First Hand

I have a difficult schedule this semester. I did not think that being required to observe consulting sessions in the Writing Center would offer me much besides inconvenience. I was surprised, though, to find that it was actually quite an interesting experience.

I do not deny that reading the articles is important. After all, this course is called "Writing Center Theory." Still, I think, there is no substitute for first hand experience. The articles force the reader to consider the nature of writing centers. Having a conceptual understanding of what a Writing Center is and does is important. It seems to me, though, that the only way to be a good consultant is first to observe how it is done and then do it yourself. I thumbed through the required text recently, the one devoted to writing tutors. This book offers a great deal of information that will be useful. It presents profiles of different types of tutors and different types of writers. Again, all of this is important and worth reading. I do not think, though, that it will provide much else but a foundation. The book cannot teach you how to deal with other writers in the same way that physically doing it can.

I felt slightly nervous just shadowing a session. If I felt that way simply observing I can only guess that it will be much worse the first time I help someone myself.