Sample Memo

TO: English 319 Students

FROM: Rebecca, Fellow Student

DATE: September 17, 2008

SUBJECT: Tips for Working at the Writing Center

Since our class has yet to perform individual sessions in the writing center, I have compiled information from a veteran consultant.  This information covers how a typical session might transpire and gives helpful tips regarding things that may arise during a session.  To be an effective consultant, one must first learn how to handle different situations that may appear during a session.

Session Overview

Sessions follow a standard direction, starting with having the student fill out a client needs survey.  After reviewing the students’ needs with them and discussing the paper, you should have a good idea of what to look for and focus on during the session.  Ask the student to read his or her paper aloud; if the paper is very long, you may have the student read a section that they are having the most difficulty with.  During the reading, be sure to take notes on and make comments about the mistakes you see or hear.  You will usually be looking for things such as structure, organizational errors, or the strength of their argument as presented in the paper. 

After the student has finished reading, review the notes you have taken with them.  Make sure that the writer understands why you have pinpointed certain problems and allow them time to ask questions and make changes after hearing your suggestions.  At the end of a session, be sure that the writer is leaving more confident in their writing than when they came in.  Thank them for coming into the Writing Center and use the remaining time to fill out the necessary paperwork and emails.

Help with citations, grammar, and organization are a few main reasons that people will bring their papers into the Writing Center.  Being familiar with some of the basic layouts of citation books will help expedite the process of revision.

E-mails to Professors

Try to keep your e-mail as positive as possible.  Make sure you note the areas that you and the student worked on, so that the professor has a head’s up on what the student is struggling with.  If a student was very enthusiastic and motivated to make revisions and better their paper, mention that to the professor as well. 

  

Dealing with Difficulties

·         Difficult students

In many sessions you may come across students who have been sent to the writing center for a class.  Although it is hard to deal with these students, you should still follow the above steps for a typical session.  If they retain nothing else from the session, reading their paper aloud will help them to catch small errors.  If they have nothing that they want to work on and are simply there because it affects their grade, share your thoughts about their paper and what to consider revising.

·         Helping too much

As a consultant you need to know where to draw the line between helping and doing the students work for them.  Easy preventative practices are as follows:

o   Never pull the students paper in front of you

o   Take notes on a blank sheet of paper instead of on the students paper

o   Sit with your writing hand furthest away from the paper

·         Offering creative criticism

Make sure that you word your criticism in a way that the student will see you are trying to help, not condemning his or her paper.  Comment on the positive things as much as the negative.  Don’t make your suggestions a personal statement about the writer.

·         Being unable to assist

If you are unable to assist a writer because they are asking a question pertinent to writing and not about content, ask another consultant or refer to the reference books.  If they ask something regarding the content of the paper that involves something that they should be knowledgeable of, then explain that they might need to take another look at the planning or research stage of the writing process.  Remember that you are not there to do the work for the student.  If you find you are unable to help them because of lack of effort on their part, you should be able to recognize that they need to retrace their steps and set them in a new direction.