Academic Writing and Study Support - LDC

Writing support available at the Learning Development Centre

The Learning Development Centre provides a range of academic writing advice and study support to Aston students.

Whether you are just starting out at university, in the final stages of your undergraduate degree, or undertaking postgraduate study, the LDC team can work with you to develop your writing and learning.

Find out more below about working with our Learning Development Advisors, Student Writing Coaches, or our resident Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Fellow.

Tutorials with a Learning Advisor

Tutorials with a Learning Advisor from the Learning Development Centre

All students can book confidential one-one tutorials with our Learning Advisors who specialise in writing and study skills strategies.

Whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate, campus based or distance learner, our advisors can help you improve your study skills and feel more confident with your assignment writing.

Our tutorials can cover a range of topics including:

  • revision and exam strategies
  • understanding assignment questions
  • planning and structuring written assignments
  • referencing
  • critical thinking
  • understanding feedback
  • managing your time

Our aim is to help you to develop your academic skills. In doing this, you will become a more confident and independent learner. So please note:

  • We are not a proofreading service. We can however, help you to improve your proofreading skills, so that you can correct your own assignments.
  • We may not be subject specialists in your area of study - so we cannot comment on the content of your assignments.
  • We do not 'work' or suggest what mark you may get - we leave that to your lecturers.

What types of tutorials are available with Learning Advisors?

  • Face-face appointments in the Learning Development Centre
  • Online appointments (MS Teams or Blackboard Collaborate)
  • Email tutorials

How long is a tutorial?

  • Appointments are usually 30 minutes but can last up 45 minutes, if required.

Can a group of us attend a tutorial?

Yes! if there is a group of you with similar questions from the same course, please let us know when your booking your appointment, so we can arrange a suitable space and/or additional time.

What happens in a tutorial?

Students often find it useful to talk about concerns relating to assignments with LDC advisors who can help you refine your approach to writing.

In a tutorial you can discuss study skills and academic practice, issues relating to academic integrity, including assessment criteria, referencing and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence for study.

When discussing writing style, including the degree of authenticity and criticality of your writing, LDC advisors will work with you to ensure your writing style is appropriate for the type of assignment you are working on. Our advisors will not make assumptions about your writing practices, but if your writing style appears similar to that associated with AI generated text, we will point this out to you in order to help you develop and improve your style to meet with academic expectations.

How do I prepare for a tutorial?

To get the most from a tutorial, it's important to prepare so that your advisor can assist you to the best of their ability.

Be prepared to explain and discuss your concerns with the advisor:

  • Identify what you would like to focus on, or the skill(s) you wish to improve
  • Consider previous feedback, assessment criteria, Artificial Intelligence guidelines for students and staff and the Assessment student code of conduct from this list of University guidelines and policies.
  • To make the most of your tutorial, we advise honesty and a genuine curiosity about how you can develop and improve your approaches to learning.

To get the most from your appointment, we also advise you to:

  • Bring useful information with you to the appointment - this could be the assignment brief, assessment criteria, an assignment plan, a sample of your writing, and/or feedback on your writing.
  • Have a clear target - be realistic about what you can achieve in 40 minutes.
  • Be punctual.
  • Cancel your appointment if you cannot attend - so that we can offer the appointment to another student.

How do I prepare for an email tutorial?

If you are unable to attend a one-to-one tutorial, our Learning Advisors can provide advice on your academic writing or referencing via email. Our advisors will respond to your email as soon as possible (usually within 5 working days).

To ensure you receive the advice that you require, please be as specific as possible when contacting us:

  1. Explain your concerns or questions within an email, e.g. I am unsure about my in-text references / I am not confident if I am applying theory in my writing / is the structure of the essay logical?
  2. If you would like receive feedback on your assignment writing, please attach an extract, or your draft, along with the assignment brief / guidelines.
  3. Highlight areas or sections which you can particularly concerned with, within your writing, and/or insert comments with specific questions in the document.

Please note:

  • We are unable to look at a whole dissertation or a project report of more than 2000 using words during one email tutorial. Instead, please select a selection for to focus on.
  • We cannot grammar-check, proofread or edit your work.
  • Whilst we can discuss ethical use of Artificial Intelligence for academic study, our service does not identify use of AI and/or plagiarism within assignments.
  • We are not subject specialists, so we cannot advise on the subject-content or grade your work.

To use the e-tutorial service, send your email to ldc etutorials.

How to book or reschedule tutorials:

To book face-face appointments with our learning advisors, please contact the Learning Development Centre:

  • Telephone: 0121 204 3040
  • Email: Learning Development Centre
  • Or visit the Learning Development Centre on the first floor on the library between 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday.

Book an online appointment.

Please contact the Learning Development Centre if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

For an email tutorial please contact us.

Royal Literary Fund

The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) believes that writers have a unique role to play as educators, and aim to share their experiences as writers with current students. Royal Literary Fund Fellows are professional published writers placed within UK universities to help students develop and strengthen writing.

The RLF website provides a range of useful resources for planning your writing as well as writing essays and dissertations.

How can the RLF Fellow help you?

Providing a free, confidential service to develop your writing skills, Aston's RLF Fellow can help you to:

  • Plan your study time and develop a writing process that works for you.
     
  • Focus your reading for essay, dissertation or thesis writing.
     
  • Express your ideas more clearly.
     
  • Answer grammar and punctuation questions.
     
  • Discover reading to improve your writing and editing skills.
     
  • Increase your writing skills with the aim of improving your grades.
     
  • Improve any academic writing - essays, reports, theses, dissertation, book chapters.

Book an appointment

Appointments with our RLF Fellow last for 50 minutes and are available on campus on Wednesdays and Thursdays during term-time only. To request an appointment, please contact Sally O'Reilly.

If you are unable to make your agreed appointment, please email to cancel or rearrange at least 24 hours ahead of the appointed time -this will help other students have the opportunity to use this time.