help the student with problems found there, so the student can edit the remainder. Please note that we cannot advise students on applications to graduate school or professional programs, or for scholarships. 3. How many appointments can I have?Students may book ten appointments/drop-in sessions per term. 4. How do I cancel an appointment?If a student cannot make an appointment, it is important to cancel it in order to free that time for someone else. Students must call to cancel before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the appointment. Students who miss an appointment and do not call ahead to cancel will be unable to book an appointment for thirty days. They are also barred from the drop-in. Students who repeatedly miss appointments without calling ahead to cancel will be unable to use the services of the ASC for the term. 5. What should I bring?It is important to bring all relevant material, for example, assignment instructions (for papers), syllabi (for time management sessions), or reading or note taking samples (for study skills). Prior to a session, it is recommended that students ask their course instructor for clarification of assignment instructions. It is also helpful if students think ahead about the type of guidance they are seeking. Students are asked to bring in a hard copy of their work; research has shown that revision is easier and more effective, and errors are more easily spotted on paper than on the screen. 6. I have an assignment due in two hours. Can you help me?Students should leave sufficient time for revisions after an appointment. It is best to book an appointment well in advance of a due date. These are teaching sessions, not editing sessions, and students need time to apply what is learned in the appointment. An instructor can choose not to go over an assignment if it is due within three hours. 7. What do I do if I am in the Fresh Start Program?Students should indicate this at the beginning of the session and bring the required form. Instructors retain the right to not sign the form if they think the student has not participated during the appointment. 8. How does the ASC support students who are registered with the DSO?Students who are registered with the DSO can discuss details about re-occurring appointments with an instructor (how often and how many appointments should be made). Appointments can then be made for the entire term. Usually, once every two weeks is sufficient up to ten appointments/drop- in sessions per term. More appointments may be scheduled depending on circumstances. All students must follow the policies of the ASC regarding cancellation and no-shows.
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