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Article
Questioning in Writing Center Conferences
The Writing Center Journal (2014)
  • Jo Mackiewicz, Auburn University
Abstract

These researchers examine how questions function in a corpus of eleven writing center conferences conducted by experienced tutors. They analyze the 690 questions generated in these conferences: 81% (562) from tutors and 19% (128) from students. Using a coding scheme developed from prior research on questions in math, science, and other kinds of quantitative tutoring, they categorized tutors’ and students’ questions. The researchers found that questions in writing center conferences serve a number of instructional and conversational functions. Questions allow tutors and students to fill in their knowledge deficits and check each other’s understanding. They also allow tutors (and occasionally students) to facilitate the dialogue of writing center conferences and attend to students’ engagement. In addition, tutors use questions to help students clarify what they want to say, identify problems with what they have written, and brainstorm. Based on this analysis, the authors make some recommendations for tutor training.

Publication Date
Winter 2014
Publisher Statement
This is an article from The Writing Center Journal 33 (2014) 37. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
Jo Mackiewicz. "Questioning in Writing Center Conferences" The Writing Center Journal Vol. 33 Iss. 2 (2014)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jo_mackiewicz/2/