Robin's Class: Tentative Focus

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Tentative Focus

I feel drawn to writing about how to determine what strategies are useful with different writers. The readings we have gone over so far have been helpful, such as the readings about: high ability vs. low ability writers. Lunsford's essay describing the 3 different types of writing centers helped to give data about examples of tutoring that can be used, such as the storehouse, garret house and burkean parlor models. Brooks essay about minimalist tutoring was enlightening, because until then, most of us didn't realize that there was such a simple way to take to pressure and load off of us tutors. Using body language, and what I call therapeutic questioning, such as "how would YOU go about fixing these errors?"..."Can you show me what areas support your focus?" etc...are a great strategy for helping writers who are responsive to such non-directive tutoring.

Now, the thing is determining when it is best to use non-directive tutoring, collaboration vs. storehouse methods and so on. More research is required on my part, but I feel strongly about focusing on finding out which strategies are best for different writers, and being equipped to use multiple strategies (as a tutor).

No comments:

Post a Comment

Response Essay

Robin Leigh Dr. Chandler Peer Tutoring September 26, 2009 Why Collaboration Is Not The Best Method For Everyone Lunsford lists several reasons that show the benefit of collaborating, such as..."aiding in problem solving, sharper, more critical thinking and...the encouraging of active learning..." (pps. 94-95) I disagree that collaboration ultimately leads to these results because different students work better in different environments. I am the type of student who generally cringes when teachers ask us to split off into groups. When in a group, I'm so concerned that the work gets done correctly that I sometimes take over and do not allow everyone to have a fair share. This leads to other students not engaging with thinking, talking and writing, as Lunsford says it would. This goes against Lunsford's theory that collaborating aids in problem solving, and only creates a problem in itself. Students who are shy found an easy way out of involving themselves in collaborative work, when a talkative/bossy student like me gets involved in their group. They may have been better off working alone, after being given an assignment. That would've ensured that they engage wholly in a project, instead of allowing a groupmate to do the majority of the work. I think giving students clear roles of teacher/tutor and student/learner helps to aid more critical thinking. Even if the student becomes the teacher for a period of time, it would allow them to talk about what they have learned, or reiterate what was taught to ensure they are on the same page. These are examples of the Storehouse and Garret model of tutoring. In a class exercise that called for students to switch roles between being the tutor and the student, I found that collaborating never emerged as a source of help. In this circumstance, we used the Storehouse model when I was the student. I asked a lot of questions about exactly what the assignment was, if my method would be acceptable, and how to go about following the guidelines. This method of tutoring gave my 'tutor' the power and knowledge that was fixed, such as telling me to follow the MLA format. During that same exercise, I talked about what I gained from the reading and how I felt about it. That part of our group execise turned into the Garret model. We never used the Burkean Parlor model, (collaborating) because it didn't seem appropriate. We both did well when power and knowledge was established. From my experiences, collaboration is not the best way to get a writing assignment done. It does not always aid in problem solving, and can actually cause problems. Collaborating does not always lead to critical, more sharper thinking as Lunsford says because roles can become cloudy. If it is not established that everyone needs to pitch in equally, some may not engage at all, therefore not be thinking or engaging them- selves wholly. Because some students can become invisible while collaborating, it does not encourage them to participate actively, as Lunsford stated. Works Cited Lunsford, Andrea. "Collaboration, Control, and the Idea of a Writing Center." Barnett, Robert W. and Jacob S. Blummer. The Longman Guide to Writing Center Theory and Practice. New York, New York: Pearson Longman, 2008 92-99

Robin's Class

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Tentative Focus

No comments:

Post a Comment

Response Essay

classmates blog

Followers

Blog Archive

About Me