Student Services & Resources

Professional writing instructors and trained peer writing tutors provide individual conferences for students working at any stage of the writing process. Writing instruction is available to all Smith students and any student currently enrolled in a class at Smith.

Half-hour appointments can be made up to two weeks ahead of time online: Register, make an appointment, and upload a draft well in advance to ensure a thorough reading. The longer the draft, the earlier you should upload it. You may also make an appointment to brainstorm ideas and get started.

Because the demand for appointments increases as the semester progresses, you should plan ahead and sign up early. If you should have to cancel, do so online no later than three hours before the appointment. Please be courteous: We often have a waiting list of students seeking appointments.

The writing instructors are able to provide more intensive work on writing issues common to English language learners and to writers with learning disabilities, as well as supporting students in upper-level seminars or those writing theses.

Peer writing tutors (students trained to provide writing support) perform similar services, both by appointment in the Jacobson Center and in drop-in sessions held in Neilson Library Learning Commons.  No appointments are necessary for Neilson sessions. Drop-in hours are Sunday through Friday, 1-4 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday, 7–10 p.m. (Final papers in either of these three-hour shifts will be accepted ½ hour before closing, so as to avoid a last-minute rush and to be sure the final sessions are given adequate time.)

Download a copy of WRITING PAPERS: A Handbook for Students at Smith College, 5th Revised Edition.

If you are a non-native speaker of English, the Jacobson Center has a number of services to assist you. All services are free.

Individual Writing Conferences

The Jacobson Center is a place where you can bring any writing you are working on—not just papers—at any stage of the writing process to receive expert, professional advice from writing instructors on all aspects of the writing. Writing instructors are not proofreaders or editors. Rather, they help you understand your writing patterns and teach you strategies for maximizing your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. Most conferences are half an hour in duration. Schedule a writing conference.

Non-native speakers do well to keep in mind the following:

• Learning to speak and write (especially academic essays) in a second language is a long-term, difficult undertaking.
• Errors are a natural part of language learning.
• It may be unrealistic for non-native speakers to expect to be able to write like native speakers, certainly not without a lot of effort. Research shows that even non-native speakers who have lived in English-speaking countries for many years and write regularly in English maintain a written accent (like a foreign accent in pronunciation).
• Focus on substance; do not worry constantly about style and mechanics.

For any further questions about writing services for non-native speakers, contact Miranda McCarvel, 413-585-3038.

English 118 ELL Sections

These small classes provide systematic instruction and practice in college-level expository writing and are specifically designed for students whose first language is not English.

Study Skills

The Jacobson Center offers workshops and individualized meetings in study skills and exam preparation. For more information, see Tutoring & Learning Specialist Services or contact Duncan Griffin, 413-585-3037.

Tutoring

The Jacobson Center offers peer tutoring to help you get through challenging course material. For more information, see Tutoring & Learning Specialist Services or contact Duncan Griffin, 413-585-3037.

Peer writing tutors are students who have been hired and trained to serve as a constructive audience for all stages of your writing. In addition to possessing strong writing skills, a peer writing tutor must have a thoughtful understanding of the writing process, sensitivity to difficulties that student writers encounter, and considerable good judgment, patience and tact.

How to Use Peer Writing Tutors

Peer writing tutoring is available throughout the semester. Scheduled appointments with the writing tutors can be made during weekdays using Writing Center Online. They are also available for walk-in appointments (first-come, first-served!) in the Neilson Library Learning Commons, Sunday through Friday, 1–4 p.m., and Sunday through Thursday, 7-10pm. 

If you’d like a writing tutor to review your draft at any stage of the writing process, simply make an appointment through Writing Center Online or drop into the library during their hours. Be aware, though, that certain times of the semester, such as midterm, may be busier than others—so plan your session ahead of time!

How to Become a Peer Writing Tutor

Students interested in becoming peer writing tutors should contact Sara Eddy, Assistant Director of the writing center.  Students will submit applications, resumes, and writing samples, and will go through an interview process.

The Jacobson Center offers both writing and content tutors for individual sessions to support learning in many non-quantitative fields. Our tutoring program has been certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), and more than 50 peer tutors receive ongoing training and support.

Peer content tutors are hired for non-quantitative courses (at present, mostly language courses) by appointment. Students may receive one hour of tutoring per week for each subject requested. You can make an appointment online. For general questions regarding content tutoring, please email Duncan Griffin, coordinator of tutorial services.

