Writing Wisc

The first time you meet the professor

Education

• 1. Make a list of questions to raise at the meeting—both those on this list, and anything else you want to know.

• Get a copy of the course syllabus.

• 3. Get copies of the writing assignments you’ll be fallowing. If the professor hasn’t yet written them, ask to have them e-mailed when they’re available.

• 4. Find out the due dates for both drafts and final papers.

• 5. Schedule any future meetings with the professor.

• 6Set up a day in the first two weeks of the semester for you to meet the class. 

• Ask about the professor’s goals. What does he or she hope students will take away from the course?

• 8. Find out what kinds of students enroll in the course: What year(s) are they likely to be? How much writing experience are they likely to have?

• 9Set up a system for the paper exchange.

• 10. Discuss a late draft policy: Will you accept them? How late? Does the professor want to know who turns in late drafts?

• 11.Discuss a missed-conference policy: What will the professor do to make sure students understand that conferences are required? Does the professor want to know who misses conferences?

• If your schedule allows, ask if there’s a day that would be especially helpful for you to sit in on the class— say, the day that the professor explains the first writing assignment. Sitting in on class for a day is entirely optional: some Fellows do it; others don’t. But remember: even if you’ve attended class to get a better sense of the material, you should always refer content-based questions to the professor.