If your program offers Asynchronous Writing Help—also called Paper Drop-Off—you may receive requests from students who are looking for written feedback on their papers rather than live tutoring sessions. Here’s how to handle these requests in Penji.
What Is Paper Drop-Off?
Paper Drop-Off allows students to submit a paper for feedback at a time that works for them, without needing a scheduled Zoom or in-person meeting. These requests come in through the regular appointment flow, but are labeled with a special “Asynchronous” location.
How Will I Know It’s a Paper Drop-Off?
You’ll receive an appointment request in Penji just like you would for any other session, but:
- The location will include the word “Asynchronous” (e.g., “Asynchronous paper drop-off – upload your file via chat”).
- The Agenda section may include instructions or questions specific to the paper review.
You may also get a chat message from the student with their file attached.
Steps to Complete a Paper Drop-Off Session
1. Confirm the Paper Has Been Submitted
- Go to the session details from your Teach screen.
- Check the chat thread for the student’s file.
- If there’s no file yet, feel free to send a message asking the student to upload it.
2. Review the Student’s Agenda Info
- Read any notes the student left during the booking process—this might include:
- What kind of feedback they want (e.g., grammar, structure, citations)
- A preferred return deadline (this is usually the time and date the student picked in the appointment card.)
3. Download and Review the File
- Download the file from the chat.
- Add comments directly to the document (using suggestions, track changes, or inline comments).
- Alternatively, you can create a separate summary of feedback in a new document.
4. Upload Your Feedback
- Return to the chat thread.
- Upload your feedback file or paste a summary.
- Let the student know their review is complete and invite them to reach out if they have questions.
5. Log the Session
- After returning the feedback, click into the session and mark it as complete.
- Fill in any required feedback fields (such as duration or notes for the admin).
Tips for Handling Paper Drop-Offs
- You are not expected to meet live with the student unless your admin specifies otherwise.
- Depending on your center's setup, you may be able to set your availability just for asynchronous sessions - just like regular appointments.
- Be clear in your chat messages about when the student can expect their paper returned.
- If you're not sure how much time to spend, ask your admin what their expectations are.
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