In this the Year of our Class the 15th of the Blogs

Can i just say. Wednesdays class was Awesome!!! I wanted to say Thank Dr. Chandler for letting me pick the Writing Studio as my assignment:)and thank you guys so much for really getting into the discussion.

I think i am beginning to narrow down my focus on something more exact.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a Writing Studio? Or what is the most sufficient way to run a Writing Center in a University setting. I will have the opportunity to look at a minimum f Two groups(plus research) to carry out this project(ureshii)

Unfortunately, i hadn't the chance to have another writing session until Wed.(hurray). I thought the session went well, Dr. Chandler acted as the initiator.

In this session I looked mosty for:

Eye contact of the Speaker(who is it given to): I discovered a pattern: when the Speaker asked the Main writer(s) questions, they would look at the writer. But when stating their opinion the Speaker would look between the initiator and Main writer. AND when critiquing each other s/he would look directly at the initiator.

When mostly everyone participated (you could see the passion!)the eye contact was like watching a tennis match!(also, so far )

How the writers addressed each other:Everyone was polite to each other. the session(when i started taking notes) began with very polite language and over the course of a few jokes and AHH/Uh huh. the language began to slip into something a little more casual.

Interruptions: There were several interruptions, the main phrases used to interrupt were:
1."Yeah"....
2. "I understand what you are saying but"....
3. "Well".....

Silences:Any time where more that 3 seconds passed. there where 2ish. One was when Danny arrived, and the other when she left.so i don"t think they count....... there was a half silence when i explained the situation of the misunderstanding.

Side tracking: For the most part. the session conversation never reverted from the subject of the writing center. each Writer had a chance to talk about their subject and how it pertained to other

What i have observed so far:
- knowing the tutor does cause ease within a session....or cause tension.
-the Body language expressed in a session can give the tutor/write little cues on how to continue a session.Especially Facial expressions
-I learned at my old job,when it comes to ESL students, native English speakers need to pay attention to their rate of speech. Just slowing down really helps the writer.

Onwards and Upwards!Blog the 14th

Question for the blog:) :Post your purpose + your research question. Do some brainstormy writing about what you will observe at sessions to gather data for your project.

Hmm. that is a tuffy.... I know i want to prove that group sessions are also a vital way of exploring different perspectives; group conversations help narrow down a focus and i some cases even aids in organization!

My question though.........Hmmmm lets see......... What are the Benefits and or drawbacks of a Writing Studio? Juxtapose one on one collaboration with that of a group session.
How does a WC aid the writer in the writing process. What are the key components to having a great initiator :).
i think i will observe what phrases are used b the initiator during the beginning middle and end of the session. Also i will note the pauses. what happens, does the initiator hope right in or wait for one of the other writers??
I want to see how the writers react to the initiator as well as each other. what is said. what was don"t and key movements.like eye contact/ slouching are the top picks.

To help i have in listed the help of Google Books and plan on hitting up the Kean library site.
Now that i got the hang of what i want. not i must go out and look up extra info AGAIN.But now, i feel good and a little excited :)

Greetings. this is Lucky 13!But it's not Friday......

This really took a while, but i think i got it down.

i think my paper will be
How an idea is formulated in a session at a WC. What are the main steps that the tutor/writer do?
By observing a session i will focus on :
What writing techniques were used during the session.
What was done first(greeting, check the assignment sheet, check definitions)
What techniques work best in the first stages of the Writing process
Who does the writing when(in the begining which person is the best choice for writing down the information )

I was able to find some great references in the back of the Tutoring Writing book for example:
Wasik B.A.aned R.E. Stalvine's Preventing Early reading Failure With One-to-one tutoring(it lists some key components in the writing process)
Bishop "Writing from the tips of our tongues:writers tutors and talk(Gives some examples of observations of Collaborative tutoring and is on Google books :))
Of Course Lunsford is on the list as well as Carter.

I was not able to find any good references on the Kean website YET:). i will continue to look, but these writings i have completed and home to read again for more notes.
I would love to write a paper on Collaboration in OOO and Group sessions (benefits and drawbacks of each in the first stages of the writing process). but the only way i can get observation is 2 sessions from Teresa and maybe a mock session with fellow classmates.

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 ; _ ;