The Writing Centre

Students can receive feedback on their assignment drafts by submitting them via email to the Writing Centre. A peer tutor will review the draft and provide written guidance to help improve academic writing.

Submission Instructions

Email writingcentre@jibc.ca with the following information:

• Your name, program, and course name/number
• Assignment guidelines (from the syllabus or assignment outline)
• Assignment due date
• A description of the writing help you need
• Your assignment draft (Word Document or PDF)

Important: Be sure to include all the required information as incomplete submissions will result in delays.

Reminders

• Allow 2–4 business days for feedback.
  • The Writing Centre does not provide updates on the status of peer reviews. Emails requesting updates will not be answered.
  • Turnaround time depends on number of assignments in the queue.
  • Rush requests are not bumped to the beginning of the queue.
• Students may request a specific tutor to review their work, but availability is not guaranteed.
• Students must make all changes themselves.
  • Services offered by the Writing Centre are for educational purposes only, not editing services.

Check the Writing Centre Guidelines for more details, available on the Writing Centre Resource.

JIBC students can schedule to meet with either the Writing Centre Peer Tutors or Instructor for support with academic writing assignments, support with research questions, APA Style formatting, and assignment draft feedback.

Session Locations and Formats

Tutor sessions are held:

• In CL 123 at the New Westminster Campus, or
• Online via Blackboard Collaborate or MS Teams

Booking Instructions

Click the Book a Tutor Session button above to view the Writing Centre’s Online Calendar.

If none of the available times suit your schedule, email writingcentre@jibc.ca with the following details:

• 3 preferred dates and times
• your name, program, and course name and number
• assignment guidelines (from the syllabus or assignment outline)
• assignment due date
• a description of the writing help you need

Allow 2–4 business days for tutor sessions requested by email to be confirmed.

If submitting a draft (Word Document or PDF), email it at least 2 days before your session.

Reminders

• Students must provide their paper when scheduling a session.
  • If the session is for assignment preparation, assignment guidelines must be provided.
  • For papers longer than 10 pages (excluding title page and references), students must specify which sections they want reviewed. Tutors cannot guarantee reviews of an entire paper over 10 pages.
  • Students may bring two papers per session, however, session length will not be extended.
• Students may schedule either two 30-minute sessions or one 1-hour session per week.
• Submissions must be a writing assignment for a JIBC class.
• Students must make all changes by themselves. Services offered by the Writing Centre are for educational support only, not editing services.
• Students may request a specific tutor, but availability is not guaranteed.
• Peer tutor sessions are not recorded, whether online or in-person.
• Tutor contact information is not shared with students.

The Writing Centre Instructor, Hunter, can assist students with:

• Teaching writing concepts and strategies (e.g., writing process, organization, thesis development)
• Instruction with preparing and writing specific paper types, such as capstone research papers
• In-depth guidance on citation and documentation styles (APA Style)
• Support with understanding assignment expectations
• Workshops on academic writing, technical writing, and APA Style

Peer tutors can assist students with:

• Academic writing feedback (reader responses, writing structure, organization of ideas, paragraph and sentence structure, grammar and punctuation, and writing mechanics)
• Help identifying strengths and areas for improvement
• Different paper style requirements and general formatting (annotated bibliographies, literature reviews, essays, research papers, and research proposals)
• APA Style formatting (Student and Professional versions)
• Guidance through questions rather than direct instruction

Which Should I Book?

• Book a Peer Tutor if you have a draft and want feedback.
• Book Hunter if you need instruction, explanation, or skill-building support.

Both services aim to help you become a stronger, more independent writer.

Check the Writing Centre Guidelines for more details, available on the Writing Centre Resource.

During Drop-In Hours, students can receive quick writing support — no appointment needed — to:

• Clarifying assignment guidelines
• Providing brief feedback on drafts
• Helping with brainstorming ideas
• Assisting with APA Style formatting and citations
• Offering advice on writing structure and organization

Drop-In Locations

Drop-In support is available:

• In-person at CL 123, New Westminster Campus
• Online via Blackboard Collaborate
  • Click the Drop-In button above to join the online session.

Sign-In Procedure

Students attending drop-in hours will be asked to sign in with their name and student number. This information is kept confidential and used solely for administrative tracking purposes by the Writing Centre.

Reminders

• Drop-In hours are on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Support is available for up to 15-20 minutes, depending on demand.
• Students arriving within 20 minutes of the advertised end time are not guaranteed to receive support.
• Drop-In sessions are not intended for extensive feedback on drafts. For detailed feedback, please book a Peer Tutor session in advance.
• Availability may vary, especially during peak times (e.g., near assignment deadlines).
• Drop-In hours are not recorded, whether online or in-person.

Check the Writing Centre Guidelines for more details, available on the Writing Centre Resource.

For additional support, the Writing Centre offers a variety of online guides designed to help you at every stage of the writing process. Whether you need assistance with brainstorming, structuring your paper, or mastering citation styles, these resources provide step-by-step instructions and practical tips to improve your academic writing skills. Explore the guides below to find helpful tips and strategies tailored to common writing challenges.

APA Style Guides

APA Citations Guide

APA Paper Formatting Guide

APA Tutorials

Academic Writing Guides

Writing Skills Guide

Capstone Research Paper Guide

Inclusive Language Guide

Assignment Calculator

Writing Centre Guides

Writing Centre Resource

The Writing Centre Facilitator specializes in:

• developing Writing Tip Sheets and Worksheets
• developing Sample Papers for specific assignment styles
• APA Style Formatting
• Publication Standards

The Writing Centre Facilitator can support faculty by:

• hosting brief assignment-specific workshops for classes
  • Topics include APA Style Paper Formatting, types of paper styles, or academic writing strategies.
• hosting drop-in class sessions or events for classes
  • may include tutors

These services can be delivered during, or outside of, class time. If outside of class time, workshops will require registration.

Contact

Hunter Hastings at hhastings@jibc.ca for scheduling or questions.