Okay, the picture above taken thanks to Kate Stone and her Blackberry. It is so horrible that I had to laugh. This student came in with the sheet (for those who can't read his writing) that said he was "finished" with his paper and his goal was a "slip." I did not let him off the hook and I read through is paper with him before giving him the slip. I just thought It was something I should share. Also, I did give the student a slip because he was willing to sit with me for a half an hour and go over his paper. I had to admire his bluntness. Any thoughts?
Oh my goodness--I can't believe someone actually would put that down and expect you to just give them the sheet. I guess it's better that he was blunt rather than making up some stuff he "wanted" help on. I've got to say, I have a pretty quick temper, and I'm not sure that I would have been able to be reasonable like you were in that situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat class was he in? It makes me wonder whether the professor said that everyone needed to get a slip from the WC or if he was specifically recommended. Was the paper actually okay, and did he seem like he would act on your suggestions?
It seems like he got a bad idea of what the Writing Center is about somewhere, or he thinks he's an amazing writer. Ugh.
I've also seen a lot of this throughout the week. One of the URI 101 classes, for business majors, has required their students come to the WCenter "to fix anything they've written for the class."
ReplyDeleteI've run into a number of students with the same attitude as Katie - though, none were so gutsy on their slips! - and I've worked out a strategy for myself: I ask the writer if s/he has anything in particular they'd like to look at or are concerned about anything in particular (always "no."), then read the paper (they're all been under one page) and note some areas that can be improved. I then pass the pen over and ask the writer to revise these sentences or sections; while some of them certainly possess a begrudging attitude, a select few seemed pretty into the revising by the end of the session. Finally, while filling out the notorious slip, I plesantly let the writer know that sometimes its better to come into the WCenter with a specific concern, question, or direction they'd like to go in with a tutor. I also note on the slip under the "Notes" section whether or not the student was particularly participatory, had no questions, etc.
Has anyone else tutored any of these URI101 students this week?
I've had very many students from Professor Wood's courses. He's made a number of marks on the student essays (he calls them "reactions," but they seem to be critiques to me), and he will give students extra credit if they come to the wcenter in order to have a tutor help them to understand a better approach to their next "reaction" piece.
ReplyDeleteActually, these have been pleasant sessions enough. Often, the students have lost points because they've inadequately critiqued; that is sort of easy and oddly pleasant to explain.
And, when students come in for a mandated visit, sometimes they won't really want to be here. That is not so much our fault *or* responsibility. Bryna has said to use the space on the mandated visit form to reveal how little happened in the session, if you like. I have tried to use the Prof. Wood mandated visit as an opportunity to invite the student back to work on the next assignment. Many have agreed to return; we'll see how many do.