Blog 12 (elves.....propells?.......shelves?)that's about is....

Hmmm. i think i will go with the idea of Group peer sessions compared to single session. comparing and contrasting. As of today, I believe group sessions are beneficial at the beginning of the writing process(brain storming/find a focus/ organization) were as OOO(one-on-one) help with organization and reevaluation process.

With the one on one sessions i will specifically look for how the tutor interacts with he writer.
1. how far in the writing process is the writer?
2. what did the come to the writing center for?
3. what is their agenda for that day?

As for the group sessions i will do the same, but additionally how the students interact with each other. the tutor will be seen as the team leader only.

I will use body language and verbal cues to help drawn my conclusions.

At the end of each session(single and group), I would like to have a evaluation sheet filled out. maybe 3 examples form OOO and 3 from group sessions.

When it comes to group sessions, I have volunteers from the theatre department. but if we have enough students left over on Wednesday(hoping not) we could hold a mock group session.
Still trying to narrow it down a bit more. there were a few essays in our text book that i trust could help.
:)

(Verdana for a change )Blog eleven. rhymes with....7,Kevin, Heaven, Tevin, Devon, Yeven, Gavin

Greetings Wednesday was sooooo fun ^ - ^. i secretly hope we can do it again... but onward my friends!!! Tally Ho!


Paper #1:
Group Discussions and one-on-one tutoring. Which is best for a Literary essay.During the WC session on Wednesday. We, the tutors had a change to discuss in a group one of the subject for my MALS class. the concept of lying. After explaining the assignment. we all were able to engage in a group conversation. Even those who have not taken the course(literally) were able to participate.I was able to get several perspectives. even some participates disagreed with me. BUT when i had a one-on-one session. i was better able to organize my paper.

And so this is how i want to organize this paper.
first begin with the topic sentence(noted above. i will make it sound better later ;)) then give a definition of collaboration according to Murphy and Harris. define group collaboration and OOO collaboration. list the benefits of OOO collaboration(for example it helps with organizing) and drawbacks(only one opinion).Then give an example the class Wednesday and a great article in and walker(how OOO writers become dependent)
Next. Benefits of Group sessions quote Harris/Lunsford again(more then one opinion, helps narrow down a focus). and drawbacks Shamoon(pure tutoring)
give an example from a session(i asked the theatre department to let me sit in on their study session for their world theatre final, the students are given the topic in advance and are allowed an outline and rough draft during the exam)the then note
In the group we where
in closing express my opinion and which situations require form of tutoring.

Paper#2: If i am allowed to :wink:wink: i would probably like to tackle "the positive effects of collaborative methods in a writing center pertaining to students of the Arts i.e. Theatre, Fine Arts, Design etc. and which strategies would work best for them(20 questions, Burke's pentad)......(found one source already, but what happens if there no ARTS writers.....)
I would start the essay with a statement about the theory. with a definition of what collaboration in the writing center means. i would quote Lunsford and Murphy. probably give an example of a Collaboration technique used in the writing center.then what i observed in a tutoring sessions and Murial Harris.

"I give it a 10 out of 10!(Blogs that is...)

Blog 10: Post any final thoughts on your coaching strategy. Think through what you think your strengths will be, and what you will need to think through ahead of time.


Drawbacks:
1.I know i definately talk waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much especially if the assignment is some thing i would take to heart.if ever i beleive i am talking too much. i will ask a question.
2. Also, i do have a tendency to get nervous(sweaty palms/shaking my legs). For sure i'll need to remain calm. :).
3. I am not familiar with all writing genres to fix that delima, i have a Dr. Chandler's web address memorized so i can look up beneficial websites.


Strengths.... hum. well read???

For sure i will pay close attention to my tone, gestures and posture.I don't think i will impercinate the writer if they begin to slouch, but i will remain alert.
Honestly, every session will be based on the writer's needs and major. For those ARTs majors Burke's pentad all the way! or Cubing ;).

in the end i can say the theme music of Danny Elfman comes to mind or that "DAN DA DA" from movie certa 1930. I have tutored since high-school..... but never for a grade..... can you feel the pressure?

Research Interests: Blog 9 GOMENASAI(sorry)

There are a variety of topics that i would like to write a research paper on. I honestly don't know where to begin. If i am allowed to :wink:wink: i would probably like to tackle "the positive effects of collaborative methods in a writing center pertaining to students of the Arts i.e. Theatre, Fine Arts, Design etc. and which strategies would work best for them(20 questions, Burke's pentad)......(found one source already, but what happens if there no ARTS writers.....)
How does an ESL student go about organizing their paper?
How do the tutors interact with their supervisor/writers?
Have a comparison (short term) of writers who have multiple visits to the writing center and those who visit once.
Juxtapose what writer learn in a writing center and how it influences their everyday life.
What is the best strategy based on each major. Is SH the best for Math majors or BP?
What would be really interesting is if their could be a project concerning students who receive WC tutoring at a young age(middle school)

I do want to apologize for not having an opportunity to get creative with this entry. Honestly, i could not think of any musical numbers that parallel this 'theme', also, i would not make much sense as a Practice and theory:WC Unit either. :(

Sorry ; _ ;

Assesment and Focus in the WC( sung to the melody of "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" From the Broadway musical "Little Shop of Horrors" by

THis list can be sung(or read to) the melody of Little Shop of Horrors Show-stopping Numer Mean Green Mother from Outer Space. Pre-warning. it is a little fast so during the beginning please read along with the melody not the lyrics. also, some of the lyrics can be slightly profane(but hilarious) It took a while but i present to you Assessment and Focus in the WC!!!!!!

