11/19 Response

conversation- I may not always know what to say to a student to help their writing, but writing is a conversation, and I need to keep the conversation going.  It's ok to ask questions to keep the conversation going.  When the student answers your question, the tutor learns something and most of the time, so does the student
reading backwards- I got the idea for this from the reverse outline.  I started to realize that I wasn't really able to make thoughtful comments on a student's project just by looking at it.  Most of the time I had to read through each paragraph and understand the meaning.  Once I've read through everything, I start making sense of each paragraph, starting with the last one.  I have the student clarify what they meant, and make comments.  By the time we get up to the top, most of the time the student has a clearer idea of what they're paper is actually about, and consequently, what their thesis should really state.  Once we've figured out what the whole paper says, we can sum it up nicely in the thesis.
critical incident- A student is always going to hear what you want them to hear.  A lot of times, they are going to hear what they want to hear.  I am also guilty of this.  Sometimes, no matter how expertly you deliver advice to the student, the student will not take it.  Sometimes a light bulb has to go off within the student's head for any real change to occur.
reflection- On some days I hate reflecting on my work, but on others, I love it.  Reflection is proven to be helpful, but the trick is you also have to leave time for reflection.  Writing can't be a one and done process.  If you finish your first draft the night before the paper is due and consider a quick read through for grammar issues to be your reflection, reflection is never going to get you anywhere.  For reflection to be meaningful, you've got to let your writing sit and marinate for a little while.  You've got to come back to it when you're a little less attached.  If a writer is too attached, they won't be willing to make the necessary changes.  I appreciate it when students come into the RWC multiple times because this shows they really planned out a time table for their writing.