English 480, Dr. Franklin, Spring, 2010 1
English 480: Techniques Laboratory:
The Writing Center: 114 Grubbs Hall; 620-235-4694
Dr. John Franklin, Associate Professor and Director
445 Grubbs Hall; 620-235-4693
Course Philosophy: Tutoring writers who visit The Writing Center with various language and
composition concerns will allow students to practice the knowledge they have acquired in
program coursework. Further reading and writing will broaden this knowledge base while
observing peers and collaborating with the Director will enable students to critically reflect upon
both their knowledge and their experience.
Course Objective: Students will meet the following standards (adapted from Kansas State
Department of Education “Early Adolescence Through Late Adolescence Grades 6—12,” Draft
English Language Arts 2001):
I.
Knowledge
The prospective English teacher
1. is aware of legal issues involving censorship, copyright and plagiarism
2. knows how to work cooperatively with other professionals in developing and
improving methods to facilitate student learning in the language arts
II.
Performance
The prospective English teacher
1. helps students make connections between what they know and what they
encounter in order to provide a context for learning
2. provides direct instruction and modeling of reading and viewing strategies that
help students comprehend and construct meaning in a text
3. provides and models instructional strategies that help students critically evaluate
and analyze a text
4. uses the grammar, usage, and conventions of standard written and oral English
and helps students develop competencies in these areas.
English 480, Dr. Franklin, Spring, 2010 2
Course Requirements:
1.
Tutoring, including 3 hours of training and 3 hours of tutoring per week
(50% of grade—evaluations are made at mid-term and end-of-term).
2. 10 journal entries: typed, double-spaced, MLA format, one page minimum
(20% of grade)
Topics:
Entry #1: The First Time I Tutored
* describe the writer and assignment and narrate your experience; include
information about your expectations and your realizations
Entry #2: Observing _____ Tutor
* identify the tutor; describe the student and the paper; answer these two
questions: what did you like best about the tutor’s work?; what did they
do differently/the same as you when you tutor?
Entry #3: Exploring the Internet
*search for another writing center site or online writing labs; identify and
describe it and tell what you like best about it
Entry #4: How ENGL 478 (or 479) Affects My Tutoring
* identify the course and point to the way it helps you as a tutor
Entry #5: How ENGL 202 (or another required BSE English course) Affects My
Tutoring
* identify the course and point to the way it helps you as a tutor
Entry #6: Reading Response to (“Title of Article”) by (name of author)
* identify the article by supplying an MLA citation then summarize it;
explain how it might be useful to you as a tutor or as a student teacher
Entry #7: Reading Response to (Title of Article”) by (name of author)
* identify the article by supplying an MLA citation then summarize it;
explain how it might be useful to you as a tutor or as a student teacher
Entry #8: Tutoring an International Student
* describe the student and assignment; narrate your experience; compare
and contrast this experience with that of tutoring a nonInternational
Student
Entry #9: How The Writing Center Can Prepare Me for Student Teaching
* exercise your imagination; explain how this course might be useful to
you as a student teacher
Entry #10: A Look Back at My Semester in The Writing Center
* let us know how you changed from DAY ONE to DAY LAST
3. a formal essay: 3—7 pages typed according to MLA format
(20%; topic must be approved by The Writing Center Director)
4. a creative project with accompanying essay
(10%; project must be approved by The Writing Center Director)
Important dates for Spring, 2010:
Week of March 8: Mid-term tutor evaluations (oral)
Week of March 8: Creative project papers due (late papers deduct 5 points)
Week of May 10: Formal essays due (late papers deduct 5 points)
Week of May 10: Final tutor evaluations (sign forms; discuss with Director)
Week of May 10: Journals due
English 480, Dr. Franklin, Spring, 2010 3
ENGL 480 Tutor Training Agenda:
1. Schedule
2. Distribute syllabus
3. “Tour” of the facility with discussion of procedures and resources
4. Training video