Rancho Bernardo High School

The Writing Center

What is it?

A place for students to come for help with their writing. That's any kind of writing - for any class, or even personal writing.

Where and when?

In room S-2, Monday mornings, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Who's there?

We have 19 peer tutors on the staff. They have been specially trained to help guide students through the writing process.

What happens in a writing center session?

The peer tutors will first make sure the writer understands the assignment and will look at what the writer has already accomplished. Then, they will set some goals for the session and try to get the writer to the next step in the process. They will not fix every problem that a writer may be having. The goal is to prioritize what needs to be done, and work on only one or two issues in a session.

Please see Coleen Bouris (E-3) and Karen Kravchak (E-5) for more information.

Why should my students come to the writing center?

To brainstorm ideas for a newly assigned piece of writing

To refine or work on a thesis statement

To organize ideas in the drafting stage

To clarify their thinking

To get help revising for clarity and organization

To learn about and work on specific grammatical issues

What shouldn't a student or teacher expect?

That the tutor will tell the writer what to write

That the tutor will write something for the writer

That the tutor will edit and fix all the grammar for the writer

That the writer won't have to do any work

That the writer will have an absolutely perfect paper after one session

That the tutor will grade or otherwise evaluate the writing

That a writer can walk in the day before something is due and get it "fixed"

That a writer can guarantee a session time without an appointment.

That the writing tutor is an expert What should a student or teacher expect?

That the writer and tutor will engage in a conversation about the writing.

That the tutor will ask questions to draw ideas out of the writer.

That the tutor may provide handouts and graphic organizers for additional help.

That the tutor will be open, courteous, and respectful of the writer's ideas.

That the writer will leave with a better understanding of how to achieve the next step.