Assessment and Focus
-List the Writer's/Tutor's name, time, date and Major(optional)
- Introduction- Introduce yourself, or re-introduce yourself(Hey! How are you?)
-if it's the first time, find out what your writer's interests are and jot them down;)
- State the goals of the sessions."What do you want to do today?"

Beginning of Session
-What do you want to work on? Focus, Organization, Free Conversation, Topic Sentence, Read-through, Other_____________

Go over the assignment sheet

What styles were used?(Please circle one) SH G M BP(Ah Ah Ah AH!)

Clarify during the session give good definitions/explanations?
Chorus**
The tutor/ writer
-Gave positive feedback?
-Asked questions about the writing
-Interrupted(positive/negative)
-Body language(positive/ negative)
-Introductions
-During the session
-Got Stuck?
How?
Able to fix it?

Wrap-up
-Went over what was discussed during your sessions(What did we talk about)
-Make a list of what should be done next(OK,how are you going to begin organizing your paper?)


Self-evaluation(begining of "RAP")
-Couch Effectiveness
-What strategies were used?
-What did you do that was good?
-What did you find difficult?
-What areas would you like to work on?
-Was it an overall good session? Why and Why not?
**
Assessment and Focus(Assessment and Focus from the WC)
Assessment and Focus(Assessment and Focus from the WC)
Assessment and Focus
(Assessment and Focus from the WC)
(Assessment and Focus from the WC)
And I am a TUTOR!(AH AH AH AH AH AH )

Time for a Comercial break.....

I didn't realize how fast we speak, you know. Also, jotting down note from a lecture compared to a tutoring session was a little more difficult than i though. Most of the things i wrote down were the 6 questions before the session began as well as make up abbreviation for the writer, tutor and techniques i remembered from the readings. When it came to the advice given by the tutor, i tried to write it down, word for word.

I had the chance to observe Kay and Daria.I think my favorite part ws when they discussed ways to create a topic sentence/ ways to improve spelling/etc. For exampleto help with spelling, writing the word in the air.
I could sense they had an understanding of each other with their verbal/non-verbal cues(uh huh ummhmmm).

Practice and Theory: Writing Center Unit(Doom:Doom)Eps. 3

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)

O=Officer

D=Director

T=Tutor

O:It is your duty to teach these young minds!!!!

D:Why, who says their minds need to be in Stone(House)!!I am a Director it is my duty to train the new tutors in ways that will help them help themselves as well as the writer. To quote the Thespis, Act well your part(as a tutor), there all honor lies!!'

O:Well, we have a witness that claims that you don't help them with the writers grammar and punctuation. what is the point of helping if you can't get help with the little things?!?!

D:I am sorry, but if you want to point the finger at anyone, it should be the teachers! THEY are the ones who focus so much on LOC that writers don't pay attention to the important things like Organization and focus. We as a WC want to improve  those points, with out those two, what is the point of writing to the assignment?(But we have a program called 'Fix-it Fridays, every Friday, writers can come in and have their papers checked by our tutors')

O:And what about the teachers? they are being laid out in the cold! What about them??

T: Leave her alone! the director has done so many things to create harmony between the teachers and tutors!

He have special workshops for the teachers where they partner up with other teachers from the opposite discipline and try to help each other with their own are of study.

T2:Yeah, and she has a web-site for FAQ and question drop off point about essays!! Not to mention breakfast Boogie! 

T:So, how dare you make these accusations!!!!

O: to say her WC philosophy is"everyone can write well, and it is our hope, goal, and duty to help the writer  improve their organization, focus and themed skills" and to quote the Thespian creed"with a song on our lips and a prayer in our hearts, let make one person happy" with out giving  me a how-to IS A CRIME!!!!

D:it is my duty to make sure we provide a comfortable atmosphere for everyone. that is why our waiting area has couches, snakes, and hot coffee.It is my Duty to promote a friendship between the WC and faculty, by having a syllabus meeting with each teacher allowing them to give our tutors their writing assignments and express what they are looking for in a paper.We offer these and many other programs Monday-Friday 12pm-10pm, and 12pm-7pm every 1st and 3rd Saturday as well as  a 24-hour web-site!

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

really had to sit back and think about this for a minute, everything from the first WCPh remains the same, but now i want to include all subjects ;)