Write Bright is a free academic writing service within the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. Our aim is to help you to develop your academic writing skills and achieve your potential in every assignment. A wide range of drop-in workshops focused on specific areas of academic writing are available, such as:

• Paragraphs
• Essay Planning
• Introductions and Conclusions
• Argument
• Criticality
• Sentences
• Punctuation
• Proofreading and Concision
• Academic Voice
• Using Evidence
• Exam Writing
• Literature Reviews
• Dissertation Writing

Samantha Catterall, SALC Academic Writing Tutor

“My role was created to help students like you to improve your academic writing. The ability to write clearly and communicate a strong argument, in a well-structured and supported manner, is a skill that is vital throughout life. When you arrive at university lecturers will always talk about the importance of academic writing when completing assignments and although you may well have lots of skills already, there may be one or two that needs refreshing or is completely new to you. If there is anything that you’re not sure about, I can help you out.”

Each week I run a workshop that has been designed to help with an aspect of academic writing. The same workshop runs three times to allow you the chance to attend. You can drop in to any workshop you feel will benefit you. There is a maximum number and so it is first come, first served, so ensure you arrive on time. There are also three drop ins where you can get small group or one-to-one support on anything you feel you need help with. It is also possible to book one-to-one appointments if these times are not convenient. I also work with lecturers to design and deliver subject specific sessions so you may see me in one of your sessions.

Workshops during Semester 1: 

You can also book small group drop ins or one-to-one appointments (outside of these times) to discuss specific areas of academic writing, get feedback on your work, or discuss the feedback received from lecturers in more detail to allow action planning and further improvement. Just email writebright@manchester.ac.uk to arrange an appointment. We are always responsive to feedback and so if there is a session you think would be useful to both you and your peers, we would be more than happy to facilitate this.

“The aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is watching students progress and develop confidence in their academic writing after attending the workshops and meeting for one-to-one appointments. I enjoy helping students to reframe perceived obstacles in learning as enjoyable challenges to be won; we wouldn’t feel proud of ourselves for learning something if it was easy. Many students feel they lack confidence in their writing skills, or need guidance to understand the feedback from their assignments, and so are hugely relieved to discover that there is someone who is dedicated to helping them with this aspect of their degree.”

You can find out more information and sign up via Blackboard. You will find Write Bright on the School’s Academic Advising Community page and via www.manchester.ac.uk/writebright

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