One-on-one language tutoring sessions can be scheduled via OnceHub. Some language departments also offer a limited amount of drop-in tutoring each week; these sessions do not require an appointment. The schedule is posted below. Drop-in tutoring sessions take place in the Learning Commons, located on the first floor of Neilson Library, unless otherwise specified. Questions? Please email Duncan Griffin for additional information. 

Peer Content Tutor drop-in hours

For more information about the peer writing tutor program, see the “Writing Services” section, above, or contact Sara Eddy, Assistant Director of the writing center.

Learning Specialist

Duncan Griffin, the Jacobson Center's Learning Specialist, offers a limited number of individual appointments with students seeking support with time management, organization, reading, test-taking, note-taking, and other academic skills. For more information, please email him at dgriffin@smith.edu, or schedule an appointment here.

SCHEDULE A LEARNING SPECIALIST APPOINTMENT

Applied Learning Strategies Course

IDP 136: Applied Learning Strategies is offered each semester, and supports students with time management, organization, goal-setting, and many other topics. An important aspect of this course is helping students find balance while still achieving academic goals. This is a 1-credit, 6-week course and is open to all students. For more information, please email Duncan Griffin, Learning Specialist, or make an appointment by clicking the link above.

Workshops

Each semester the Learning Specialist holds three midday Study Skills Workshops. These are the Spring 2023 workshops: 

• Taking Notes. Taking good notes is vital to academic success at Smith. But what’s the best way to take notes? What’s the right amount? What even is the point of them? This workshop will provide resources and strategies for efficient, effective note-taking. Thursday, Feb. 16th, 12:10pm, Seelye 312. 

• Motivation. Motivation is tough to maintain in the best of circumstances, but it’s especially difficult in the middle of a semester at Smith. What is motivation? How do we maintain it? What do we do when we can’t? This workshop will provide strategies for finding and maintaining motivation. Thursday, Mar. 9th, 12:10pm, Seelye 312. 

• Test-preparation and test-taking. Test-taking is an integral part of the Smith academic experience. So how should you approach taking tests? What’s the best way to prepare? What do you do when you sit down to take the big test, and your mind goes blank? This workshop will provide tips and strategies for test-preparation and test-taking. Thursday, Apr. 13th, 12:10pm, Seelye 312.

All students are welcome! No registration is required. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Learning Specialist at dgriffin@smith.edu.

Interterm Workshops

In January, we often offer workshops on academic and creative writing, public speaking and study skills. No preregistration is necessary except for Make Your Case: Become A Stronger Public Speaker. Workshops are led by members of the Jacobson Center staff.

Check the News & Updates regularly to see current schedules.

The Jacobson Center offers students with learning disabilities opportunities to develop themselves academically.

What’s in it for you?

Individual writing conferences. You can work on your writing at any stage with a professional writing instructor. These meetings can happen on a regular basis or as needed. 

Tutoring. You can meet one-on-one with student tutors for non-quantitative courses.

Other Resources to Improve Your Writing

If you struggle with writing, you are also encouraged to take ENG118/Colloquia in Writing. English 118 provides you with consistent, systematic instruction and practice in writing. If you take the course, we recommend that you:

1. Identify yourself to your instructor as a student with a learning disability
2. Share with your instructor any information you may have about your learning disability
3. Give your instructor permission to review your records with the disability services director. This way, we can work out a plan that meets your needs and goals.

Questions?

For more information about individual writing conferences, contact Julio Alves. For more information about study skills and tutoring, contact Duncan Griffin.

You may find it challenging to balance a rigorous course load with athletics, organization, research and jobs. These handouts offer planning and study tips to become a more effective and efficient student.

Click on the titles below to download these handouts.

#1 Time Management and Study Skills

#1 Time Management and Study Skills

#2 Facing and Overcoming Procrastination

#2 Facing and Overcoming Procrastination

#3 Seven Habits of Successful Smith Students

#3 Seven Habits of Successful Smith Students

#4 Dealing with Distraction

#4 Dealing with Distraction

#5 Reading Effectively

#5 Reading Effectively

#6 Reading Tips for Comprehension and Speed

#6 Reading Tips for Comprehension and Speed

#7 Effective Note-taking

#7 Effective Note-taking

#8 Test Prep and Taking Notes

#8 Test Prep and Taking Notes

#9 Improve your Memory

#9 Improve your Memory

#10 Taking Objective Notes

#10 Taking Objective Notes

#11 Weekly Planning Schedule for students

#11 Weekly Planning Schedule for students

#12 Daily To-Do List for Students

#12 Daily To-Do List for Students