Re: Favorite tutoring session -Reply

[GLENDA CONWAY <CONWAYG@UM.MONTEVALLO.EDU>]

Mary, like you I favor the "I can" approach.  Our tutors role play a scene
very much like the one you describe, with their response to the student
client being:  "Here, sit down, I can look at the paper with you and help
you determine what kinds of changes might need to be made."  Even if
students believe what they're getting is proofreading, from our point of
view and approach the work becomes collaborative at least.

We say things like, "I think you might need a comma here.  What do you
think?"  Ideally, clients will respond with something on the line of "Well,
yes I do, don't I?" or "I don't know; how can I tell when I do need a
comma?"

I'll be interested in hearing the responses you get on this.

Glenda
Glenda Conway
Department of English
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, Alabama
conwayg@um.montevallo.edu