What is a successful writing center? Exploring a problematic definition Diane Dowdey Frances Crawford Fennessy Sam Houston State University.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
IPG MENTORS MEETING NOVEMBER 12, 2013 A Brief Overview on How to Work with Academic English Students or ESL/ELL Students.
Advertisements

Introduction to the FCAT Writing Assessment. What is the FCAT Writes? -The FCAT Writes is an essay assessment that students will take in 4 th, 8 th, and.
20 Tips for your Textual Analysis Test Strategies to Help You Improve and Achieve your Best Results on the Test.
Critical Thinking Course Introduction and Lesson 1
Providing Constructive Feedback
Writing the report.
PARAPHRASING BORROWING LANGUAGE AND IDEAS. WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE? WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE? DEFINITION: Paraphrasing is when we borrow ideas, language, or.
Peer Review Looking at Texts from a Reader’s Point of View.
Mary Ellen Haley Center for Academic Development.
Essay Writing Elements of the Essay.
Test Taking Tips How to help yourself with multiple choice and short answer questions for reading selections A. Caldwell.
The Writing Process Introduction Prewriting Writing Revising
The Writing Process Created by D. Herring Edited by Prof. Bonkosky.
Socratic Seminar #1 UNIVERSAL CONCEPT: ETHNIC STUDIES
AP Prompt #2: Prose Prompt. The FREE RESPONSE prompt (almost) ALWAYS asks… …what it contributes the meaning of the work as a whole …how it illuminates.
How to develop research skills in students. The model of searching information. Carol Collier Kuhlthau How to develop research skills in students. The.
As you read the assignments, make note of the type of writing you are required to complete, the sources you may need to describe and discuss in your writing,
THE WRITING CENTER HELPING YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, TIP SHEETS, AND TUTORING.
Writing Literary Analysis Papers
DISCUSS ACADEMIC achievement WITH YOUR PROFESSOR! Exercise your responsibility to discuss your academic performance with all your instructors Designed.
Planning an Applied Research Project Chapter 2 – Developing an Interest or Topic © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
After Reading KEY TRAITS Writing Workshop Persuasive Essay...continued 1.IDEAS 2. ORGANIZATION Presents a thesis statement taking a position on a clearly.
Writing Workshop. Unit 3/Part 3 Connecting to Literature In “who are you,little i,” E. E. Cummings reflects on looking out a window at a November sunset.
English Language Arts Level 7 #44 Ms. Walker
TODAY’S GOALS Discuss editing and revision techniques Peer review EN first drafts Get practice with global and local revisions.
1 Making sound teacher judgments and moderating them Moderation for Primary Teachers Owhata School Staff meeting 26 September 2011.
Writing a Personal Experience Narrative. Narrative Purpose to tell a story.
The Writing Process I.3 Invention Techniques. The Purpose of Invention Techniques is to help you generate content quickly and painlessly. NOTE: Inventing.
Chapter 16 The Writing Process: A Case Study of a Writing Assignment.
Call to Write, Third edition Chapter Sixteen, The Writing Process: A Case Study of a Writing Assignment.
1)Read through and mark-up text. 2)After you've finished editing the paper, tell the writer what you as a reader are finding in the text. Writer listens-
M.Ed Session 1.  Finalize your committee ◦ Meet with your chair to discuss your project idea. Get some direction for your Problem Statement ◦ Interactions.
THE WRITING CENTER ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER. NOT JUST AN ENGLISH RESOURCE COMMUNICATIONS HISTORY POLITICAL SCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY NURSING SOCIOLOGY PHILOSOPHY.
 1. It not only fulfills the assignment but does so in a fresh and mature way. The paper is exciting to read; it accommodates itself well to its intended.
