Email tutorial support

The LDC offers an email tutorial service for students not on campus: Placement Year students, Foundation Degree students,     part-time and Distance Learning students.  Please read through the guidance below before accessing the service.

We can offer advice and guidance in areas such as: 

• Using an academic/critical writing style
• Writing reflectively
• Essay and report structure
• Paragraph and sentence structure
• Referencing and plagiarism

Guidance for using the email tutorial service

In order to make your email tutorial as productive and effective as possible, ensure your email request is:

• Clear   
• Focused 

Include as much information as necessary for us to respond to your request. 

• Good example:   I am not sure whether I have referenced my journal articles correctly.  My department uses the Harvard referencing style.
• Bad Example:  Please check my references.

Be realistic

We will not be able to read a complete essay or report during the time allocated to you.  It is better to send us short sections, which we will be able to more realistically respond to.  

Be timely

At certain times, the email tutorial service may be very busy. Aim to allow plenty of time for us to read and respond to your request.

• Good example:  Do you think my essay structure is clear and easy to follow?  I have attached two pages from the main body of the essay for you to consider.
• Bad Example:  Can you proofread my essay and make corrections?  Can you get back to me later today; the essay has to be submitted tomorrow lunchtime? Thanks.

Points to remember

• We are not a proofreading service, although we can help you improve your proofreading skills so that you can correct your own assignments
• We are not subject specialists in your area of study and we cannot comment on the content of your assignments
• We do not ‘mark’ work or suggest what mark you may get – so please don’t ask.
• We aim to respond to your email within 72 hours – however at busy times this may not be possible. 
• If you wish us to consider any particular additional needs (e.g. dyslexia or a visual impairment) please include this information.
• Use your Aston University email address in all email correspondences.  This is to ensure that we can monitor, evaluate and develop our support provision. 
• Only email Learning Development Centre advisors at the following address ldcetutorials@aston.ac.uk 
• Have you considered other ways of resolving your issue – for example checking our study guides or list of websites

• Is the Learning Development Centre advisor the most appropriate person to contact?  Is your request better assisted by an academic staff member in your School or by a staff member in another Aston student support service?