Teaching the Studio Model - FAQs
What is the “Studio” model?
Our Studio Model evolved from writing center and composition theory advocating for a place or a “third space” other than a writing classroom where students can share, create, critique and discuss their writing at any stage of the process (Grego/Thompson). While the Intensive Composition students master the same core values as our other first year writing courses, they do so in a unique setting.
How is “studio” different from “non-studio”?
All Intensive College Composition 1 courses meet 3 days a week. However, a 4-credit studio class, meets with the composition instructor on 2 of the 3 scheduled class days. On the third day, students meet in a small group led by a writing tutor in the Writing Center. The small groups consist of 3 or 4 classmates. Group sessions occur in one-hour periods between 9:00 am-8:30pm. Non-studio sections meet for the 3rd day but do so with the course instructor during the regularly scheduled time and in the regular classroom.
*The instructor does not attend the writing center sessions. The tutor does not attend class.
Who is my tutor?
The tutor for your class is assigned by the director of the Writing Center, Celeste DelRusso. The tutors are sophomores, juniors and seniors. Some have more experience as writing tutors than others but all have received training from the Writing Center. You will have the same tutor for your class throughout the semester.
Who schedules the writing center groups & times?
Sometime during the first week of class, your writing tutor will come to your class to introduce him/herself to the class. The tutor will then announce the open slots and ask for volunteers to fill each spot. *I suggest writing the different time slots and the number of spots for each slot on the board before the tutor arrives. Be sure to have your students check their schedules as they may have to attend their writing center session during a different time than the regularly scheduled class. (Ex. Your class meets at 9:30 MWF and the Writing Center day is Friday. The writing center session may be at 6:30 pm on Friday). Once they have been assigned a group and a time, it is permanent throughout the semester. Changes are discouraged, but can be accommodated under extenuating circumstances. Be sure to check that the change will not overcrowd an existing group.
How does the writing center session “fit into” my weekly schedule?
Your Writing Center day is permanent. You cannot shift the day around during the week. If you teach on Monday and Wednesday, then you must work through the syllabus and assignments on those 2 days. Be sure that there is always writing to be done, reviewed, or discussed when the students go to their session.
Do I give an assignment for the Writing Center?
Technically, no. The “studio” theory is such that the students should choose what to work on during the session. With that said, the session is connected to your comp class, so the work they “choose” to do must be associated with one of your comp class assignments, past or present. During the class before the Writing Center day, review the current assignments and tasks to be completed before the next regular class meeting. For example, if you are working on a reading and a summary or an annotated bib entry is due the following week, the student may work on that assignment during the Writing Center session. They may also choose to work on a revision of a previous essay. Regardless, the student must arrive with an assignment from your class in order to be considered “prepared” for the session. The tutor will keep track of attendance, preparation and participation.
Does writing center attendance count as class attendance?
Yes. Attendance in regular class and the attendance at writing center logged by the tutor are combined to a total number of absences. If the number exceeds 9, the student may fail the course due to excessive absence.
Communicating with the Tutor…
How do I contact the tutor?
You and your tutor should agree as to how you will communicate throughout the semester. Email is the traditional and most commonly used method. You (and the tutor) may agree to exchange cell phone numbers if both parties are comfortable communicating via text message.
What documents should I provide the tutor?
Please provide the tutor with a copy of your syllabus, essay assignments and readings. Textbooks can be provided if requested.
What do I communicate with the tutor?
· Before each writing center session…
What is the “Studio” model?
Our Studio Model evolved from writing center and composition theory advocating for a place or a “third space” other than a writing classroom where students can share, create, critique and discuss their writing at any stage of the process (Grego/Thompson). While the Intensive Composition students master the same core values as our other first year writing courses, they do so in a unique setting.
How is “studio” different from “non-studio”?
All Intensive College Composition 1 courses meet 3 days a week. However, a 4-credit studio class, meets with the composition instructor on 2 of the 3 scheduled class days. On the third day, students meet in a small group led by a writing tutor in the Writing Center. The small groups consist of 3 or 4 classmates. Group sessions occur in one-hour periods between 9:00 am-8:30pm. Non-studio sections meet for the 3rd day but do so with the course instructor during the regularly scheduled time and in the regular classroom.
*The instructor does not attend the writing center sessions. The tutor does not attend class.
Who is my tutor?
The tutor for your class is assigned by the director of the Writing Center, Celeste DelRusso. The tutors are sophomores, juniors and seniors. Some have more experience as writing tutors than others but all have received training from the Writing Center. You will have the same tutor for your class throughout the semester.
Who schedules the writing center groups & times?
Sometime during the first week of class, your writing tutor will come to your class to introduce him/herself to the class. The tutor will then announce the open slots and ask for volunteers to fill each spot. *I suggest writing the different time slots and the number of spots for each slot on the board before the tutor arrives. Be sure to have your students check their schedules as they may have to attend their writing center session during a different time than the regularly scheduled class. (Ex. Your class meets at 9:30 MWF and the Writing Center day is Friday. The writing center session may be at 6:30 pm on Friday). Once they have been assigned a group and a time, it is permanent throughout the semester. Changes are discouraged, but can be accommodated under extenuating circumstances. Be sure to check that the change will not overcrowd an existing group.
How does the writing center session “fit into” my weekly schedule?
Your Writing Center day is permanent. You cannot shift the day around during the week. If you teach on Monday and Wednesday, then you must work through the syllabus and assignments on those 2 days. Be sure that there is always writing to be done, reviewed, or discussed when the students go to their session.
Do I give an assignment for the Writing Center?
Technically, no. The “studio” theory is such that the students should choose what to work on during the session. With that said, the session is connected to your comp class, so the work they “choose” to do must be associated with one of your comp class assignments, past or present. During the class before the Writing Center day, review the current assignments and tasks to be completed before the next regular class meeting. For example, if you are working on a reading and a summary or an annotated bib entry is due the following week, the student may work on that assignment during the Writing Center session. They may also choose to work on a revision of a previous essay. Regardless, the student must arrive with an assignment from your class in order to be considered “prepared” for the session. The tutor will keep track of attendance, preparation and participation.
Does writing center attendance count as class attendance?
Yes. Attendance in regular class and the attendance at writing center logged by the tutor are combined to a total number of absences. If the number exceeds 9, the student may fail the course due to excessive absence.
Communicating with the Tutor…
How do I contact the tutor?
You and your tutor should agree as to how you will communicate throughout the semester. Email is the traditional and most commonly used method. You (and the tutor) may agree to exchange cell phone numbers if both parties are comfortable communicating via text message.
What documents should I provide the tutor?
Please provide the tutor with a copy of your syllabus, essay assignments and readings. Textbooks can be provided if requested.
What do I communicate with the tutor?
· Before each writing center session…
- Write a detailed message explaining to the tutor what the students have been working on in class. Try to give as much information as possible so that the tutor is ready to provide support for the current essay or reading assignment.
- Tutors fill out an online report in which they log attendance, preparation and participation of each student in each group. Instructors should have access to this report.
