Course Spotlight: Writing Center Theory & Pedagogy
WRD 582 Overview
Writing Center Theory & Pedagogy is an invitation-only course designed to prepare graduate students for their role as Peer Writing Tutors in DePaul’s Writing Center. The course is offered each Autumn quarter.
“We focus on intellectual inquiry into how writers write, how to support and motivate writers, and practical strategies to help you achieve your goals as Writing Center Tutors, Writing Fellows, and Writing Group Leaders. Just like our work with writers as peer writing tutors, this class is based on an ethic of peer collaboration.”
-Matt Pearson, Acting Director of the UCWbL.
The first half of the quarter generally focuses on teaching students the UCWbL’s values, practices, and procedures; studying academic research on problem-solving, giving feedback, and supporting students who speak English as an Additional Language; and working with multimodal texts.
Typically, the second half of the quarter is dedicated to bigger picture writing center theory: writing across the curriculum; the relationship between language and identity; how language intersects culture, race, and ethnicity; how to approach grammar and style; and researching an approved topic relating to writing center theory and pedagogy.
What Students Do in WRD 582
Practicum
Since WRD 582 includes a practicum component, all students must complete 5 practicum hours per week in the Writing Center where they will have opportunities to interview current peer writing tutors, participate in collaborative observations of tutoring sessions, write post-observation reflections, and eventually begin to lead their own writer center appointments. The goal is to have students leading their own appointments in the writing center prior to the end of the course.
Digication
Students will create UCWbL Digication ePortfolios where they will post reflections, showcase their professional work, and ideally collaborate with other writers. Being comfortable using the platform is essential, since the UCWbL operates as DePaul’s official support network for student’s seeking assistance with their Digication ePortfolios.
Final Project & Presentation
Students will present their research topic and findings to the class. Those interested in presenting their research at a conference are supported and encouraged to do so. The class presentation is a great way to receive feedback prior to presenting at a conference!
Thoughts on learning outcomes from current WRD 582 Students:
I think this course in particular would be super valuable to those who are interested in the Teaching of Language and Writing concentration in the MA WRD Program because right off the bat you’re addressing the problems that plague student writers. Being able to use the theory you read in class the night before in an appointment with a writer in your writing center shift the next day is super helpful and makes the overall course feel very practical and valuable in the long run.
-Hannah Thornby, First Year MA WRD Student
What is the University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL) @ DePaul?
The UCWbL’s mission is to support the writing of any and all members of the DePaul community. The department is housed under the Office of Academic Affairs and comprised of five programs: The Writing Center; The Writing Fellows Program; Workshops; The Collaborative for Multilingual Writing & Research; and Outreach. Students who successfully complete WRD 582 may be eligible to work in the Writing Center as Peer Writing Tutors.
Interested in Becoming a Peer Writing Tutor?
The UCWbL is now hiring Peer Writing Tutors for the autumn quarter. Applications are due April 22, 2019 by noon. If working in the Writing Center as a Peer Writing Tutor sounds interesting, we encourage you to read through the application process, follow the UCWbL’s Twitter for hiring updates, and apply!