A Finger in Every Pie
The Expanding Role of Writing Centers in Writing Instruction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v1i1.89Keywords:
Writing Centers, writing instruction, post-secondary educationAbstract
Though sometimes seen as remedial in nature, writing centers have pedagogical missions that are far broader in scope in most educational institutions. This reflection traces both the growth of writing centers since their origins in the early 1900s and their current points of intersection with other writing programs – first year composition, writing across the curriculum, and community literacy initiatives. In spite of the economic and administrative difficulties they will face in the future, writing centers will continue to thrive.
References
Adams, K. H. (1991) Satellite writing centers: A successful model for writing across the curriculum. In R. Wallace and J. Simpson (eds.) The Writing Center: New Directions 73–81. New York: Garland.
Bamberg, B. (1982) The writing lab and the composition class: a fruitful collaboration. In M. Harris (ed.) Tutoring Writing: A Sourcebook for Writing Labs 179–85. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman.
Brinkley, E. (1990) The writing center model at the heart of writing instruction from kindergarten to college. Writing Lab Newsletter 14: 1–4.
Buck, P. M. Jr. (1905) Laboratory method in English composition. Journal of the Proceedings and Addresses of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the National Educational Association 506–10. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Carino, P. (1995) Early writing centers: toward a history. The Writing Center Journal 15: 103–15.
Carino, P. (2001) Writing centers and writing programs: local and communal politics. In J. Nelson and K. Evertz (eds.) The Politics of Writing Centers 1–14. Plymouth, New Hampshire: Boynton/Cook.
Clark, I. L. (1999) Creating a virtual space: the role of the Web in forging writing center/ WAC connections. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 141–53. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Cummins, G. (2000) Centering in the distance: writing centers, inquiry, and technology. In J. A. Inman and D. N. Sewell (eds.) Taking Flight with OWLs: Examining Electronic Writing Center Work 203–10. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Dewey, E. (1922) The Dalton Laboratory Plan. New York: Dutton.
Doggart, J, Tedrowe, M., and Vieira, K. (2007) Minding the gap: realizing our ideal community writing center. Community Literacy Journal 1: 71–80.
Douglas, L. (1924) Teaching English on the Dalton plan. English Journal 13: 335–40.
George, D., and Grimm, N. (1990) Expanded roles/expanded responsibilities: the changing nature of writing centers today. The Writing Center Journal 11: 59–66.
Grattan, M. (1985) The writing center as a consulting service for content area faculty. Writing Lab Newsletter 9: 1–3.
Griswold, G. (2003) Writing centers: the student retention connection. Academic Exchange Quarterly 7: 277.
Harris, M. (1999) A writing center without a WAC program: The de facto WAC center/writing center. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 89–103. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Johnston, S. and Speck, B. W. (1999) The writing center as ambassador plenipotentiary in a developing WAC program. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 13–31. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Leahy, R. (1999) When a writing center undertakes a writing fellows program. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 71–88. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Lerner, N. (2003) Writing center assessment: searching for the ‘proof ’ of our effectiveness. In M. A. Pemberton and J. Kinkead (eds.) The Center Will Hold: Critical Perspectives on Writing Center Scholarship 58–73. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press.
Murphy, J. (1991) Tutors and fruitflies. Writing Lab Newsletter 15: 5–6.
North, S. M. (1984) The idea of a writing center. College English 46: 433–46.
Parkhurst, H. (1922) Education on the Dalton Plan. New York: Dutton.
Rhoda, K. and Nelson-Burns. C. (2005) Developing an online writing center for distance learning courses. 21st Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved on 19 September 2008 from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/05_1923.pdf
Russell, D. R. (1991) Writing in the Academic Disciplines, 1870-1990: A Curricular History. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press.
Simpson, J. (1991) The role of writing centers in student retention programs. In R. Wallace and J. Simpson (eds.) The Writing Center: New Directions 102–09. New York: Garland
Soliday, M. (1995) Shifting roles in classroom tutoring: cultivating the art of boundary crossing. The Writing Center Journal 16: 59–73.
Trimbur, J. (2000) Multiliteracies, social futures, and writing centers. The Writing Center Journal 20: 29–32.
