Writing studies research is a cornerstone of the Writers Workshop, aiding the development of consulting and teaching practices. To highlight some of the amazing work being done, I spoke with three students who took WRIT 300: Issues in Tutoring Writing, the course that allows undergraduate students to become peer consultants. As part of WRIT 300, consultants-to-be must complete an IRB-approved research project focused on a facet of writing tutoring. The three students I spoke with are experienced undergraduate consultants whose research projects have made a significant impact on the Writers Workshop community.
Zion Trinidad, a senior majoring in history and Latina/Latino studies (Class of 2025), focused his research on how Latino students who speak Spanish at home and English at school experience writing. He conducted an interview study examining writer confidence in language usage, vocabulary, and grammar, and sense of their own writing skills compared to first-language peers. Zion presented his findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Latine Studies Graduate Student Conference. As a consultant, he remains open-minded to second language writers’ fears, using motivational scaffolding strategies like praise to build their confidence.
Emma Ortega and Virginia Wright, two senior undergraduate consultants majoring in English (both Class of 2025), developed their WRIT 300 research project together and presented a poster at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. They compared how tutors applied discursive tutoring strategies during sessions focused on academic writing and professional writing. They found sessions addressing professional writing like job applications or cover letters required motivational scaffolding be used at a higher frequency than in academic writing sessions where students are more confident. Virginia’s main takeaway is that it’s important to apply motivational scaffolding strategies when students are unfamiliar with a topic to encourage learning and support their growth as writers. Emma said that after conducting research, she feels more comfortable helping students with their own research writing because she understands the process and need for realistic expectations.
Zion, Emma, and Virginia all provided the same advice to those thinking about doing research: go for it! They each had a unique experience learning about the conventions of research through WRIT 300 and ultimately benefited as students and as consultants. Writing studies research drives the innovation of tutoring strategies in the Writers Workshop, improving student writing outcomes across campus.
By Serena Naji, English major, Political Science and Legal Studies minors, sophomore