Course Overview:

English 299 serves as a preparation course for those wishing to tutor students with all levels of writing skills.  The class focuses on the development of tutoring skills through classroom discussion and supervised workshop sessions.  Students who successfully complete the course are eligible to become part of the MLC tutoring staff.

 Course Objectives:

• to become familiar with the basic theories of writing and tutoring
• to practice tutoring through exercises and in the MLC
• to understand different stages of the writing process
•  to feel prepared for a wide range of tutoring experience
• to become more self aware of your own writing process, and to use this self awareness to become an enthusiastic and thoughtful tutor

Course Responsibilities:

• Faithful attendance at all arranged class sessions

• Thoughtful participation in class discussions

• Development of a journal which includes reactions to your tutoring sessions, class discussions, writing experiences, and responses to the text

• Enthusiastic support and guidance for the MLC clients (two hours weekly)

• Completion of MLC referral forms and records

Grading Guidelines:

• 25%  Class discussion and participation

• 10% Grammar Presentation

• 5% Grammar Quiz

• 30%  Tutoring

• 30%   Journal

 Possible Journal Prompts:

Your journal should focus on your writing experiences as a writer and tutor.  Early in the semester you might focus on past experiences as a writer, the writing process that you use, a problem you’ve had or are having as a writer, an example of good tutoring/conferencing that you’ve had as a tutee, etc.  As the course progresses, you will write about your experiences as a tutor, struggles with particular students, solutions to problems that you faced, etc.  You might also write about general ideas associated with writing or teaching writing that come up in your academic life or as you read the textbook.  Be prepared to summarize/read what you wrote in your journal at the beginning of each class.  Each entry should be at least 250 words (about one page).

 Attendance Policy:

Attendance and punctuality are mandatory because the class follows a discussion format, and the success of the class as a whole depends on everyone’s participation. You are expected to attend all classes and weekly tutoring sessions during the second half of the semester. Since the class meets only once a week, you are allowed one absence. Extraordinary circumstances will be dealt with on a one-to-one basis.  If you must miss because of extreme illness or some other emergency, please call my office and leave a message.