BLOG # 10

Now that we are actually goint to the WC, I feel the pressure! This pressure leads me to coaching in any way that will relieve some of it for me... I will use the Garret House model, so that the student searches for and gives the needed knowledge for their writing. I will also use a minimalist approach so that the student sits closer to their writing and holds the only pen used in the session. I'm sure strategies may change along the way, and this is fine. I'm preparred to switch as need be, and will have no shame about referring to my text, the students syllabus, text book, having them refer back to their professor or a writing format if necessary.

BLOG # 9

I looked throught the text book and became inspired by Murphy's essay, "...The Psychoanalytics of Tutoring Well". I have always had in interest in being a therapist, and find the process of talking very helpful in most problematic situations. I'm interested in researching this further because there are aspects of psychoanalytics to review when it relates to tutoring. Some of them are:

1. What if the tutor sees himself as only a therapist?
2. What if the tutor gets a sense of power from giving 'therapy' to a student?
3. How will the Writing Center know if a student is helped by a session using therapeutic skills?

This last question leads me to another topic I am interested in. How can we judge the effectiveness of Writing Center sessions if no one is responsible for judging the progression of a student's work? I feel that checklist research is a strong topic to study. Writing Centers seem pointless if each tutor using his/her own practice. Students are at the mercy of tutors who may get power from giving knowledge, or acting as a therapist. How will the director know if the student has really been helped? So, to summarize my current interests...psychoanalytics in tutoring, and setting up an effective checklist system are at the top.

BLOG # 8

Checklist (To be kept in writer's file)

What Was Done: Effectiveness (1---5)

Name of Writer/Coach
Time/Date/Location

Small Talk/Establishing a rapport

Observations of personality/behavior

Describing assignment
Is writer clear? Unclear?

Figuring out where writer is
Thesis formulated? Ideas organized?

Establishing what writer needs
HOC'S? LOC'S?

Getting to work
Reorganizing ideas/ narrowing focus
Providing more detailed evidence
Tightening paragraphs...

Wrap up
Writer lists accomplishments
Tutor notes what wasn't accomplished

Comments

BLOG # 7

While taking notes, I noticed that the tutor was prepared to give brainstorming ideas, and had his own technique for allowing the student to get comfortable. He told her to respond to one thing she read in the article and give reasons why she was responding to it. He encouraged elaboration by saying that personal stories, or fiction could be used. The tutor told the student to get the info down anywhere, as long as it was written down. The tutor gave encouraging statements like "good sentence...sounds like a thesis..." He told her that her summary of the essay shouldn't be too long. One paragraph would be good enough. He explained that her response should be her opinion of the essay. He even gave an example of what to write about. The tutor said that many angles are available to use as a response. He then walked away to give her the freedom to write without pressure.

I think I could take better notes by focusing on quotes to write down. This would provide evidence, and can always be figured out contextually by the words.

BLOG # 6

Welcome to THE WRITING CENTER FOR ALL


Here, everyone (staff, students, professionals, etc..) is welcome:
to explore organization of topics/ ideas
to pick topics/ ideas to write about
to format assignments
and to help identify grammatical errors

We hope you care enough about your writing to come to the center of your own free will

This center has been designed to teach you how to be better writers
to allow you to develop topics of your interest better
and to work with you exploring how and what to write about

We accept appointments (and walk-in's) based on referrals from bosses, teachers, colleagues, and the center itself.

We look forward to having sessions with writers who wish to clarify the main topic of their writing in the most cohesive way possible.


Our motto is: "If you know what you're talking about, put it in writing!"

Hope to see you soon