Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for WR 180 archive revision 201403

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Effective Term:
Summer 2014 through Fall 2021

Course Number:
WR 180
Course Title:
Composition Conferencing and Tutoring
Credit Hours:
1
Lecture Hours:
0
Lecture/Lab Hours:
20
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Explores the techniques and philosophies involved in tutoring and conferencing one-to-one with writing students. Students practice skills learned in the classroom as they work in the PCC Writing Center. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

WR 180 will provide a variety of classroom and supervised
practical experiences to enable students to become proficient
tutors.   Course activities include:

  •  
  • Reading  in composition theory
  • Observing experienced tutors at work
  • Writing about composition theory and tutoring observations
  • Role-playing
  • Practicing the use of the tools (handbooks, word processors,
    grammar  practice programs, documentation formats) of a
    Writing Center
  • Learning and practicing the art of asking questions
  • Studying the special needs of non-native speakers
  • Practicing one-to-conferencing in the Writing Center under the
    supervision of the Director or one of the professional staff.

Course Activities and Design

WR 180 will provide a variety of classroom and supervised
practical experiences to enable students to become proficient
tutors.   Course activities include:

  •  
  • Reading  in composition theory
  • Observing experienced tutors at work
  • Writing about composition theory and tutoring observations
  • Role-playing
  • Practicing the use of the tools (handbooks, word processors,
    grammar  practice programs, documentation formats) of a
    Writing Center
  • Learning and practicing the art of asking questions
  • Studying the special needs of non-native speakers
  • Practicing one-to-conferencing in the Writing Center under the
    supervision of the Director or one of the professional staff.

Outcome Assessment Strategies


The course grade is determined by appraisal of the student's written
work, performance in class, and performance in the Writing Center. 
Instructor will meet with each student in individual conference at
least once during the quarter for the purpose of assessment.
 

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Required Student Competencies: 
Outcomes for this course require working through multiple drafts of several pieces
of writing with time to separate the acts of writing and revising; in addition,
the reading outcomes require time to read, reread, reflect, respond, interpret,
analyze, and evaluate. 
Students in WR 180 should be able to:

  •  
  • Read and understand some composition theory
  • Keep and maintain a log of their activities
  • Be direct and kind with clients at the same time
  • Quickly analyze the needs of Writing Center client
  • Facilitate the clientês discovery of writing solution  
  • Self-evaluate their relative success as tutors


Texts:  The instructor selects texts for the course based on student
need and the course objectives outlined in this course content guide. 
Possibilities depend on the instructor's focus but might include such
texts as:
Harris, Muriel.  Teaching One-to-One:  The Writing Conference.
Murray, Donald.  The Craft of Revision.
Ryan, Leigh.  The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors.
Fulwiler, Toby and Alan R. Hayakawa.  The Blair Handbook
Hacker, Diane.  The Bedford Handbook
Articles selected from current journals such as  The Writing Center
Journal, Teaching English in the Two-Year School,  College
English, or MLA.