Tutoring IELP Writing An overview In the beginning … What kinds of writing do the students bring in to the Learning Center? What is the best way to tutor.
Tentative Unit 1 Schedule Week 2 1/19- MLK Day-No Class 1/21-Using library databases (bring computer to class) 1/23- Intro to Exploratory Narrative & Source.
Objectives This section will show you how to: write effective paragraphs and essays, describe the relationships between writing and reading provide some.
Making Writing Manageable The Writing Process. Stages of the Writing Process Prewriting Outlining Drafting Revising & Editing.
Reflection helps you articulate and think about your processes for communication. Reflection gives you an opportunity to consider your use of rhetorical.
Activity 9 1. Take out a sheet of paper, and write down three people you feel are intellectuals.
English Composition Jonathan Watts. Welcome back to class! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Today we will talk about Essay Development –Pg
The Writing Process Planning and Drafting. What will you write about?  Often, instructors assign a specific topic or provide some structure for your.
4th grade Expository, biography Social Studies- Native Americans
Critical Thinking Lesson 8
 There must be a coherent set of links between techniques and principles.  The actions are the techniques and the thoughts are the principles.
Essay Writing Grade 9 Mr. MacPhee. Lessons to be discussed…  What is an essay?  Parts of an essay?  Where to start: Choosing a topic, Brainstorming,
McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Objectives This section will show you how to: write effective paragraphs and essays,
Example 1: Tutee : Ms. Q. Assignment : her favorite place What did I do : let her read essay first + told her what I thought this essay in positive.
Welcome! Academic Strategies Unit 5 Seminar Writing Effectively.
 An article review is written for an audience who is knowledgeable in the subject matter instead of a general audience  When writing an article review,
Teaching Writing.
+ Who is in control of students’ writing? From the perspective of students and writing centers Kathleen Grace, Writing 300 The Great Divide.
Descriptions Concrete Ideas Examples Vivid details Energetic Language Strong Voice Strong Tone Direct Address to Audience Interesting Topic WHAT MAKES.
The analytical Response essay A strategy for success.
TOP TIPS for the Higher Language Paper Preparation and Exam Technique are the Key to Success.
Exploring Non-Cognitive Influences on College Success with New First-year Advisees Kristin Douglas Associate Dean of the College Mary Windeknecht Director.
Peer Review Looking at Texts from a Reader’s Point of View.
Welcome To Unit 2 - Introduction to Writing Skills and Strategies Professor: Darlene L. Pomponio, PhD KU121 Introduction to Writing Skills and Strategies.
Successful Tutoring Sessions. Codes: 10 distinct statements were used for coding: 5 were associated directly to the student »behavior »actions 5 were.
Welcome To Unit 2 Introduction to Writing Skills and Strategies.
What is rhetoric? What you need to know for AP Language.
Inquiry Road Map A Guidance System for 21 st Century Learning By Mary Ratzer.
ENG 113: INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THE ART OF COMPOSITION.
Writing Support at the University of Washington Adiam Tesfay and Chelsie Doherty (CLUE) and Jenny Halpin (OWRC)
AP Language Exam. (Q.1) The Analysis Essay 40 minutes In an Analysis Essay you will be analyzing Rhetorical Strategies and Stylistic Elements of a particular.
SIMILARITIES TO A TAKE-HOME ESSAY Decide on your audience and your purpose Start with a solid thesis statement Provide relevant support for your thesis.
Introduction to the AP Style Essay: English 10Honors What will be covered in this Presentation: 1.How to dissect the AP essay question being asked of.
What is the Writing Process?
Editing Process: English 10 Spoken Language
Presentation transcript:

