Graduate Writing Center

Welcome to the Graduate Student Writing Center!  Our Graduate Student Writing Consultants are Ph.D. students at SMU trained to help you in your academic writing.  Our consultants can help you at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to the final draft.  Consultants can offer suggestions on the overall structure of your writing and general approaches to academic writing, in addition to sentence structure and grammar guidance.  We are happy to work with you on all academic writing, including:

  • Coursework or class assignments
  • Conference abstracts or presentations
  • Research papers or journal articles
  • Theses or dissertations

Students can work with the writing consultants by booking one-on-one appointments.  Individual appointments last for 30 minutes.  If you have a large writing assignment, plan on making multiple appointments over several weeks to continue working with the consultant. 

You are encouraged to submit a piece of writing you need help with when you book an appointment. You may also send your piece of writing directly to the consultant by email in advance of your appointment.  Appointments are available by Zoom or in person on the second floor of Moody Hall.

International Graduate Students:  Additional writing support is available through the ESL Program.  You can schedule a one-on-one Zoom appointment with an ESL Writing Consultant.

Policies

  • This service is open to doctoral and master's students in Dedman College and the Lyle, Meadows, and Simmons Schools. 
  • Students must book appointments at least 12 hours in advance, and are limited to a maximum of two appointments per week. 
  • If you cannot make your appointment, you must cancel at least 24 hours in advance to provide others an opportunity to use the slot.  If you fail to cancel your appointment with 24 hours' notice twice in one semester, you will not be able to book an appointment for the rest of the semester. 
  • The consultants are not here to write for you - be prepared to learn from them and revise based on their guidance.
  • If discussing big-picture issues, a document of 10 - 15 pages in length is appropriate for a 30 minute appointment.  If requesting detailed copyediting assistance, the maximum document length is five pages per appointment.  
  • You have the opportunity to upload a document you'd like to discuss at your appointment.  If possible bring a printed copy to your session as well.  
  • If none of the available appointment times work for you, please feel free to contact the consultants directly.  They may be able to make an appointment with you at a time not currently available in the calendar. 

Meet the Consultants

  • Phillip Bax

    Phillip Bax is a PhD candidate in English Literature at SMU. Long fascinated with the history and philosophy of science, Phillip earned a B.S. in biology and contributed to published developmental biology research before experiencing a last-minute conversion to the humanities during his undergraduate studies. This intellectual background shapes his dissertation project which investigates the colonial and racial logics structuring narratives about science and religion in nineteenth-century American literature. Phillip is eager to support the range of excellent writing projects his fellow students bring to the Graduate Writing Center. 

    Office:  Moody Hall 246

    Email:  pbax@smu.edu

  • UcheChukwu Agbo

    UcheChukwu Agbo is a doctoral student in the English department at 91制片廠合集, Dallas. His research focuses on the role of language in radicalizing young people toward extreme violence in sub-Saharan Africa. Before joining 91制片廠合集, Uche served as an ESL facilitator at the Genesee Intermediate Schools District and a tutor at the Marian E. Wright Writing Center at the University of Michigan-Flint. These experiences propel his passion for working with writers from diverse backgrounds, particularly those whose first language is not English.

    When he’s not a student, Uche actively collaborates with international organizations to develop strategies that promote the use of rhetoric as a tool for peace-building and sustainable development in Africa.

    Office:  Moody Hall 247

    Email:  uagbo@smu.edu