The writing assistants are a mix of undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of fields. Most of the writing assistants are recruited on the basis of faculty recommendations. After being recruited, writing assistants go through an intensive training period during which they observe appointments, work through training modules, analyze writing samples, and eventually team up with an experienced writing assistant. In addition, writing assistants must attend a 1-hour training workshop each week.
Writing assistants are regularly at the top of their class. In the past two years, we've had 4 writing assistants win outstanding senior in their departments. Several writing assistants have published their work in national publications, and some have won writing awards here at the university.
The best way to apply to become a writing assistant is to call Wayne Robertson (737-3712). In order to apply, you will need a sample of your writing (at least a 5 page academic paper), a faculty referral (from a professor who knows your writing), and a half-hour interview. Preference is given to students who have both strong writing ability and a genuine interest in teaching/tutoring.
Writing assistants can work at the center in a variety of ways. Writing assistants who have work-study on their financial aid awards can be paid. In addition, each year there are a few regular student pay positions available. Other students choose to work at the center for upper division writing credit (WR 406/506).
Definitely not. Many students come to the writing center with only partial drafts of their papers. Other students choose to come to the writing center while they are still in their brainstorming phase. They find it useful to bounce their initial ideas off the writing assistant in order to focus their topic and begin outlining their thoughts.
Yes. Writing Center sessions can be very valuable for group projects. For example, meeting with a writing assistant can help make sure that the tone of different sections match and that the project develops as if written by a single author.
While we are certainly willing to meet with only one of the authors of the project, experience tells us that it is much more powerful when all the project's authors are present. That way, the group can negotiate changes and make collaborative decisions about the text. Also, the authors of other sections of the project often have information necessary for successful revision.
In addition to working with Writing Assistants, you can also use the other resources the center provides. For example, you can find handouts and suggestions for certain types of writing or writing issues (resumes, personal statements, etc.), and you will find a wide variety of texts about writing, including handbooks, MLA and APA citation guides, and books which cover specific forms of writing (technical and science writing, journalism, writing about literature, etc.).
