Writing tutors make the grade

Stephanie Rogers '07 drowns in a pool of junk food, while Corinna Dooha-Chambers '07 and Lucas Street '08 burn in flames as heretics?at least that's how they are pictured in the Dante's Inferno themed bulletin board at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

The bulletin board, which takes up nearly an entire wall in the CTL, was the brainchild of CTL writing tutors Nicholas Watson '08 and Stephanie Rogers '07. According to Writing Coordinator Sharon Trotter-Martin, this latest creation, titled, "The Center for Teaching and Burning," is just "one example of the many ways in which the CTL's writing tutors show initiative and take ownership of the environment in which they work."

This pride manifested itself recently during the fall term, when the writing tutors, Trotter-Martin, and CTL Director John Haslem provided 212 hours of writing help to Knox students, beating the previous CTL all-time record of 182.8 hours during the Fall of 2002

According to Trotter-Martin, the possibility of breaking the '02 record "added a real enthusiasm to the office." The fact that they felt so strongly about it, however, wasn't just a matter of competitiveness, Trotter-Martin says "It also reflects their desire to help other students and their commitment to the office."

Before they became writing tutors, the students took a course, CTL 202, Teaching Writing, taught by Haslem and were additionally trained by Trotter-Martin The course work helped them gain an understanding of learning style, setting goals and honing communication skills The work is definitely paying off In November, five of the CTL's writing tutors?Matt Andersson, Devin Day, Stephanie Rogers, Jason Wakeland, and Nicholas Watson? participated in a national writing center conference at the University of Michigan.

In addition to their duties as writing tutors, the tutors also work as office assistants when they are not helping students: they file paperwork and answer telephones. Between the academic requirements and office responsibilities, much is expected of the tutors, but the benefits of the job extend far beyond a paycheck

"I have learned to collaborate with others, and I have learned to negotiate authority roles," says Devin Day '08, who believes that his experience as a writing tutor will help him in his possible future profession as a college professor "I would love to work at a school like Knox where it is one on one between the professor and the studentFundamentally, it is what helps the student become a better writer."

"The writing tutors have a tremendous sense of community and work well together," says Rogers "We learn as well as teach what resources are available and how to use them," she says.

Watson agrees that he has learned from the job as well "I have a deeper understanding of how writing is taught," he says, "and of how different students deal with learning."

Haslem, who has been with the office since its creation in 1998, says the tutors wouldn't be willing to do the work if they didn't find value in helping their fellow students He further notes that whether the tutors pursue careers in the public sector or seek to gain admission to law, medical, or graduate school, "at the very least, the tutors have a sense of their own capacity and are well prepared for their next endeavor."

Once hired, the writing tutors tend to return to the office and their jobs each year until they graduate According to Watson, the reason for their devotion is simple: "It happens to be the kind of work we take pride in."