tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post3314841138878068767..comments2024-03-27T08:11:29.257-06:00Comments on PeerCentered: Upper-division English snobs, just kidding, stigmatizationClint Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07671508034667904543noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-46929550046078050142008-10-09T11:24:00.000-06:002008-10-09T11:24:00.000-06:00"A" for effort on that vague paper, man."A" for effort on that vague paper, man.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12733287933562149006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-57596467080634873142008-10-07T11:44:00.000-06:002008-10-07T11:44:00.000-06:00Phil- I totally see where you are coming from with...Phil- <BR/>I totally see where you are coming from with this. <BR/>I think it's because a lot of people think that The Writing Center is a place to get your paper <I>edited</I>... not to get a different perspective and ask questions. <BR/>I know that people think their work is perfect and they don't need help.<BR/>I also think that people don't realize that we can help with brainstorming as well as actual drafts of papers. <BR/>I truly believe that if students knew what we really offer instead of go with their own preconceived notions of what a "writing center" might be.... all students would be more apt to coming in. <BR/>-peaceLizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16315792627961670466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-50585989324548232522008-10-06T11:23:00.000-06:002008-10-06T11:23:00.000-06:00I'm with you, Phil. When I suggested people bring...I'm with you, Phil. When I suggested people bring in papers from my upper division classes, I felt like they were just humoring me when they said "Good idea" and immediately went back to their garrets. I found a lot better response from classmates in other departments, like geology or archaeology. The people with the worst attitudes seemed to be the ones who could benefit the most, like the fiction or poetry students with gross spelling and grammatical errors. I couldn't help thinking to myself "by now you are aware that your spelling and grammar are inferior, why would you pass this in without having someone look it over, are you that arrogant to believe your work will transcend these mistakes?" I suppose people are reluctant to make time for something they don't respect - reality check, indeed.Balutakathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487375124482424491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-53166720731338501712008-10-05T21:34:00.000-06:002008-10-05T21:34:00.000-06:00I can relate to Rick's comment above. I've never e...I can relate to Rick's comment above. I've never even considered making a writing center appointment, and I've met a handful of freshmen this semester who seem to share my attitude. I imagine that many of these students were Writing All-Stars in high school, but one of the first things I learned in college is that I could no longer use high school standards to evaluate my writing. (Instead of going to the writing center, I just put in more effort.)<BR/><BR/>Of course, many of these students are visiting the center because an instructor is either requiring it or offering extra credit. Some days I wish more slots in our schedule were available for people who actually want to be there, but other days I'm glad that people who wouldn't otherwise come to us are getting a chance to see what a session is like. Some of them have told me that they would visit us again, while others might need some sort of reality check (e.g., a low grade) before they realize how much the writing center might help them. And a few of them really are Writing All-Stars--even by college standards--and I understand the frustration they likely felt when told to make an appointment at the writing center.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-89038357974901465932008-10-04T21:38:00.000-06:002008-10-04T21:38:00.000-06:00I think there's a lot of truth in your observa...I think there's a lot of truth in your observation, Phil. You're bringing in good questions to ask about ourselves and the communities in which we roll. <BR/><BR/>I have to make a confession here, that I think may apply to a lot of upper-level/graduate English folk: we don't spend us much time drafting and revising. Am I wrong? Usually we have one big due date for a paper, without the multiple drafting deadlines FYC classes have. When I know I have a paper due soon, I make Writing Center appointments. When I see that I'm not going to have anything written until 11 pm the night before the paper is due (this is not complete procrastination, I have ideas & research), I cancel the appointments. <BR/><BR/>So maybe I (and I suspect others) don't fit into the snob category so much as the slight procrastinator/slight hypocrite category. :)ecpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439744288615544149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-12987036005255229532008-10-03T17:15:00.000-06:002008-10-03T17:15:00.000-06:00Hey Phil.Another good post. I'm a bit far removed ...Hey Phil.<BR/>Another good post. I'm a bit far removed from undergrad days, but I don't think I ever went to the WC at my undergrad campus. I wasn't an English major, so once I met my freshman writing req, I think I just "moved on" to other studies. If I tried to look back at my final undergrad transcript, I'd have to blow an inch of dust and cobwebs off that thing. <BR/><BR/>I think students today are more career focused, because job markets for undergrads have been miserable these past 6 years compared to where they were in the late 90s. My belief is that upper division students desire to work on their writing with their professors in order to build a "networking" relationship for post-graduation purposes.<BR/><BR/>Maybe our Boise State Writing Center can make brief presentations at upper-division English classes to remind Juniors/Seniors we can help with grad school apps, law school essays etc.?BruceKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10257350526150499574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-73927928641191945822008-10-03T06:48:00.000-06:002008-10-03T06:48:00.000-06:00Howdy, your post just made me realize my own reluc...Howdy, your post just made me realize my own reluctance. It's funny, but I will let other people in a workshop class shred my work, and I generally dismiss most of their comments as unqualified, but I don't ever take advantage of the 'expertise' of the writing center consultants. Hmmm, maybe I do play into the stigma. I guess I should do some introspection about what kind of a writing snob I am.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07437230769845997138noreply@blogger.com