Quick Reference Sheet
TUTOR
GUIDE
The Writing Studio
Thompson Writing Program
Duke University
Fall 2013
Quick Reference Sheet
Contact Information
Vicki Russell:
Home Phone: 967-9650, Work Phone: 668-0900, Cell: 919-260-1271
Jim Berkey:
Work Phone: 660-4391, Cell: 812-320-1924
Art Building Contact: 660-4368 (goes to Melissa Pascoe, Vanessa Turnier, or Jennie Saia in the TWP)
Lilly Library Contact: Reference Desk at 660-5995
Perkins Library Contact: 684-6796
Writing Studio Website
Tutor’s Assistant Main Manu
Accessing the Writing Studio Sakai Site in a Web Browser
Go to Login with your Net ID and password. Personal folders and shared files can be found in Resources.
Writing Studio Philosophy
Table of Contents
Quick Reference Sheet
Table of Contents
Writing Studio Philosophy
What You Can Expect at the Writing Studio
The Director’s Expectations
Writing Studio Locations
I.106 Art Building (Daytime / East Campus)
A.Around the 1st floor
B.Finding What You Need
II.2nd Floor Lilly Library (Evening / East Campus)
III.112 Perkins Library (Daytime & Evening / West Campus)
Writing Studio Procedures
I.106 Art Building
A.Opening
B.Printer Location
C.Checking Email
D.Closing
E.Emergency Contacts
II.112 Perkins Library
A.Opening
B.Printer Location
C.Checking Email
D.Closing
E.Emergency Contacts
III.2nd Floor of Lilly Library
A.Opening
B.Printer Location
C.Checking Email
D.Closing
E.Emergency Contacts
IV.Severe Weather Procedures
V.Payroll
Data Management at the Writing Studio
I.The Tutor’s Assistant Main Menu
A.Check Your Appointments
B.Find Student Records
C.Add a No-Show
D.Find Conference Summaries
E.Add a Conference Summary
F.Find Student Questionnaires
G.Add a Student Questionnaire
H.Find Tutor Notes
I.Add a Tutor Note
J.View All Students’ Self-Assessments
K.View a Shift Log
L.View All Tutors’ Appointments, by Month
M.View Writing Studio Statistics
N.Go to the Writing Studio Web Site
O.Go to Director’s Screen
P.Go to Tutor Blog
Q.Log Out
II.Session Protocol
A.Getting Started
B.Student Information Screen
C.Student Goals Screen
D.Conference Summaries
E.Student Questionnaires
F.Tutor Notes
III.Using The Tutor’s Assistant To Update Information
A.Editing Appointment Information
B.Editing Instructor Information
C.Editing Tutor Notes
D.Undoing a Mistaken No-Show
Behind the Scenes: From a Writer’s Perspective
A.Making an Appointment
B.E-Mail Notices
Advice for Tutors
I.Managing the Face-to-Face Tutorial Session
II.A Tutor’s Short Guide to Face-to-Face Tutoring
A.Getting Started: The First Five Minutes
B.The Editing Session
C.The Brainstorming Session
D.The Main Claim/Thesis Session
E.The Organization Session
III.A Tutor’s Short Guide to E-Tutoring
A.Overview
B.Writer Use Profile
C.The Essential Steps of the E-Tutor System
D.Subbing for an E-Tutor Appointment
E.Effective E-Tutor Feedback
F.Closing Comments
IV.Writing Workshops
A. Guidelines for Leading Workshops
B. Sample Lesson Plans
V.Important: Participating in Other Writing Studio Tutor Activities
A.Training and Mentoring
B. Making Tutor Class Visits
C.Attending Staff Meetings and Special Events
D.Ongoing Projects and Activities
E.Using Sakai
F.Enhancing Resources
G.Supporting the Undergraduate Writing Tutor (UWT) and Partner (UWP) Programs
H.Working on Job Jar Projects
Professional Resources for Tutors
I.Methodology and Tutoring Resources
II.Information on the Field
III.Newsletters, Journals, Publications
IV.Conferences and Professional Organizations
Writing Studio Policies
I.Community Use Policy
II.Suspected Plagiarism Policy
III.Help with Take-Home Exams Policy
IV.Student Access Policy
V.Private Tutoring Policy
VI.Severe Weather and Other Emergency Policies
VII.Hours Bank
Writing Studio Use Statistics
2013-2014 Staff Contact Information
Beyond the Writing Studio: Resources for Duke Students
Writing Studio Calendar for 2013-14
Appendix: Technology Guide
I.Account Information
A.Obtaining a Net ID
B.Obtaining a Sakai Account
C.Obtaining Access to the Shared Mailbox
D.Obtaining a DukeCard (Duke ID Card)
II.Logon Procedures
III.Accessing Writing Studio files
IV.Flip Video Camera
A.Using the Camera for Recording and Playback
B.Transferring Recordings from the Camera to a Computer
V.Loaner Laptops and iPads
VI.Using Google Docs
A.Getting Access
B.Sharing Documents with Others
C.Editing and Presenting with Others in Real-Time
D.Tracking changes
VII. Social Networking
A. WordPress Blog (
B. Twitter (
C. Facebook (
D. Tutor Musings Blog(
Troubleshooting
Who Counts as an International Graduate Student?
