In-Class, April 16: Writing Centers and Tutors

For those who have not yet done so: read the blog summary about MINIMALIST TUTORING first.

Then, either pick one partner, or work by yourself:

Your TASK 1 is to read the following ERIC document, "How to Communicate Politely and be a Tutor, Too" by Therese Tonus.

Answer the following three questions in written form:

1) How should Writing Center tutors behave?
2) Which mistakes do Writing Center tutors make? (with examples)
3) Which compromises do Writing Center tutors have to make?

Email the answers to me. If you have worked with a partner, write both your names in the email.


TASK 2: (individual work)
Pretend you are a tutor at the Writing Center.
Go to Purdue's website "Exercises for Eliminating Wordiness." Do the assignments on this site (first, rewrite the sample sentences, eliminating redundancies and repetitions, thus shortening them. Then, rewrite the story about mysteries in a short and precise way.) Email me your shortened sentences and story (this will be HOMEWORK for next Monday if you don't get done in class).

TASK 3:
If you get done early with the assignments, answer to the newly published blog threads by your peers.