Re: WC demo in classes

[Carl Glover <glover@msmary.edu>]

Dear Jean,
	One thing we have tried a few times combines both the traditional
one-on-one writing center appointment and peer response groups.  Steve
Newmann has been involved in this, too, and I think Byron Stay has gone
along a time or two.  We call it the "Writing Center Blitz."  We are
invited to a freshman seminar class on a day when they are having a draft
workshop.   These classes have 16 to 18 students.  We gather as many peer
tutors and faculty tutors as we can (usually about five or six heads) and
work with groups of 3 or 4 students in the classroom setting.  While the
stated purpose is to model and strengthen peer response group activity,
the tutors tend to be fairly directive in leading these groups, often
providing to a degree what happens one-on-one in the writing center.  I
think these sessions have generally been worthwhile, though not all of the
blitzers agree.  The key is to have a clear idea of your purpose before
entering the fray.   
	Maybe Steve Newmann has something to add.
					Warm regards,
	

					Carl W. Glover
					glover@msmary.edu