Discusses general issues related to attitudes towards writing, which may be of interest to those working with English-as-a-second-language students, especially students coming from educational settings where writing is not traditionally taught. Presents the practice of the Writing Center at Central uropean University, one of the few centers in…

Describes how one writing center with many English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students has integrated the "cultural informant" role of tutors with their role of teaching self-editing strategies. Reviews the process of introducing ESL students to use of a learner's dictionary, minimal marking, and error logs. Offers examples of using these…

Claims that in contrast to the view that attention to genre stifles creativity, genre theory offers useful possibilities for fostering student insight into the nature of academic writing. Argues that knowledge of genre helps students see writing as a social construction. (NH)

Considers the "marginality" of the situation of writing centers and their directors. Explores a possible reinvention for writing centers' history and mentality, with the help of concepts from anthropology. Finds that the writing center is not a space, a pedagogy, or an academic department; it crosses all disciplines. Surveys cultural artifacts…

States that after a qualitative survey of participating instructors suggested the success of an in-class tutoring program at the open-admissions Kingsborough Community College, a quantitative survey compared the writing performance of students served by the program and those who were not. Indicates the program's success--more of those tutored…

Finds that creating a goals and objectives statement not only works to legitimize curricular positioning of the writing center in the academy but also addresses important political, theoretical, and rhetorical questions pertaining to the top priority--helping students become better writers. Shares experiences as writing center administrator at the…

Offers perspectives of four different writing lab personnel, namely: (1) a new peer tutor with writing skills but no formal training in teaching; (2) a graduate teaching assistant in writing with no tutoring experience; (3) an experienced tutor reflecting on what he wished he had been taught; and (4) a director-tutor sharing her lab experience.…

Reports experiences and observations during a visit to a writing workshop where elementary school students were learning how to revise and edit their compositions. (NKA)

Acknowledges that many basic writing students have few personal experiences that translate into telling examples and effective supports in their writing. Suggests that teachers encourage students to fabricate in their narratives, since such structured lying gives students sufficient objectivity to revise--a significant step toward good writing.…

Discusses how an art student with mild learning disabilities developed a technique (with her writing center tutor) of rewriting her papers in layers, both vertically and laterally, building her meaning like a painting. (PRA)

Reexamines the author's 1984 essay "The Idea of a Writing Center." Revisits in particular three relationships: the tutor and the writer; the tutor and the teacher; and the tutor and the institution. (SR)

Describes the five major problems faced by foreign students in traditional composition classes. Presents types of tutorial activities which may prove beneficial when dealing with the major problems that ESL students have in both reading and writing in English. Discusses the effect of such tutorial activities at the University of Kentucky. (HB)

Presents six short articles by tutoring program coordinators and peer tutors from writing centers at the University of Washington and California State University, Chico. Offers points of view on the experiences, responsibilities, problems, and possibilities of cultural diversity in higher education. Focuses on the importance of critical reflection…

Provides a brief introduction to recent research in spelling (on the nature of English orthography and the development of spelling ability), and suggestions for further reading. Describes a writing center spelling workshop of four sessions which aims to produce successful writers who have learned to cope with being poor spellers. (SR)

Discusses the results of questionnaires from 376 writing center sessions in which both students and tutors rated their satisfaction. Finds significant relationships between client satisfaction and year in college, learning disabilities, English as a Second Language, the major of the tutor, the course the paper was written for, and gender. (SR)