What is a successful writing center? Exploring a problematic definition Diane Dowdey Frances Crawford Fennessy Sam Houston State University

Why is it problematic? Writing centers have different constituencies, who define success differently. –University administrators may want numbers, but they may not see student use as sufficient evidence of success. –Faculty may want only to see immediate improvement in papers they read. –Students may want only affirmation or higher grades. –Tutors may have specific expectations that differ from administrators, faculty, and students.

Defining success: Success depends on mission and goals. Success depends on audience and constituencies. Success has a number of different aspects such as use, learning, satisfaction, confidence.

Contributing complications: In the literature of writing center evaluation, it seems clear that quantifiable methodologies do not provide adequate measures of success. Writing center directors and tutors are more comfortable working with narrative structures.

Question One: What is a successful tutoring session? Please describe a successful tutoring session and why you thought it was successful.

Tutor Demographics Twenty-two student tutors defined a successful tutoring experience by giving an example. Nine tutors were graduate students Thirteen tutors were undergraduates

Experience as a tutor Semesters as a tutor Number of tutors  One5 Two4 Three6 Four2 Five2 Six1 Eight1

Coding Statements 1. Student shows a desire to learn: cooperative, willing, wants to understand. 2. Student trust the tutor, is comfortable, develops rapport. 3. Student has a receptive attitude: attentive, interested, excited. 4. Student is able to provide information about the assignment. 5. Tutor and student successfully communicate.

Coding Statements 6. Tutor is able to reflect positively on the tutoring session: confident, appreciated. 7. Tutor is able to provide instruction about the higher-order writing processes. 8. Tutor feels comfortable with student. 9. Tutor is able to provide instruction about lower-order concerns. 10. Students’ attitude or knowledge changes positively.

Successful Tutoring Sessions

Codes: 10 distinct statements were used for coding: 5 were associated directly to the student »behavior »actions 5 were associated directly to the tutor »actions »emotions

Student

Student shows desire to learn Cooperative Willing Wants to understand

She responded that she was concerned with everything, from figuring out what she wanted to say to getting it organized on paper. It was evident that the student was eager to learn as much as he could.

Student trusts the tutor Comfortable Develops rapport

She felt secure enough with me to vent her opinions of the assignment without feeling that anything said would go back to the professor. During the session, I observed her as she became more comfortable and relaxed.

Student has receptive attitude Attentive Interested Excited

She became energized about writing. The student was involved and engaged throughout the entire session.

Student is able to provide information Brings assignment Brings text being analyzed

She slid the assignment sheet and a stapled copy of her paper toward me. I skimmed over the requirements, looking for key words and ideas to look for in her work. As I filled out my portion of the of the session form, she took out two copies of her paper as well as the assignment sheet and a pen.

Student’s attitude or knowledge changes positively Student feels more confident Student has learned

Certainly, what I am doing in the writing center will, or at least should, translate into better grades; however, my primary measure of successful tutoring is knowing that the writer I worked with left my session with more skills or confidence than when he or she had walked into the center. Her countenance visibly changed; she looked, well, proud of herself.

Tutor

Tutor reflects positively on the tutoring session Appreciated by student Confident about session

He was very appreciative of our help. Then, I realized that a session I had considered a failure had been a success that led to another session. This session was one of, if not the best, not only because she felt very confident upon leaving, but also because I felt confident in providing her with assistance.

Tutor successfully communicates

I simply listened and gave advice when I was asked. I learned that day that being a tutor is more than just proofreading papers. It is becoming friends with my peers, listening. There is an interaction and a communication that enable us as tutors to really feel the student is learning.

Tutor provides higher order instruction Teaches prewriting strategies Discusses thesis and organization

Typically, my most successful tutoring sessions are those where the the writer has a clear sense of what ideas to present but are not sure how to do so because he or she does not write traditionally. The majority of the session ws spent marshalling arguments and brainstorming ideas for the essays. The best aspect of this session was that the student and I were both interested in both topics, and we were able to deal with higher-order issues like invention.

Tutor feels comfortable with the student Knows the student

Because she was so cooperative, I felt even more relaxed than in any session; it seemed as if I had tutored her before although I hadn’t. He knew I had his welfare in mind, and I already knew his temperament and writing ability.

Tutor provides lower-order instruction Teaches grammar and punctuation rules Reviews citation styles Discusses word choice

We focus on conversational speech, but our sessions do not leave out grammatical things like verb agreement and article use. He brings in idioms that he does not understand, and we discuss what they mean and how they are used. We also discuss phrases or sayings that have similar denotative meanings but slightly diffeent connotative meanings. In the final run through his draft, we discussed the underlines and check marks I had made. We discussed ways to make the sentences more clear. We discussed phrasing and word choice.