Composition Tutorial

Composition Tutorial or CT is a series of once-a-week tutorial sessions designed to help students with their assignments in Seminar in Composition (SC). It is a one-credit course of study that is only available to students who are actively enrolled in Seminar in Composition (ENGCMP 0200), including the topics courses (ENGCMP 0203, 0205, 0207, 0208, 0212, 0213, 0214) or Freshman Seminar (FP 0003 or 0006). SC and CT are taken together in the same semester. The grading for CT is satisfactory/no credit (S/NC). This grade is separate from the grade for Seminar in Composition. 

CT is taught by faculty consultants in the Writing Center—often by faculty who also teach writing courses in the English Department. Once a student registers for CT, they are matched with a consultant, and they meet with the same consultant each week, at a time that works for the students' schedule.  There is no preset curriculum; the content and nature of the sessions are determined by the student's specific needs or concerns each week. These are friendly, collaborative sessions in which the student is expected to take an active role. 

CT sessions are 25 minutes long, and take place in-person, in the Writing Center, which is located on the third floor of the O’Hara Student Center. These sessions are short so it is very important that students prepare for them in advance and have a sense of what they need to work on in a given session. 

Students are expected to bring a laptop or other word-processing/computing device to their sessions, or paper copies and a notebook to write in. The consultant will request access to the SC Canvas module in order to review the schedule of assignments, readings, assignment prompts, and other relevant SC course materials.  

Attendance Requirements

Attendance is essential to successful completion of CT.  Generally, missing more than three sessions will result in an NC (no credit) for the course. Attendance policies are discussed in the first CT session and are published in the CT Canvas module, which all CT students have access to once they register.

The Writing Center is committed to affirming and supporting diverse perspectives, identities, and abilities, and to providing a comfortable learning environment for all students who choose to use our services.

The Writing Center follows University health guidelines; please see coronavirus.pitt.edu for the latest updates and masking protocols. 

If you have a disability that requires extra support, you are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services, 140 William Pitt Union at 412-648-7890 or at www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/drs/as early as possible for assistance in achieving your academic goals.   Whether or not you have an official letter from DRS, we encourage you to let your consultant know how they can best support your learning.   

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU!