If you’re looking for advice on your writing assignments, are wondering where to begin, or are worried that your writing won’t make sense to someone else, visit the Writing Lab for free writing consultations.
You choose what to work on, from sentence-level issues to logic or referencing style. Our approach ensures that you are in control of your own academic development. Where possible, you may also choose the language used in the consultation.
We’re available for in-person appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 17:00. Rather don’t pop in physically on a Monday or a Friday.
Online consultations via MS Teams are available from Mondays until Fridays from 10:00 to 17:00.
Book a consultation through the Writing Lab booking system and choose a time that suits you. If you’re unsure about anything or experience problems with the system, please contact Anne-Mari Lackay (021 808 2989) or Vinelene Hartley (021 808 2161).
Discuss your writing, at any stage of the writing process, with a trained writing consultant in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Your consultant can advise you on writing issues that bother you and can support you in developing writing strategies to help with task analysis, planning, structuring, referencing, and much more. These strategies can help you with your current and future writing tasks, and will strengthen your own academic voice. You’ll gain confidence in your own writing.
Consultations are 50 minutes long.
Weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00, from mid-January to mid-December.
Come as often as you like. We recommend follow-up consultations to improve and acquire skills.
You need to book at least 48 hours in advance.
The Writing Lab booking system lets you cancel up to 24 hours before your consultation. For late cancellations, please contact Anne-Mari Lackay (021 808 2989) or Vinelene Hartley (021 808 2161).
While we are still working from home due to Covid-19, please rather e-mail or call us via MS Teams, since we may not be available on our office numbers currently.
BUT: Please think carefully before you cancel your booking, even if you feel unprepared. You may sometimes feel that you will end up wasting the consultant’s time because you did not make as much progress with your preparation as you would have wanted to, but remember you can also discuss a very rough draft or use the consultation itself to generate ideas with the consultant as sounding board.
When you cancel less than 24 hours before a consultation or just don’t show up, you unfortunately do waste our resources.
Consultations are free for registered Stellenbosch students and staff. If you’re not attached to the University, we can consult with you for a fee. Please email Anne-Mari Lackay for more information.
We offer a range of writing consultations – both face-to-face and online via MS Teams or Skype.
We offer individual, virtual writing consultations via MS Teams and Skype to distance students as well as all other students while we practise social distancing. We’re happy to arrange consultations for writers who are in different time zones where possible, if we have consultants available.
All Stellenbosch students and staff can book individual consultations and will meet the consultant at the Writing Lab in Stellenbosch.
For MS Teams consultations, use the electronic Writing Lab booking system. Click the link to book a time that suits you. An MS Teams meeting request will be sent to you before the consultation. Accept it and join the meeting at the time of your consultation. Your consultant will join the meeting and advise on how to share your document.
If you’re unsure about anything or experience problems with the system, please e-mail Anne-Mari Lackay or Vinelene Hartley, or give them a call via MS Teams.
If you and a group of your class mates are working on the same assignment as a group project, you can have a group consultation. Individual group members can also book separate consultations.
Postgrad students have the option to book consultations via Skype. Simply send a contact request via Skype to SUWLAB2 and include your name, student number and module name. We’ll accept your request and assist you in booking a consultation.
We offer face-to-face consultations for postgrads and researchers on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 14:00 to 16:00 in the SU Library Research Commons in Stellenbosch. Enquire and book at the Research Commons.
Our face-to-face consultations take place in the Writing Lab at the Language Centre (44 Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch), the SU Library Research Commons in the Library or on the Tygerberg Campus.
You can make bookings on Writing Lab booking system.
We offer face-to-face consultations to postgrad students at the Health Sciences Library in the Education Building on the Tygerberg Campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or based on the availability of a consultant. Please contact Anne-Mari Lackay via email or MS Teams to enquire or to book consultations.
Collaboration agreements for large groups
If you’d like your class group to have consultations, let’s discuss your needs and organise additional training for the writing consultants on both the assignment topic and your expectations. We can arrange feedback sessions for you using the consultation reports to develop the collaborations further. Please contact Anne-Mari Lackay (021 808 2989).
Other types of collaboration
Let us know what other type of help or support you need as a lecturer to develop your students’ writing. Please contact Rose Richards or Anne-Mari Lackay (021 808 2989).
The Writing Lab also works with clients who are not attached to Stellenbosch University.
Please email Rose Richards or Anne-Mari Lackay for more information.
This post is also available in: English
