Blog 6: Bedford Guide chs. 7 & 5

    These chapters discuss the different types of writing and the different types of writers that you may encounter as a tutor. The questions you’ll ask and the suggestions you’ll give will be different for research papers, lab reports, argumentative essays, etc. Working with college students also means that you may encounter a student who brings anxieties, stress, or other personal issues to the center. It’s important to navigate these situations carefully in order to keep the writing center accessible for all types of students. 

    The key takeaway from these chapters is that your position as a tutor is not to scold the writer or to act as if you have all the answers. Asking questions and making gentle reminders is far more effective for their development than ripping their paper apart. For example, when you encounter a student who seems to have plagarized, you should explain the importance of carefully taking notes from sources and reminding them to indicate the author’s words clearly/accurately gather all information that might be required for a citation. This is far more helpful than scolding the writer for plagiarizing. 

    How would you navigate a session where the writer has clearly used AI to generate most of their paper?