"The Idea of a Writing Center" Response

Given that up to this point I have had no good excuses to read scholarly writing about my chosen major, English, I was ecstatic to begin reading “The Idea of a Writing Center”. While this is still scholarly writing, I was not disappointed by the reading in the slightest. There some few topics elaborated upon during the course of this article which stood out to me while also catching me off guard.

What stood out to me was the misconception that most writing centers and english majors in general have when thinking of the writing center and what it is here for. Perhaps most shocking was my own preconceptions appearing right there on the page in black and white. I was most happy to join the numbers of the reeducated.

I have been itching to be a writing consultant from the first time I heard there was a writing center on campus. After reading this article I am more passionate about becoming a consultant because the idea of assisting students in reaching their educational goals makes me so much happier than anything else could. Becoming a facilitator for and teaching students about the best ways to become independent and confident writers is something I feel very strongly about. It is one of the most important forms of learning and will assist them in retaining the knowledge they are absorbing at such a fast pace.

There is very little to disagree with in this article. But whether English focused or not, all groups are difficult to reeducate when it comes to explaining what a writing center is actually for. People tend to get set in their ways, thus asking anyone who can benefit from a writing center to drop all previous misconceptions in order to remember the actual use of a writing center is a challenge. The virtue of teach-ability often goes unsung.

Having joined the teachable, I am so happy that the article speaks of writing centers as much more then “fix it” shops. I learned this firsthand after using the writing center almost every week of my first semester at CWI. The writing center consultants assisted me with much more important writing concerns than grammar. They helped me focus on my writing process, organizational skills, and smoothing my transitions between paragraphs. What I have since learned are mostly considered H.O.C.s, or Higher Organizational Concerns.

My writing is still a work in progress, but I feel more confident with how I am writing now because of my experiences with the writing center consultants. I look forward to sharing these experiences with fellow students as we explore together the best ways to make them into a better writer. Becoming a writing center consultant is an opportunity I simply could not pass up. Becoming part of this particular branch of the tutoring services at CWI is a perfect fit. As I continue to educate myself about my passion, writing, I will do my best to remain open and teachable to any ideas that will help me, and in turn help those who consult with me, to become a better writer.