EOU 12/23/98

An Overplanned Improvisation: Our Writing Lab Philosophy

There is a paradox at the heart of learning to write well: we need plenty of time and
caring help from our peers to become confident, independent writers. To become
comfortable with a wide range of writing occasions, we need to improve our thinking
by collaborating to integrate our skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing
across and bewteen the disciplines we study. With this in mind, we think of our
philosophy of learning and teaching as an overplanned improvisation. Like jazz
saxophone greate Charlie Parker, we try to think on our feet, but also put in a lot of
practice time. Our faculty, staff and students working in Eastern's Writing Lab and
Learning Center try to plan carefully to meet the known or projected needs of
students and faculty in a wide variety of classes and groups; however, we try to
remain flexible enough to allow new objectives to emerge.

In other words, these are some of the thing we student and faculty and staff peer
writing assistants in the Writing Lab are proud of:

- We don't beleive any of us are prepared for all the challenges that walk through
   the door; but together, sharing expertise and energy and our separate strengths, we
   do believe we are a powerful force for improving writing or changing a writer's
   attitudes about writing.

- We have worked with other students and faculty to create a student-centered
approach that makes our busy room a safe atmosphere in which to experiment
with writing.

- Our services are FREE to all students, and you don't have to be in a particular
class to receive assistance!

- Our clients report in surveys we have conducted that their grade level goes up
at least one notch if they work at least half an hour a week through a term with
a tutor.

- We welcome students, faculty and staff from all disciplines and every level, and
work hand-in-hand with the math and group tutors in the Learning Center.

- We manage the above even though we probably serve a higher percentage
(25%) of our student body (or approximately 500 of our 2,000 students) than
most other colleges.

- Students come in and sign up for times to work with us on writing even when
they don't have problems!