The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors

by Ryan, Leigh; Zimmerelli, Lisa

• ISBN13: 9781457650727
• ISBN10: 145765072X
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-12-11
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors discusses the needs of writing tutors as both teachers and scholars, helping you establish your tutoring techniques and reflect on your teaching philosophies.

Author Biography

Leigh Ryan has directed the Writing Center at the University of Maryland since 1982.  In addition to articles on mentoring, writing, and writing center theory, practice, and administration, she is the author of The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors (Fifth Edition, with Lisa Zimmerelli).  She has presented at regional, national, and international writing center and composition conferences.  She has consulted on writing centers at institutions in the United States, South Africa, and the Netherlands.  Former secretary of the International Writing Centers Association and president of the Maryland Association of Teachers of English and Mid-Atlantic Writing Centers Association (MAWCA), she currently serves on the executive board for MAWCA and the planning committee for the IWCA/NCPTW 2010 conference.

Table of Contents

Preface for Writing Center Directors

Introduction for Tutors

1. The Writing Center as a Workplace
Professionalism toward the Writer
Professionalism toward Other Tutors
Professionalism toward Teachers
The Many Hats Tutors Wear
When is a Tutor Not a Tutor?
Exercise 1A: Keeping a Personal Tutoring Journal
Exercise 1B: Participating in Public Online Discussion Forums
Exercise 1C: Investigating Your Writing Center’s History
Exercise 1D: Exploring Tutors’ Roles

2. Inside the Tutoring Session
Getting Started
Setting the Agenda
Four Effective, Powerful Tools
Using a Handbook
Wrapping Up a Session
Exercise 2A: Observing Tutors’ and Writers’ Body Language
Exercise 2B: Observing Tutoring Sessions
Exercise 2C: Working with Handbooks and Other References
Exercise 3D: Role-playing the Tutoring Session

3. Tutoring Writers Through The Writing Process
Prewriting
Drafting
Revising
Editing for Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics
Coping with the Long Paper
Working with a Text Digitally
Exercise 3A: Exploring How Writing is Taught
Exercise 3B: Understanding Common Terms of the Writing Process
Exercise 3C: Developing a Handout
Exercise 3D: The Writing Process in Action: Self-Reflection and Writer Case Study
Exercise 3E: Reflecting on Being Tutored

4. The Writers You Tutor
Learning Styles
Students Concerns
The Writer with Writing Anxiety
The Writer with Basic Writing Skills
The Multilingual Writer
The Writer with a Learning Disability
The Writer with a Physical Challenge
The Adult Learner
Exercise 4A: Reflecting on Writers’ Concerns
Exercise 4B: Reflecting on Your Own Writing Concerns
Exercise 4C: Reflecting on Tutoring Techniques
Exercise 4D: Learning from Students

5. Helping Writers Across the Curriculum
Research Papers
Lab Reports and Scientific Papers
Argument or Position Papers
Literature Papers
Book, Film, and Play Reviews
Group Writing Projects
Digital or Multimodal Environments
PowerPoint and Alternative Platform Presentations
Resumes (Traditional and Scannable)
Cover Letters
Application Essays and Personal Statements

6. Tutoring in the Information Age
Online Tutoring
Online Writing Resources
Helping Writers Evaluate Online Sources
Exercise 6A: Developing Advice Templates
Exercise 6B: The Challenges of Online Tutoring
Exercise 6C: Creating Stock Responses
7. Addressing Various Tutoring Situations
The Writer Who Comes at the Last Minute
The Unresponsive Writer
The Antagonistic Writer
The Writer Who Selects an Inappropriate Topic or Uses Offensive Language
The Writer Who Plagiarizes
The Writer with the Perfect Paper
The Writer with the Long Paper
Exercise 7A: Reflecting on Various Tutoring Situations
8. Research in the Writing Center

Formulating a Research Question

Conducting a Literature Review

Selecting Your Methods and Conducting Your Research

Sharing Your Research

Publishing Your Research

Why Research?

Exercise 8A: Researching Tutoring Strategies

Exercise 8B: Where We Stand On… Critical Literature Review

Exercise 8C: Analyzing a Research Study

9. The Writing Center as a Community

Exercise 9A: Articulating Your Tutoring Philosophy

Exercise 9B: Creating a Metaphor for Tutoring

Appendix A: Tutors Ask

Appendix B: Tutors Talk: Evaluating What They Say

Appendix C: Role-Playing Activities

Appendix D: Outside Tutoring and Editing Jobs