Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)Eps. 2

Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)

In the world of writing , there are two separate yet equally important groups. The action of repetition for improvement and the ideas behind them. These are their stories.Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)Law and Order

This is a document of a suspect accused of participating in a Writing Center (Doom:Doom).....
S=suspect/O=Officer

O:So, what happened in the class room?(crime scene)

S: well, firstly the class was broken up into 2 sessions, where both I and my partner has to tutor each other as ourselves and give pointers.

O: who was first?

I was the tutor at first, Awesome partnering, I was lucky, the main focus in are group was how to make it shorter, while remaining true to her topic sentence.

O: I see, did you follow protocol??

S: Not at all! first we started with paraphrasing her own paper paragraph by paragraph. (that helped to shorten in a little). Next, we went over the requirement list to make sure everything she needed was there.And finally, I read her paper to her, so she could check if that is the tone or voice she wanted. But we ran out of time to make a to-do list. :sigh:

O: what a shame, but that is not all that you did, IS IT?!?!

S:not at all, not at all.... we then switched place! I felt bad because i was all nervous. But, she did something even better. We started with the requirement list for the essay!!

O: AH HA!

S: Yes, by doing that, checking the list, then reading the sentence from the paper, made a difference. Now i know for sure that i at least had what was requested of me as the student. also, while reading aloud, i was able lookover the paper,'oh how would it sound if you moved that over there.'

O: Anything else??

S:Naw, we did have time to openly discuss the paper and make a to-do list for "homework"

O: Hummmmmmm. I see.....

Next time on Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)

I don"t know about ya'll, but all that reading got to me!!! it took me honestly 3 1/2 hours to get through it with notes!!!!Good luck to us all upon the morrow aiya!

Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)Law and Order:

In the world of writing , there are two separate yet equally important groups. The action of repetition for improvement and the ideas behind them. These are their stories.Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)Law and Order

This is a document of a suspect accused of participating in a Writing Center (Doom:Doom).....
S=suspect/O=Officer

S:Wed. class we were assigned to "reflect on your experiences as a tutor and a student."
I would like to say. Wed. class was the bomb!!(yes old school slang, yo) I haven't had so much fun, in a learning atmosphere(especially English ;)) in a while.

O:What did you observe as a tutor?

S:Well, to start, questions are a great way to get the writer to help themselves. from just answering questions the tutor can help lead the student towards a clearer focus. Also the focus should be establishes first.

O:What did you observe as a student?
S:Sharing stories(relevant to the assignment) can help get the student get more ideas. And, websites are NOT the enemy!
O:Who did the most talking?
S:I can say it was really about 50%/50%
O:Who asked the most questions?
O:Who was most focused on the assignment sheet (understanding the directions)?
S:Me!! I will be honest and say this was my first response essay :o. argumentative, persuasive, but not a response essay , strait up terrified!
O:Who contributed the most information about "what to write about"?
S:Even Steven!(really)
O:What happened when there were different interpretations of the assignment? the reading?
S:When it came to the assignment, we agreed 100%, but when it came to the reading........ Oh a disagreement erupted(no it wasn't bad at all). both of us proved our points, but not enough to convince each other to change our minds.

Next Time on Practice and Theory:Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)

This is exactly how I would want my center to be set up! The teacher has no involvement with the student directly BUT the tutor and teacher CAN interact with each other to makes sure s/he is going in the right directions.
(as a quickie, the writer can approach the teacher for extra pointers, but i wanted to leave teacher out, because when it comes to students, whatever the teacher says goes )
I do need to admit, the set-up(that can not be controlled); not really being face to face with each other......and more time ;).
It was nice to experience, I want to do it again!!

My philosophy under the arts ;)

Firstly, Wow, Monday's class blew me away!! I don't know about ya'll(you guys), but i began to hear the theme music from "Jaws" in the background :).My idea of a writing center(WC) is going to come from the perspective of an Arts writer(ART, THEATRE, MUSIC, DANCE).For an art's writer the most difficult thing for them to do is put their thoughts on paper. in this case my WC would adopt the Burkean Parlor style, where free conversation and collaboration would be at the center.
They say artist love to talk, well at Kean the arts departments are all located in one building students have class together, and study together. Dramaturgical work/ Analysis/Response writings are required in these fields of study, so the following styles of tutoring would work best to help students find a subject/begin a draft: Conversations;Burke's pentad; repeating a key word; Framing.
The role of the of the tutor would be to act as an initiator/mediator by establishing the assignment and asking the right questions/giving each student a fair amount of time to speak. this tutor would need to be ACQUAINTED with a minimum of 50 of the top 200 plays(not Shakespeare)to help the student with comparative/contrasting and analytical papers :).
Any space would suffice, BUT a round table/seminar-style area (even desks in a circle) would be required.
the director of this WC should have a good range of both Literary works/plays and have a collection available for the tutors/writers(organized by subject then author)Also, they would need to have an open mind; not all students coming for help will be art majors.
Teacher should have NO involvement with the writing process. if a tutor needs advice/a review of what the teacher would like from the student i.e. writing style. THAT IS ALL!
***** this is my idea for a WC specifically for those who are interesting in the Arts. this style would vary with other majors/subjects

this essay read more like a conversation :). Andrea Lunsford was very strong in her word choice, no, passionate about Burkean Parlor style writing centers.... Her Main points???
Let's begin!
Each center had its good points
Storehouse: Knowledge is seen as something you learn only, so models can be used to benefit the student
Garret: Indiviualism is paramount and the instuctor just helps the student find it
Burkean Parlor:Collaboration and Control are uber! helps with EVERYTHING!!! from promoting a deeper understanding to problem solving.
She has changed me into a believer!!

Writing Centers????

Hmmmmm. (pardon my blunt tone :) )
Chyo excited about tutoring!! For sure I know we gotta initiate a conversation to help to writer find their theme/ topic. example.
Which is better expository or persuasive???
Showing personal involvement so where do we draw the line??? What happens if some one asks about Chicago formant or worse MLA ???Do we just say 'sucks to be you/ can't help ya?'
Hmmm list of principles for a writing center....?
We should:
1. Encourage the writer by asking questions
2. Show personal involvement
3. Be patience(tutor and writer)
4. Only focus on HOCs
5. Not write on the student's paper
6.Keep a positive attitude
7. If someone needs help, ask
8.Observe
9.Assess
10.And..... you gotta have faith, faith, faith you gotta have faiiiiiitttthhhh

The first.....

But, not the last....