Query on Basic Writing

[Joan Mullin <jmullin@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU>]

I think some writing center folks could respond to the WPA list with much
needed input! Send responses to WPA-L@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU.
I'll be watching!


>Return-path: <owner-wpa-l@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
>Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 14:08:43 -0400
>From: Jack Selzer <jls25@PSU.EDU>
>Subject: Query on Basic Writing
>Sender: Writing Program Administration <WPA-L@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
>X-Sender: jls25@email.psu.edu
>To: Multiple recipients of list WPA-L <WPA-L@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
>Reply-to: Writing Program Administration <WPA-L@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
>
>We are having some conversations here at Penn State about the wisdom of
>"mainstreaming" our basic writers into our regular first-year writing
>course; the idea arises because of our misgivings about our placement
>mechanism and the fact that our basic writers at University Park aren't all
>THAT basic.  We are wondering if we might have just as satisfactory results
>by placing students into the first-year course and supporting them with a
>one-credit writing tutorial (i.e., a one-a-week extra meeting with a
>trained tutor) staffed through our Writing Center, which is staffed by
>skilled advanced grad students in English.  We aren't committed to any kind
>of action and we aren't under any kind of pressure; we just want to Do The
>Right Thing.
>
>Anyway, here's my question:  I know that analogous sorts of things have
>been considered and/or tried at other places.  Can people help me by
>calling our attention to some published (or unpublished) reports and
>articles bearing on this issue?  Peter Elbow, don't I recall your talking
>about this somewhere?  And didn't the folks at South Carolina try something
>on these lines?  Who else?  I am aware that I am betraying my sloth, that I
>should be doing a good search of the lit myself--so if no one responds (on-
>or off-line responses welcome, of course!), I will certainly understand.
>But my mother always told me to be sure to depend on the kindness of
>strangers....
>
>Thanks for any help anyone can muster.
>
>Jack Selzer
>
>jls25@psu.edu
>Jack Selzer, Associate Professor of English
>Department of English
>Penn State University
>University Park, PA  16802
>Phone:  814-865-0251
>

joan

Dr. Joan Mullin
Writing Center
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390
419-530-4913
419-530-4752 (fax)
jmullin@uoft02.utoledo.edu