By Dr. Ben
There are three principles I’ve tried to encourage all Writing Center tutors to follow. There are many things to learn about tutoring writing, but these three are a good start (in no particular order):
- We work as a team. Tutors in the IUP Writing Center have a big challenge. Students visit the center from all colleges and majors, and they bring a wide variety of topics and assignments. No one can be an expert on every subject, so it’s vital that tutors rely on one another to ask questions, talk about sessions, and offer support. New tutors look to more experienced tutors for advice and role models. The directors depend on the tutors to undertake new projects, take responsibility for the work in the Writing Center, and alert the staff to problems or concerns. We have a “flat” organizational structure, and this requires that everyone work together.
- We use our good judgment. No amount of teamwork can replace the need for individuals to exercise good judgment. When you’re one-one-one with a student in a tutoring session, you have to draw upon your own experience, intellect, and judgment to help the writer become a better writer. Consulting with other tutors and the directors can help to improve the judgments we all have to make, but everyone needs to use their own heads.
- We welcome feedback. We communicate, and we do so at all levels. When someone does a good job or does something nice, we tell them. If one of our tutors needs help with a session, we help them. If I ask you to do something that seems impractical or ineffective, you have to tell me. We don’t just let problems slide and hope they’ll go away.
