"We Can Make Your Life Easier!"
Frequently Asked Questions about The Writing Center--A Page for UAS Faculty
Q. Who are your writing tutors, and how can I trust them to do a good job--especially student tutors?
A. Our student tutors are selected for their academic strength, strong interpersonal communication skills, and excellent writing skills. Faculty and staff also contribute tutoring hours to the Writing Center and participate in interviewing and hiring student tutors. Upon hire, peer tutors receive special training and are monitored in their progress.
Q. How can your tutors help with the content of my students' papers if I teach (substitute your discipline here)? What if they do more harm than good?
A. Of course, if the tutor does not possess some prior knowledge of the subject, commenting on the paper's content is made difficult. But students are often interested in other types of feedback that do not involve discussing the content of the paper directly, such as reviewing the assignment handout, engaging in proofreading and editing, or working on appropriate voice and style. And finally, we believe that it is beneficial to your students to have their papers reviewed by a general audience since having to clarify and explain their points will increase students' own understanding of the material and result in more clear and cohesive writing.
Q. I want my students to do their own work! I'm afraid the tutors will just write papers for them.
A. Our tutors are trained to avoid doing the work for the student and to minimize directive techniques that take ownership of the student's paper. Whether we work with students on brainstorming ideas or proofreading techniques, it is our mission to help students become more independent learners and writers. In addition, if you have particular requirements for our sessions with your students or want us to give a particular kind of feedback, please contact us. We are more than willing to work with you.
Q: How can I help my students get the most out of their visits to the Writing Center?
A. You can help your students by encouraging them to write at least one rough draft of a paper, perhaps even making this a requirement. You don't necessarily have to read or respond to these drafts, but requiring students to complete a rough draft before the final deadline may help discourage them from coming to the Writing Center the day before the assignment is due.
Also, please encourage students to work with a variety of tutors so that they can find someone they connect with. It is important for students to come prepared with two or three questions or concerns to discuss with the tutor; after all, students usually know best where they are in the writing process. Since it's impossible to cover all aspects of the paper in thirty minutes, ask your students to make several appointments prior to the assignment's due date. We hope that frequent use of the Writing Center will teach students skills they can apply independently and thus become more confident writers.
Q. Can I require my students to visit TLC? Is that a good idea?
A. Building the Writing Center usage into your syllabus or course requirements will provide your students--and yourself--with a valuable resource. Many students comment that they've come to see the value in their sessions after their first required visit, even though they initially resented the requirement. You might find a healthy compromise between requiring and recommending visits to the Writing Center. For example, you might provide students with some extra incentive to visit us, such as bonus points or accepting second drafts of a paper only if it has been reviewed with a tutor. And finally, it's our belief that students will only think the Learning Center is an important resource if YOU think so. Please make sure you communicate your enthusiasm to your students.
Q. I do not have any writing assignments in my classes; how can The Learning Center help my students?
A. In addition to writing tutoring, we provide tutoring in math, foreign languages, chemistry, and physics. We might be able to provide a tutor in your discipline if there's a demand for one. First, ask your students how many of them would use the extra help, and then call us. Roya Ansari, the Learning Center Coordinator, is available at 465-6348 or jnra@uas.alaska.edu We'd love to add another tutor to our staff!
Q. What other services are available to me?
A. The Testing Center offers proctoring services for any exams or quizzes you might have. You may hold your exams at the Testing Center on a regular basis, or you may simply use our services for students who need special arrangements. Send your exams to the Testing Center with a filled out Test Information Form (.doc). Contact us at jnra@uas.alaska.edu or 465-6348 if you need more information.
We also now offer one-on-one math tutoring, which allows your student to have a full half hour of math help, and online writing tutoring, which allows your students to receive feedback to their papers via email. Visit the Writing Center page for more details or go directly to the online tutoring form.
WE WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK YOU MIGHT HAVE!
