Frequently Asked Questions

Writing Center tutoring is available free of charge to all degree-seeking graduate and undergraduate AUC students except those registered in ELIN 0101 or 0102 or ENGL 0210.

You will spend about 30 minutes discussing your work with a tutor. Some typical topics for discussion are:

• Understanding an assignment.
• Brainstorming.
• Organizing and outlining essays.
• Locating and evaluating sources.
• Using and integrating sources, including documenting sources with APA or MLA style.
• Revising drafts and proofreading.
• Improving grammar and sentence structure.

There are so many different kinds of papers you will have to write as a student. We can help you understand the conventions and requirements of different kinds of assignments and documents including; essays, abstracts, proposals, theses, literature reviews and cover letters.

We can still help you. Students can receive guidance and advice when writing any document related to their work as a student such as; an application or proposal for membership in an AUC club, a report about an extracurricular activity, or even your personal statement or CV.

If you want to work on a specific writing assignment that you have already started working on, bring a hard copy of it to your session. If you do not have a hard copy, you can access your work through your email account or on your personal laptop if you have one. USBs cannot be used due to the risk of viruses.

Other related information or material, such as the assignment guidelines or prompt, instructor feedback, readings, grading rubrics or notes are also useful. The better prepared you are, the better assistance a tutor can provide you!

Individual tutoring is provided in 30-minute sessions for undergraduates and a choice of one-hour or 30-minute sessions for graduates. 

You can meet a tutor as often as you need. You should also work on your writing between appointments. If you need to meet a tutor more regularly, ask your course instructor if they would like to make a request, noting the particular areas you need to work on.

No. The Writing Center is not a proofreading or copyediting service, so you cannot drop off papers for a tutor to correct for you. Our tutors will, however, help you proofread and develop the skills and independence to proofread your own work successfully.

You will need your AUC email address and password to log into the online sign-up system and select a time slot. Students will need to make an appointment at least 12 hours in advance.

Drop-in appointments throughout the semester are possible if a tutor is available and the slot is open.

If you come late by 10 minutes to an appointment, your tutor can decide if they wish to work with you or not.

The Online Writing Lab OWL is currently available for graduate students only. Submissions can be up to 10 pages. A tutor will review your essay and provide some suggestions for improvement. You will receive the tutor's feedback by email within three working days in most cases. Online tutoring does have some drawbacks though: you won't be able to talk about the suggestions with the tutor. Visiting the Writing Center in person is still your best option to work closely with a tutor and receive immediate assistance. The sign-up for OWL can be accessed by clicking here. 

Please let the Writing Center know within 24 hours if you need to cancel your appointment by going to the link provided in your appointment confirmation email. While there is no penalty for cancelations, you may be limited in the number of future appointments you can make and limited to drop-in-only appointments.

The Writing Center is located in two places in the AUC New Cairo campus: in Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall (HUSS), Department of Rhetoric and Composition, Room P112 and in the Main Library on the First Floor, Carrel 1005.

Operating hours are Sunday – Wednesday 10 am - 7 pm, Thursday 10 am - 5 pm.

Our online writing tips and resources provide explanations, handouts, tutorials and practice exercises to guide you through the process of writing and researching all types of assignments. You will also find discipline guides and other resources to help you complete specific types of assignments that you will find in different majors, such as engineering, business and psychology.