Eastern Oregon University School of Arts and Sciences

Course Syllabus

WR 220 Methods of Tutoring – Winter 2012

Time: MWF 3-3:50 p.m.  

Place: 114 Loso Hall                                                     

Instructor: Donna Evans

Office Hours: T 9-11 a.m., W 1-2 pm, or by appointment

Office: 234A Loso Hall

Email: devans@eou.edu (the best way to reach me)

Phone: 541.962.3465

Catalog Description

Study and practice in one-to-one conferencing skills in seminar discussion, small groups, and in the Writing Center. Interdisciplinary and multicultural approaches to tutoring and increasing computer literacy are emphasized. Prerequisite: WR 121 and consent of instructor. Credit Hours: 3

Course Description

The practice of tutoring writing rewards the tutor and students who seek writing support in the Writing Center or other settings. Stephen North writes that the goal of tutoring writing is to build better writers rather than simply a better product or final draft. As a socially constructed endeavor, a tutor and student writer meet in a collaborative environment and dialogue about the writing process. As tutor and student discuss and reflect on the student’s writing, the student learns strategies that will improve his or her writing. At the same time, the tutor becomes increasingly adept at reading and recognizing disciplinary requirements for academic essays and other genres, with an eye toward strengthening the rhetorical considerations that will make the paper more effective. WR 220 Methods of Tutoring is designed to introduce new or potential writing tutors to composition and writing center theory and pedagogy. The course prepares them to practice peer writing tutoring and provides opportunities to do so. In addition, tutors-in-training will reflect on who they are and how they position themselves as writers and writing tutors.

Required Texts

Clark, Irene. Writing in the Center. 4th ed.

Hacker, Diane. A Writer’s Reference. 7th ed. (earlier ed. may be acceptable but lacks current information on using electronic sources)

Murphy, Christina and Steve Sherwood. The St. Martin's Sourcebook for Writing Tutors. 2nd or 3rd ed.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, writing tutors will be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts of process theory, reading theory, genre theory, social constructionism, discourse community, and the reader-writer transaction.
• Demonstrate awareness of cultural differences affecting the language practices of multilingual writers.
• Express familiarity with the role and evolution of composition and writing centers in higher education.
• Manage tutorials so as to prioritize the critical thinking and rhetorical effectiveness of an essay as a whole (higher order concerns, or global issues) over surface issues related to proofreading and editing (lower order concerns, or local issues).
• Work with multilingual and Learning Disabled writers.

At the conclusion of this course, writing tutors will be able to help student writers to:

• Read and understand an assignment’s instructions and identify requirements.
• Become aware of differences in expectations and conventions for writing in different disciplines.
• Discuss, identify, and revise purpose, audience, and thesis for a piece of writing.
• Experiment with a variety of invention techniques.
• Summarize, paraphrase, and quote sources, and to provide appropriate documentation.
• Access reference books, research materials, and online resources.
• Analyze an essay’s organization by examining the essay as a whole and looking at each paragraph’s structure.
• Consider the essay from the reader’s point of view.
• Strategize solutions for writing anxiety and writer’s block.

Course Requirements

Means of Assessment:

• 20% – Essay #1 – Discourse Community (3 full drafts + Blue Slip)
• 20% – Essay #2 – Research on Writing Center Theory and Practice w/Abstract
• (2 full drafts + Blue Slip)
• 10% – Presentation
• 20% – Practicum and Reflections, Face-to-face and Online: Observations (Weeks 3-5) and Tutoring (Weeks 6-10)
• 10% – Final Reflection on Practicum
• 10% – Attendance
• 10% – Participation (discussion, homework, in-class activities)

Attendance:

Attendance in all classes and at scheduled observations and tutorials is expected. Absences will affect students’ final grades. Nine (9) or more unexcused absences will result in course failure.

IMPORTANT: All missed observations and/or tutorials must be rescheduled and completed. Before you begin practicum tutorials, information will be given during class about how to notify student writers and the Writing Center Director when you will be absent.

Grading Policy:

A = 90=100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70- 79%

D = 60-69%

F = below 60

UWR Requirement

This is a University Writing Requirement (UWR) writing-intensive course. Students must complete all UWR writing-intensive courses with a C- or better.

Outcomes for lower-division UWR writing-intensive courses:

• Students will produce at least 3,000 words (including drafts, in-class writing, informal papers, and polished papers); 1,000 words of this total should be in polished papers which students have revised after receiving feedback and criticism.
• Students will be introduced to the discourse forms appropriate to the discipline the course represents.
• Students will write at least one paper integrating information from at least one source, employing the appropriate documentation style for the discipline represented by the course.
• Students will draft, revise, and edit their formal written work.
• Students will seek assistance from a writing tutor in the Writing Center when needed and when referred by the instructor.

Computer Literacy and Online Writing Lab (OWL)

You will be expected to use a computer to write, do research, and locate writing resources:

• All assignments written outside of class must be word processed on a computer. Follow MLA paper format guidelines (see Hacker).
• Essay #2 will require independent research to be conducted online and in the library.
• The practicum will include training and practice in online tutoring.
• In order to help students use online resources, you must become familiar with Eastern Oregon University’s Online Writing Lab (http://www.eou.edu/writelab).

Statement on Academic Integrity

Eastern Oregon University places a high value upon the integrity of its student scholars. Any student found guilty of an act of academic misconduct (including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or theft of an examination or supplies) may be subject to having his or her grade reduced in the course in question, being placed on probation or suspended from the University, or being expelled from the University –or a combination of these. Please see Student Handbook at http://www.eou.edu/saffairs/handbook/honest.html.

Learning Disabilities

If you have a documented disability or suspect that you have a learning problem and need reasonable accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Program in Loso Hall 234. Telephone: 962-3081.

Syllabus designed by Donna Evans (12/29/2011)