{"id":10274,"date":"2020-01-28T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/?p=10274"},"modified":"2020-02-19T05:23:58","modified_gmt":"2020-02-19T05:23:58","slug":"jobs-spotlight-the-writing-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/jobs-spotlight-the-writing-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Jobs Spotlight: The Writing Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cNice people, good writers\u201d is more than a mantra at DePaul\u2019s Writing Center<\/a>\u2014it\u2019s a requirement for the more than 90 peer writing tutors who work there. Since the staff conducts over 10,000 appointments each academic year, this positive attitude continues to make the Writing Center a welcoming space for writers across the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Writing Center is one of the central programs of the University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL)<\/a>, along with the Writing Fellows Program, Workshops Team, the Collaborative for Multilingual Writing & Research, and Outreach Team. Peer writing tutors staff these initiatives, serving and collaborating with writers throughout the DePaul community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the staff of peer writing tutors includes graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of colleges and programs, many WRD students choose to work at the Writing Center because the work aligns well with their knowledge and interests. We checked in with many WRD students who currently work as peer writing tutors so they could share their experiences with those who might apply to work at the UCWbL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading By Example<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many WRD students feel that they can use what they have learned in their classes to become more adaptable and effective tutors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuch of what we encounter on the job at the UCWbL reflects the rhet\/comp theories we learn in WRD courses. I\u2019m able to \u2018double-dip\u2019 and apply what I\u2019ve learned in class as tutoring practices here during appointments,\u201d said MAWRD student and UCWbL Graduate Assistant (GA) Robert Rosenbaugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The six Core Beliefs of the UCWbL.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThough I am considered the tutor, I learn just as much from the writers as I hope they learn from me,\u201d said MAWRD student and UCWbL GA Olivia Griffin. \u201cMy favorite part of working at the UCWbL is being able to learn from the writing of others. I sometimes feel as though I am enrolled in 20 different courses because I get to read about so many different topics\u2014from educational theory to politics to nursing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a WRD student, then you\u2019re already in a great position to help students with their writing! I personally see it as a responsibility because of my knowledge and skills as a Master\u2019s in WRD student to tutor other students in writing,\u201d said MAWRD student Faiza Ikram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaining New Skills & Knowledge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not only does the Writing Center provide an ideal environment for WRD students to apply their knowledge about reading, writing, and literacy, but it also creates an opportunity for students to collaborate and learn from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking at the UCWbL has exposed me to so many different genres and writing styles\u2014from the writers and fellow tutors alike. The exposure has probably become my favorite part of being a peer tutor, as I am constantly absorbing the thoughts of others and collaborating with my peers on how to give the most effective feedback,\u201d said WRD student Adriana Yochelson. \u201cMaking my tutoring technique malleable to the different genres is like taking the theories and concepts I learn in my WRD classes and putting them into practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy favorite thing about working at The UCWbl is getting the opportunity to just engage and get into the work of all things writing. I love learning, reading, and writing and I hope to teach writing\/composition, so tutoring seems like a natural fit for me,\u201d said Faiza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs WRD students, we are always discussing genre, audience, and purpose and when working at the UCWbL I can really put these discussions into practice. As a tutor, I am able to read a variety of genres, act as an active audience member, and respond to the writing with purpose. When giving feedback, I have to consider my audience of the writer and how they will best respond to my comments, both written and verbal. The UCWbL is so much more than the writing center and WRD students can really appreciate the work we do with not only writing, but with rhetoric and discourse as well,\u201d said Olivia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining A Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In their first Autumn Quarter, new peer writing tutors take an undergraduate or graduate section of Writing Center Theory and Pedagogy and begin working in the Writing Center. With the course, mentorship programs, and weekly work hours, the tutoring staff feels a sense of camaraderie and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy favorite thing about working at the UCWbL has to be the community, because it not only commits to providing the utmost support for writers in their processes but also commits to helping tutors develop professionally,\u201d said WRD major Deyana Atanasova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The core values of the UCWbL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would tell fellow WRD students that the UCWbL is there for them and the university as a whole, that we\u2019re a resource but also a community, and that they shouldn\u2019t be afraid to come in and see what we could do together,\u201d said BA\/MA student Kate Fabsik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe environment here at the UCWbl is very friendly and open. Everyone is committed to improving themselves and helping their fellow peers. I would say that our mission is very centered on justice and equality. We\u2019re not only dedicated to helping students learn. We\u2019re also dedicated to making the DePaul community, and the world, a better place,\u201d said Faiza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing Professional Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Peer tutors have the opportunity to participate in a variety of professional development workshops, training events, and community gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy favorite thing about working at the UCWbL is the opportunity for professional development. Initially, I thought this job would consist of \u2018just\u2019 tutoring. However, since working here, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to learn new things from writers everyday, collaborate with UCWbL administrators on projects, and communicate with instructors across the DePaul community. Also, as an added bonus, I constantly get to meet new people,\u201d said WRD major Patricia Haney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing a peer tutor has challenged me in terms of thinking globally rather than locally, a mentality I have when helping writers, and what I try to instill when editing my own texts. The specific way in which we edit texts at the writing center has transformed my entire revision process\u2014I truly think since working at the UCWbL, I have become a more thoughtful and nuanced writer. I would recommend any WRD student should apply, or at the very least, make an appointment,\u201d said Adriana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want To Become a Peer Writing Tutor?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UCWbL is now hiring peer writing tutors for Autumn Quarter. Explore the application process<\/a>, follow the UCWbL on Twitter<\/a> for hiring updates, and apply by early Spring Quarter. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Writing Center’s staff includes more than 90 peer writing tutors, but many WRD students choose to work there because the position aligns well with their interests. We checked in with many WRD students who work as tutors so they could share their experiences at the UCWbL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":10279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,560],"tags":[5,554,547,544,464],"class_list":["post-10274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jobs-internships","category-resources","tag-jobs","tag-tutoring","tag-ucwbl","tag-wrd","tag-writing-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10274"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10274\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrdblog.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}