September 24-28

          This week in the writing center was far more lively than the last. Not only did I receive more clients, but I believe that I have found my first big concern as a writing consultant, and that revolves, for the most part, in how people unaccustomed to how a writing session should proceed view their writing consultant. To elaborate on this, many, if not all, of my clients so far have been Freshman. This is certainly good to see, as it means that they are seeking help with their writing, and I'm always eager to assist, but what concerns me is how deeply they hang off my every word. 
          As a student, I'm the last person who should have the power to dictate right from wrong, especially in writing which is a medium in which "right" might as well just be translated to "academic" as any form of expressive writing can follow quite nearly any form one chooses. But, to the point, I have to really try and coax input out of these individuals, which in all fairness I have managed throughout these sessions - to varying degrees of success - and it's great when it happens, but there is just a fear of mine that revolves around how much they seem to think my word carries the same weight that their professor's might.
         I suppose the best example of when I noticed this fear was just this Friday. I had a tutee for each time slot I had available and it was back to back to back. All of my tutees that day were Freshman, and two of them expected me, or at least requested, that I proofread their papers and correct grammar because they both individually admitted, "I'm bad at that." I of course informed them, lightheartedly, that we don't "proofread" for grammar, but rather have a kind of discourse. Nevertheless, I found myself scrolling through their paper on their laptop because they had readily handed it to me, and it took until the bottom of the first page for me to realize that they couldn't see what I was talking about. This was because my comments were always met with "Yeah" or "Okay, yeah." 
         This week has made it clear that, rather than focus on an analysis of the tutees paper in which I give feedback, I need to start asking many more questions to try and engage my tutees to get them thinking. It's not like I haven't been doing just that, but I feel like I need to do it much more than I have.

Comments

  1. dremmelhainzSeptember 30, 2018 at 11:14 AM

    Liam,

    Yes, you're absolutely correct: it's essential to engage your clients during their sessions and clarify expectations / what you can and cannot do. Especially if you're working with freshmen, be sure to briefly explain what the writing center offers as a resource -- like you've experienced, they may not know! Also, remember you can always ask them to read their work out loud -- that will automatically engage them and keep the ownership of their work clearly in their hands.

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