Viterbi Learning Program
Writing Consultations
Engineering Writing Program
A consultant from the Engineering Writing Program is available in the Viterbi Learning Program to answer your questions about writing for your all your courses – not just your engineering classes! The writing consultant can help you:
- Develop your writing skills.
- Organize your reports.
- Learn proper form and grammar.
Appointments
Make your appointment with the writing consultant through the Online Appointment System. We strongly recommend booking your writing appointments as far in advance as possible, as appointments book up very quickly and there is typically little walk-in availability.
Appointments with the writing consultant follow the same policies as all other Viterbi Learning Program peer tutoring appointments.
Engineering in Society Program
Engineering Writing and Speaking Hub
The Engineering in Society Program is collaborating with VLP to offer online appointments designed to support Viterbi’s Ph.D. students with their writing, speaking, and other communication-based skills in academic and professional contexts. The range of communication efforts that are supported include:
- Writing: journal and conference articles, dissertations, proposal and fellowship applications, career documents, collaborative/multidisciplinary efforts, and industry-related communications
- Speaking: conference presentations, dissertation defenses, qualifying exam presentations, job talks, poster presentations, and small group presentations
Appointments
Information on how to schedule your next appointment will be made available soon!
Writing Center
The writing consultant isn’t your only resource for help with writing! All USC students can visit the USC Writing Center, located in THH 321. For more information on consultation times, workshop information, and other services, visit the Writing Center’s website.
Online Writing Resources
Common Errors in English Usage
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary Online Edition
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
A complete listing of online resources is available on the Writing Center’s website.
Tips for a Productive Consultation
Writing consultations are most productive when you have thought in advance about what you would like to work on with the consultant. If you are in the beginning stage of working on a paper, let the consultant help you explore brainstorming techniques to generate ideas for answering your instructor’s assignment. If you have written a draft, go through the draft and mark those areas you are least satisfied with.
Bring any or all of the following with you:
- Your assignment.
- Papers previously marked and returned to you from your instructor.
- An idea of what the person grading your paper wants you to do with this assignment.
- Any work you have already done on the assignment.
Whatever you do, come ready to participate, with some specific discussion topics in mind. Some topics might be:
- I would like to narrow the thesis for this paper.
- I would like to develop some relevant examples for this paper.
- I would like to revise this paper to incorporate my instructor’s suggestions.
- I need to cite my evidence correctly.
- I’m not sure that I have chosen an appropriate voice.
- I don’t know if this evidence is convincing or relevant.
- How can I use commas correctly?
Courtesy of the USC Writing Center.
Published on January 22nd, 2021
Last updated on March 27th, 2023