Here are some observations which struck me the most- gave me the most information and enabled me to
envision how a session begins:
Writing Center Observations
10.22.10
o The tutor is in charge but they are sitting in a very open position
o Tutor and student are both in a swinging chairs
o Studen’t sleg crossed
o Sitiing towards each other
o Looking at the paper
o Tutor advised to be creative
o Chose 9 people –
o Tutor is giving advice but at the same time giving ideas – not necessarily giving her information that may be correct (just ideaS0
o Asking what type of artists could her title be
o Off topic “im the type of person that doesn’t apply directly .. it’s hard to think of a title
o Left for dead:title
o Tutor is giving a lot of ideas and student is giving and asking her ideas..
o Tutor: so what do u think?
o Tutor : what else do you have?
o Tutor:: what are your ideas,
o Giving her lists of ideas for titles…
o Talking about nations (9 countries)
o Googled something that the professor is talking about…
§ For future reference: do not use wikipidia- not always accurate-
§ I always use google when I don’t know a word or any kind of phrase I don’t understand..
o Are u good in English? Nah , what? Then why are you writing here ? ha ha I’m just kidding
o Entertained in the internet- found “a name of an island”
o Tutor: what I think she was trying to say was that she wanted you to elaborate…
o Re-read the question (assignment by prof) and the side notes of the paper (how the paper was graded)
o She wanted you to use a different word instead of colonial (repetitive)
o In survival situations it’s important to create life- think about it in more depth- elaborate-be more creative
o Teacher’s notes: theme was not balanced- (not focused)
o Tutor asked: why kind of a theme would you use to keep your paper more balanced?
o Tutor: what makes it so important- what makes them that more different? Give more detail
o She was talking about balance-
o what is survival at it’s peak- answer that question within the pararaph- what do you think that means?
o How bout we look it up?
o Dropped ideas: finding food water shelter: the main things you need to live in life
o Okay what is the professor saying here? How bout you read your paper from here to here.. (student read out loud)
o That’s why she was like? Okay that’s good – so you need to elaborate
o No technology: remember there is no technology- look up some information about not hving any easy way out..
o She’s a doctor- so that helps.. she’s experienced- so now we can combine that .. elaborate there..
o Use your transitions clearer
o Time is up (almost found)
o Interpret obligations... it’s imperative –is what she means..
o Search what you can do – you searched that right ?
o Re read the questions again out loud- asked her in precise detail.. what she means with that ..
o Tutor: repeats- ask the professor with what she means by that- I don’t want to give you the wrong answer you know? Student agreed:
o Teacher didn not understand what you were saying with this sentence here.. and this sentence here.. (she’s fertile.. give more detail) – How? What if she is a follower? – in paper: student chose one leader- teacher was unable to understand what did she mean? Ask about this and this..
o Shoemaker : architect
o Tutor is trying to explain in simpler words what the teacher is saying
o Read the section…
o Tutor is asking to take notes of everything that she thinks is important what goes around with us…
o What is theme? The moral of the story: - works around the theme..
§ Gave her an example of the theme to three little pigs.. etc..
§ Tutor: so what would the theme here be?
§ But to do what? To have what kind of a moral? Is constantly asking questions..
§ Explain this and that a little better.
o John came over to me and interrupted my observation by telling me that the reason for the class is to tutor next week
Session ended with a thank you for the tutoring.
Observation
Assignment:write a manuscript: senior seminar
What is the assignment about?
I will be writing about a true story about my ex-boyfriend how he has passed away ...
Tutor: stated that she likes the fact that she will be writing about the last section first- backwards to forwards… (“most teacher like that”)
Student: only problem is I can’t write, so that’s why I’m here..
Tutor: Everyone can write unless you can’t sing.
Read what you wrote so far I’m interested in hearing more about what your story says so far…
Suggestionmade by tutor:
Make a third person rather than a first or second person…
Suggests to switch – transitions…
Uses her laptop to take down notes of what the tutor is saying…
Student begins reading her paper (word for word) … tutor sits and interrupts when needed, and listens when she approves of the writing.
Observation #3
First observation was supposed to be with Josh: asked no to observe this session. Student- project six- uneasy with
908.737.5326
Will be waiting for a mockery session.
- Introduced each other
- What have you brought in today?
- Not sure if the thesis is good or amazing..
- Both tutor and student chairs …
- What class is this for ..
- Nature of the assignment… what the assignment is about …
- The rights of women, have to justify for woman ..
- Categorically what kind of essay is this- please describe.. persuasive, informatory…
- Tutor: swirling around in chair ..
- Preferences … that your professor would like- would like to happen.. in the essay
- No specific instruction..
- remember to take the audience into consideration..
- Student is very engaged leaning towards his paper.. while tutor is leaning back and still twirling left to right..
- What is really strong .. strength .. and what are some of the weaknesses?
- Do like the thesis..- strong.. have a lot of examples, proof backup information..
- Gives some information on a quote.. if is more than 3 lines- must be indented to signify it’s length
- Coach mla citation formations..
- Showed him how to showcase citations…(more than 4 lines)
- Student was very interested in learning how to do the citation
- Show how to citate properly …
- Shift control page up .. to fly up through all the pages..
- Assignment sheet, professor is the audience
- feedback: what you want to cover..
Observation
So what are you working on .
Hi m name is .. what are you working ..
It’s a creative writing assignment .. .
The writer describes- the paper.. so I don’t know where to start..
- So we have the character..
- What do you want to focus on, the main character, the main idea, the setting..
What do you want the main focus on?
Okay so what is so important about the dress?
- Important dress..
- Going to restaurant.. I’m meeting someone at the restaurant ..
- Nicole is my made-up name…
- Love interest.. why we are going to the restaurant in the new dress
The rest is up to you..
- So I don’t know how to form my sentences, with good grammar, can’t write how I talk ?
- You could start with something happened, then this happene..
- Nicole is a florist and she was invited to the restaurant.
- Where is the restaurant, why is it so important..
Try to describe the character…
Let’s say before she dresses up and is a completely different character…
Start off with an outline.. (then could come back to me)
- Edward- glitters… should be a vampire..
- I’m in love w the vampire and that they glitter nowadays …
- Love interest is with a vampire that glitters..
- So I will start off with Nicole – how she got the dress.
Remember the main character is important, the dress is important, and the location- why is the restaurant so important….
- Should I start as a first person third person..
- So Nicole wakes up next morning with a missed call from Edward…
- She calls back and tells her I have a big date for you…
- The end of the story is I will become the vampire..
Remember you must stay on focus… remember to keep the three elements in the story .. stay on focus with the three elements..
Make sure the dress is highlighted..
She made this big deal about having the dress..
Make sure you analyze how the dress is emphasized...more so than the vampire…
· She has to find the specific dress
· Glittered…
Focus is the dress (the new dress) the restaurant...
