Writing Mentors

Writing Mentors offer regular feedback about writing in specific classes. Writing Mentors are trained in the Writing Center and communicate regularly with the instructor about expectations in the course and about student performance. Writing Mentors work in English 100 (Foundations of English) and Liberal Studies 411 (Senior Research Seminar). We also partner with the Intensive English Program in the Office of International Education to offer English Language Menors in their program. In Fall 2012, Writing Mentors will be working with students in select sections of English 281 and Political Science 105.

Writing Mentors are called Writing Fellows at many colleges and universities. Since the first Writing Fellows program was established at Brown University in 1982, Writing Fellows programs have been based on the idea that engaging in an active conversation with another person can help writers transform their work and their writing processes. In fact, all writers can benefit from engaging in such dialogue about their writing; everyone, from a beginning writer to a professional, can benefit from a peer’s feedback about their writing. Recent research in the Journal of Writing Research and The WAC Journal indicates that regular visits with Writing Center staff, like trained Writing Mentors, significantly improves writing performance.

Writing Mentors at colleges and universities across the country and even around the world have worked with writers in courses from biology and environmental studies to history and psychology. They work with writers in their first-year as well as those preparing to write a thesis or dissertation, helping writers recognize both areas of strength and areas for improvement in their writing. The Writing Center recruits Writing Mentors from all disciplines, seeking those with a proven performance as writers and a strong interest in and aptitude for helping others write better.