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WC Mission

The Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers take advantage of all opportunities for learning inherent in the writing process; to that end, we can assist writers at any stage of the writing process. By working with students one-on-one or in small groups, tutors can help writers analyze the rhetorical demands of the writing task, generate and focus ideas at the prewriting stage, ensure they are addressing the writing assignment directly and effectively, elaborate and rework a rough draft after hearing the writer read the draft aloud, discover their strengths and weaknesses of a draft in a particular rhetorical context, strengthen arguments, spot weak rhetorical choices and make more effective choices, and address formatting or other surface-level concerns. At no point do our tutors write these papers for the students. All writers working in the Writing Center maintain control of their essays; tutors simply offer support and feedback and ask questions writers may not have been asking themselves (or may not have even known to ask themselves).

Facilities

The Writing Center is located in the Hall of Languages, room 103, but we are also available online at http://www7.tamuc.edu/litlang/CSC/index.htm. Take some time to familiarize yourself with both spaces.

Faculty and Staff

The Director of the Writing Center is responsible for hiring, scheduling, training, evaluating, and (when it must be) firing. This person also coordinates all promotional activities, all CSC publications (Write-On, CSCNews, CompNews), and community outreach activities and is responsible for all aspects of the Basic Writing Program (English 110/100), including curriculum, training, and placement. Any difficulties with the Basic Writing Program or the Writing Center should come directly to the Writing Center Director or the Assistant Directors--no one else. I cannot stress this enough. Our business should stay our business. If it cannot be resolved here, we can bring these concerns to the appropriate party (Dr. Bill Bolin, Interim Assistant Head of the Department of Literature and Languages; Dr. Shannon Carter, Interim Director of First-Year Composition; Dr. Donna Dunbar-Odom, Director of Graduate Studies). But always go to the Writing Center Administrators first. You are not alone here!

The most important folks staffing our Center are the tutors. We usually have about 10-15 undergraduate "peer" tutors and graduate assistants working in the Writing Center. Several are English majors (current graduate students in English or history or planning to attend graduate school, teach at the university level, teach public school, or write), but many are history majors, some have been double majors in English and history or history and political science or even English and computer science. 

Roles of Tutors and Graduate Assistants

The most important work you do in the Writing Center is work one-on-one (or in small groups) with writers as they tackle a particular writing task. Take a look at our Mission (above) as a first step to understanding the complexity of this work. Some students will make appointments for this work, some of this work is scheduled at the beginning of the semester (group work with English 110/100 students), and many students will drop in during our hours of operation (M-F, 9-4, and some evenings). You should be available to make appointments with those students who may not be able to work with someone right away, and you should work with those students who can receive assistance right away. You should keep a close eye on the appointment book so you don't take a walk-in moments before a scheduled appointment is due to come in. Since we encourage students to prepare their writing assignments in the Writing Center, questions may come up as they are working on drafts. You should be available to help with these questions, including computer or printing questions they may have. You should also make sure the Writing Center always appears fresh and inviting, regularly straightening chairs and table-tops and ensuring all handouts are plentiful and accessible. Always wear your name tag so folks will know who you are.

If you must miss work

If you must miss work in the Writing Center, you should try to get a replacement from among your peers, and you should always let all Writing Center administrators know (via email and phone call) about this change. You will receive a Contact List soon that you should use to arrange for a replacement if you must be out. Never miss work without making arrangements (or at least letting us know). Doing so more than once may be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Student Complaints

Complaints in the Writing Center should go directly to the Writing Center administrators. Standard operating procedure is to ask the student to put the complaint in writing and proceed from there. Student complaints are sometimes unavoidable, so please don't fail to notify the administrators because you think it will reflect poorly on you (or someone else). We will work fairly with everyone involved, and we most often consider these complaints an essential part of the growing and learning process.

Some More "Rules"

• It is very important that you be here on time. In fact, since so many tutors have shifts that end only moments before they must head to class, it is important that you arrive at least five minutes before your shift begins. If everyone follows this pattern, most folks will be able to leave at least five minutes before their shifts end so they can get to their classes on time. I cannot stress the importance of punctuality and respect when it comes to your work schedule. Our professional reputation (and just plain courtesy) demands this of us.
• If missing work or coming in late is unavoidable, contact all Writing Center administrators via phone and email as soon as possible (see above). If you can let us know days ahead of time, talk to the administrators about it. But if you can't, we would prefer you call both of us. It is very important you try to speak with us if at all possible.
• Whenever possible, Graduate Assistants who have to miss work should arrange for other GAs to take the shift(s) of concern because Graduate Assistants are paid from a different budget than are our hourly workers. There are circumstances under which hourly workers covering a GAs shift is not problematic (a "trade" perhaps), but in most cases it will cause budgeting difficulties for us.
• Since Graduate Assistants are paid a salary, they must make up any time they miss. The only exception to this rule is if the GA missed to attend a conference, workshop, or other educational event.
• Just to repeat for clarity: If you have to miss work for any reason, it is your responsibility to find someone to take your place, particularly if you have a group. You should let the appropriate Writing Center administrators know (via email) who your replacement will be so they can write it on her calendar.
• This should go without saying, but just in case: Do not date someone you tutor.
• Dress Code: There is no official dress code, but I do expect you to dress appropriately for a professional setting. Just be aware of how you dress and the image that your attire projects. I certainly don't expect you to wear dresses/ties each day (unless you would rather). Be comfortable yet professional. Make sure your clothing is not distracting to the students in this learning space.
• Do not evaluate papers. Even offering evaluative statements like "I know your instructor will love this" or "This will get an excellent grade" can get us in trouble. Don't speculate on grades, and try to respond to this in the only way possible: as an audience member. You are certainly an excellent writer and an effective reader and these qualities put you in an excellent position to offer feedback and suggestions, but we cannot guarantee any grade any one paper will receive, even if we do all the work ourselves (which we never, never want to do).
• Don't commiserate with students about a not-so-beloved teacher. We can offer sympathy in a general way, but we should always focus on the task at hand.
• Do not discuss students or their writing with other students. Confidentiality is very important.
• Do not discuss students or their writing with other tutors in the Writing Center itself. There are only limited circumstances in which I can see a reason for these kinds of conversations at all, but if they do occur, they should occur in private and should never make light of the student or her work.

