Key Concepts

Some of the key concepts that have been the most helpful over the course of this entire tutoring process has definitely been the concepts brought along by Bitzer. The whole idea of exigence is an important factor to consider when working with students in the RWC because it helps you to identify what the student is trying to do with their writing.  By identifying the exigence  behind a piece of writing, you can better help the student tailor that piece to match their intended final product. Most of the time in the RWC,  the student brings in a piece of writing that they are able to 'make their own' so to speak. By identifying what need they are trying to satisfy you can help tailor their writing to make it the best it can be.

Another Bitzer concept that has been helpful is being able to identify the constraints associated with each session and trying to get through them the best way you can. Many times, the student will bring me a piece of writing that is much too long to read and edit over the course of 30 minutes. Time is consistently a constraint within the RWC and I think that being able to recognize it as a constraint is helpful. When I get a long paper that I don't feel I will be able to get through, I ask the student what they specifically want me to look at. The student will then identify parts of the paper that need more attention than others which helps cut down on wasted time and effort.

Lastly, I think that the 'Hands-off' approach is a helpful concept when tutoring in the RWC. This approach helps the student feel more comfortable and not overwhelmed once they come into the RWC. The 'hands-off' approach allows students to work for themselves and catch errors while reading outloud instead of the tutor just telling them. This concept helps students think for themselves which is why I feel as if it's such a valuable concept.