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Information for Undergraduate Students:
To become eligible to be a paid undergraduate consultant ($13 per hour), students must successfully complete WRIT 300: Issues in Tutoring Writing. This course provides an introduction to the work of writing centers, theories of composition, and writing pedagogy. You’ll learn about writing processes, working with multilingual writers, and techniques for the one-to-one teaching of writing. You’ll also write, share your writing with others, conduct a writing-related research project, and observe and participate in tutoring sessions. The course meets for two hours each week; students also independently schedule one additional hour each week observing and co-consulting in the Writers Workshop.
WRIT 300 is offered in the Fall semester. Please note that you may register without prior instructor consent. Fall 2023 sections and times are:
- MW 11:00-11:50am
- MW 5:00-5:50pm
After satisfactorily completing course requirements, students are eligible to apply to become a peer consultant with the Writers Workshop. Undergraduate consultants typically work 5-10 hours per week on a regular schedule.
You do not have to become a consultant if you take this course, which also serves as a good introduction to the scholarship and research methods of writing studies. It’s also a great introduction to the teaching of writing for prospective English teachers.
Undergraduate consultants typically experience the following benefits from their involvement with the Writers Workshop:
- Improved confidence as writers;
- Deeper understanding of academic writing skills and writing development;
- Increased critical and analytical capabilities;
- Improved interpersonal skills, such as listening and questioning.
Information for Graduate Students:
We have two major calls for applications each year: in early March for the upcoming academic year and in mid-to-late October for the spring. In general, we aim to hire consultants for at least two semesters. Our positions are advertised in the Graduate Assistantship Clearinghouse, on our website, and via individual departments and programs.
Now Accepting Applications!
Deadline: Friday, October 27, 11:59pm Central Time. Please follow application directions below.
General Application Process:
The Writers Workshop hires graduate student writing consultants each semester. Our graduate consultants receive 33%, 25%, or 17% teaching assistantships which require 13, 10, or 7 hours a week, respectively. We also hire Graduate Hourly consultants, which typically involves 5-10 hours per week. Other requirements include a pre-semester orientation in August or January and 5 staff meetings during the semester.
Consultants’ primary responsibility is to help writers develop effective writing knowledge and skills through one-to-one tutoring sessions. Other responsibilities may include developing and facilitating in-class presentations and special topic workshops, creating handouts and other materials, and representing the Workshop at events like career fairs.
Preferred qualifications for this position include:
- At least one year of prior teaching or tutoring experience.
- Excellent communication skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively.
Candidates must be in good academic standing. The Workshop sees writers from diverse academic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, and we are always seeking candidates who can bring experience in one or more of these areas:
- science, technical, business, and/or legal writing;
- second language writing;
- multimedia or multimodal writing;
- supporting students from marginalized and traditionally underrepresented groups.
Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status a as a qualified individual with a disability or criminal conviction history. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
Compensation in the form a stipend and, for appointments of 25% or more, a tuition waiver, are in compliance with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College. Graduate Hourly positions are compensated $25.25 per hour. The Writers Workshop does not provide appointments of 25% or higher to students in graduate programs that have been designated as cost-recovery, self-supporting, or reimbursable.
Applications consist of:
- A 1-2 page academic cover letter
- CV (including contact information for at least 2 references)
- Writing sample. The writing sample should be a full-length piece that represents your polished academic writing; past writing samples have included course papers, journal manuscripts, thesis/dissertation chapters, and so on.
Applications should be addressed to Dr. Carolyn Wisniewski and submitted to wow@illinois.edu.