·         If a student comes in and there isn't anyone available at that time to work with her, please greet her as soon as she comes in and tell her that everyone is busy with a student at the moment. Give her an approximate amount of time she might have to wait, let her know you want to work with her and if she can't wait, offer to make an appointment for a later time. There is a sign up sheet next to the front door if more than one person is waiting. Ask them to sign up here if it seems that they are willing to wait. Just make sure you never let a student come in, sit, and not be acknowledged.

·          ALWAYS be aware of the noise level in the Writing Center. That includes the noise from students in large groups as well as the noise you make talking with other tutors. Tutors talking to one another is often a problem because of the small space we're in and because tutors genuinely like each other. I'm very glad for that, but please keep it down.

·         Training is a very important aspect of this job. It is very important to me that you not miss any of our Tutor Training Meetings (unless it is unavoidable). It is equally important that you keep up with a Tutor Journal and any outside readings/projects I may assign. If you must miss a reading/project/ journal one week, please let me know right away. We will make other arrangements.

·         Students using our printers are required to purchase a print card (in the library).  If they do not have a print card (and they seem pretty desperate), you can offer to sell them a printout or two for five cents a page. Use the CSC print card and give the change to Chess. DO NOT USE YOUR OWN PRINTCARD. I've had tutors offer their own print cards before, and I would rather you didn't do so. You aren't paid enough for this J. NOTE: English 100/110 students can use our card for printouts (for English 100/110).

·         Tutorial sessions are limited to one hour. Please do not go over this hour. After about an hour, you are tired and the student is tired. And I can't have one student monopolizing any of my tutors. If the student wants to work longer than an hour, after her hour is up you might suggest that she work on revisions for half and hour or so and if you (or another tutor) are available, you can work again. But do not work with one student for more than an hour at a time.

·         Students make appointments but not for more than one hour each day. If the student needs more than an hour in any one day, she may take her chances with a walk in. But she cannot make more than one hour's worth of appointments in any one day.

·         I encourage students to work on their papers in the Writing Center even if they are not working with a tutor. That way, they can ask questions of you guys as these questions come up. Check on these students working at the tables or the computers once in a while. Ask them if things are going well. Ask them if they need any help. Don't bother them, but don't leave them alone for more than a half hour or so. They should never feel that asking questions of the tutors is a bother, so remind them you are around to assist if they need any assistance.

·         ALWAYS wear your nametags. This is VERY important. Students should know your name and who to go to for assistance.

·         Be kind. Be helpful. Try to smile and be warm and inviting. You guys make up the collective face of the Writing Center. Remember that in all your dealings.

·         Push in chairs. Keep surfaces relatively neat and tidy. Check to be sure the printer has paper. Just keep an eye on our Writing Center. Things can get pretty busy in here, but it is still important (though secondary to tutoring) to keep this place tidy.

·         Keep cell phones off or at least on vibrate when you are working in the Writing Center.

·         Bring CSC problems/concerns/difficulties to me first. Dr. Dunbar-Odom and Dr. Fulkerson are all available as well, but the CSC is my baby so I should be informed of any difficulties before you bring it to anyone else (hopefully you won't need to).

Other Day-to-Day Stuff You Should Know

Phone Calls: The CSC phone is in the tutor lounge. When you hear the phone ring, please pick it up: "Communication Skills Center, ___ speaking. How can we help you?" Take a message and post it on the message board next to the phone.

If you need to make a phone call, you are welcome to use this line. Please do not tie it up for more than five minutes at a time, however.

Duplication: HL 141 is also the space for duplication. When you are called on to make copies for the Writing Center, use our code (see one of the administrators for the code).

Securing Personal Belongings: Keep a close watch on your personal belongings. You are welcome to place things in the locked cabinet beneath the plants in the CSC (under the windows). The key is in the Tutor Desk (beneath the AccuTrack). You are also welcome to place things in the back room, but do be careful. I am afraid we have had some minor problems with theft in the past.

a guide for writing center work

Texas A&M University- Commerce