September 2: Introductions - talking, writing, and reflecting

Tonight's class was about getting a feel for what we will do in the class, getting to know one another, and walking through some of the activities that are central to writing center practice. You talked to each about who you are and your relationships to writing, and you wrote about and reflected on experience associated with learning. Talking (listening), writing and reflecting are at the heart of what makes Writing Centers work. You will read writing center theory and learn approaches for working with writers - but if you just keep in mind that it is really the power of sharing ideas and experiences through putting them into words that makes writing center conferences work - you have it down.

Your stories about learning illustrated many of the approaches you will read about in the text books: modeling, providing information at the point of need, sharing in the excitement of the back and forth for exploring ideas, inviting the writer to "taste" her/his work, speaking to the writer's motivation and desire, or simply being there as an interested participant. Writing coaches do all these things. If we look at this list - we might notice that much of it calls upon social awareness and interest in others - rather than expertise in writing. You will need to have a strong understanding of writing process - but mastering the many rules and expectations of all writing genres is not required for good writing coaches. You just have to know how to figure out what the rules are - and how to look up models and practices for following them.

Thanks for sharing your stories - they were the best part of the class.

For Tuesday:

1. Work on (and complete if possible) the IRB training: http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php class. Email a copy of your certificate to ENG4070@gmail.com.

2. Read McAndrew and Reigstad, 1-21.

Note: we will meet in CAS 307, and you will set up your blog.

Happy Labor Day - and see you on Tuesday.