Wilson, L. and LaBouff, O. (1986) Going beyond remedial: the writing center and the literature class. Writing Center Journal 6: 19–27.
Bamberg, B. (1982) The writing lab and the composition class: a fruitful collaboration. In M. Harris (ed.) Tutoring Writing: A Sourcebook for Writing Labs 179–85. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman.
Brinkley, E. (1990) The writing center model at the heart of writing instruction from kindergarten to college. Writing Lab Newsletter 14: 1–4.
Buck, P. M. Jr. (1905) Laboratory method in English composition. Journal of the Proceedings and Addresses of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the National Educational Association 506–10. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Carino, P. (1995) Early writing centers: toward a history. The Writing Center Journal 15: 103–15.
Carino, P. (2001) Writing centers and writing programs: local and communal politics. In J. Nelson and K. Evertz (eds.) The Politics of Writing Centers 1–14. Plymouth, New Hampshire: Boynton/Cook.
Clark, I. L. (1999) Creating a virtual space: the role of the Web in forging writing center/ WAC connections. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 141–53. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Cummins, G. (2000) Centering in the distance: writing centers, inquiry, and technology. In J. A. Inman and D. N. Sewell (eds.) Taking Flight with OWLs: Examining Electronic Writing Center Work 203–10. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Dewey, E. (1922) The Dalton Laboratory Plan. New York: Dutton.
Doggart, J, Tedrowe, M., and Vieira, K. (2007) Minding the gap: realizing our ideal community writing center. Community Literacy Journal 1: 71–80.
Douglas, L. (1924) Teaching English on the Dalton plan. English Journal 13: 335–40.
George, D., and Grimm, N. (1990) Expanded roles/expanded responsibilities: the changing nature of writing centers today. The Writing Center Journal 11: 59–66.
Grattan, M. (1985) The writing center as a consulting service for content area faculty. Writing Lab Newsletter 9: 1–3.
Griswold, G. (2003) Writing centers: the student retention connection. Academic Exchange Quarterly 7: 277.
Harris, M. (1999) A writing center without a WAC program: The de facto WAC center/writing center. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 89–103. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Johnston, S. and Speck, B. W. (1999) The writing center as ambassador plenipotentiary in a developing WAC program. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 13–31. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Leahy, R. (1999) When a writing center undertakes a writing fellows program. In R. W. Barnett and J. S Blumner (eds.) Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs: Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships 71–88. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood.
Lerner, N. (2003) Writing center assessment: searching for the ‘proof ’ of our effectiveness. In M. A. Pemberton and J. Kinkead (eds.) The Center Will Hold: Critical Perspectives on Writing Center Scholarship 58–73. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press.
Murphy, J. (1991) Tutors and fruitflies. Writing Lab Newsletter 15: 5–6.
North, S. M. (1984) The idea of a writing center. College English 46: 433–46.
Parkhurst, H. (1922) Education on the Dalton Plan. New York: Dutton.
Rhoda, K. and Nelson-Burns. C. (2005) Developing an online writing center for distance learning courses. 21st Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved on 19 September 2008 from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/05_1923.pdf
Russell, D. R. (1991) Writing in the Academic Disciplines, 1870-1990: A Curricular History. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press.
Simpson, J. (1991) The role of writing centers in student retention programs. In R. Wallace and J. Simpson (eds.) The Writing Center: New Directions 102–09. New York: Garland
Soliday, M. (1995) Shifting roles in classroom tutoring: cultivating the art of boundary crossing. The Writing Center Journal 16: 59–73.
Trimbur, J. (2000) Multiliteracies, social futures, and writing centers. The Writing Center Journal 20: 29–32.
Wilson, L. and LaBouff, O. (1986) Going beyond remedial: the writing center and the literature class. Writing Center Journal 6: 19–27.
Published
2010-01-16
Issue
Section
Reflections on Practice
How to Cite
Pemberton, M. A. (2010). A Finger in Every Pie: The Expanding Role of Writing Centers in Writing Instruction. Writing and Pedagogy, 1(1), 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v1i1.89
