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Writing Conferences
Although time consuming, one of the best ways to help student writers is to make time to talk with them one-on-one about their work. Some faculty schedule required conferences once or twice a semester and meet with each student for 15-30 minutes each, depending on class size. Others require students to meet with them in office hours sometime during the drafting process. What most have found is that once a required conference is held, students are much more likely to bring a draft to an office hour even when not required.
The only rule of thumb about a writing conference is that it help the writer see other options for his or her work. In other words, the most effective discussions involve responding as a reader—asking questions where you are confused, highlighting areas that seem contradictory and explaining why—and asking the student about his or her draft and content: e.g., why certain choices were made in terms of sources or organization, what the main point is, what assumptions are made about audience, etc. Many times the answer will indicate where a problem area lay with the paper or can simply help the writer consider options, perspectives, and possible foci for revision they may not have considered. The least effective conferences are those where a teacher simply gives directions about how to “fix” the paper; in such cases, there is no need for the writer to be present.
The Writing Center is also a good option to recommend to students; while the Center asks that you do not require students to attend, tutors are on-hand for such one-on-one conferencing throughout the week.
Updated September 3, 2008