How to Add a New Student to the System in the Case of a Drop-in Appointment by a First-Time Student
E-Tutor Situations
Writing Studio Philosophy
Writing Studio Philosophy
The passage below is the mission statement we share through our website, posters, and information cards.
"The Writing Studio promotes excellence in writing by providing tutoring services for Duke undergraduates and international graduate students. Other members of the Duke community are welcome to use our services under our Community Use Policy. We help with all types of writing—including academic essays, memos, reports, honors theses, and personal statements. We assist with all stages of writing—from brainstorming and researching to drafting, revising, and polishing a final draft.
The Writing Studio features an on-line appointment calendar, E-Tutor and face-to-face appointments, East and West campus locations, daytime and evening hours, 50-minute individual sessions, writing workshops and writing groups, a non-circulating library, and extensive on-line resources."
What You Can Expect at the Writing Studio
This document describes our philosophy and practices so that students, faculty, and administrators will have a realistic idea of what our services entail. This statement is found on our website and appears on students' computer screens when they log in to schedule their first tutoring session.
"We promote excellence in writing. Our goal is to improve writers, not just individual pieces of writing:
We don’t tell you how or what to write. We do suggest strategies, offer encouragement, and provide information to help you move forward with your work. We expect writers to take responsibility for their choices with regard to their own writing.
We don’t know all the answers. We do try to show you how to explore possibilities and will refer you to reference tools for specific issues.
We don’t have the time in a 50-minute session to address every issue in a piece of writing.
We do help you set priorities based on your current needs, identifying points of revision that are possible within a particular time frame.
We don’t write for you. We do encourage writers to write and take notes during their conference.
We don’t promote a particular style of writing. We do help students analyze assignments from different disciplines and cope with a variety of academic writing conventions.
We don’t speculate about the grade a piece of writing might receive. We do act as an audience and give feedback about how a reader might interpret what is presented.
We don’t ensure whether or not student writing violates the Duke Community Standard. We do guide and train writers in proper scholarly procedures."
The Director’s Expectations
A short guide:
Act professionally at all times.
Work on WS projects and NOT personal work during assigned shifts. If you don’t have a project, check the Job Jar in the Writing Studio Sakai site.
Arrive 15 minutes before your shift begins.
Greet writers and answer the phone as needed.
Check your appointment schedule online. Refresh often as the schedule can change in a second.
Read the conference notes of each writer before she/he arrives.
Greet the writer by name.
Tidy up the work space when you leave.
Writing Studio Locations
The Writing Studio has three locations: 112 Perkins Library, 2nd floor Lilly Library, and 106 Art Building. We share some of these spaces with the Undergraduate Writing Tutors (UWTs). The Director’s main office is in 107 Art Building.
I.106 Art Building (Daytime / East Campus)
The Art Building houses the administrative staff and the faculty for the Thompson Writing Program. The two classrooms on the first floor are used for Writing 101 classes. The front door of the building is open from 7:30 AM to 5 PM Monday – Friday, with card access around the right side of the building after hours. The Writing Studio in the Art Building has three tutoring spaces, one small group space, and a work-study space in the back left corner.Each tutoring space has a computer and whiteboard, desk, and two chairs. The room has a communal library and a wall file with a laminated copy of all the main WS handouts.
A. Around the 1st floor
It is useful to know what other offices are near our space, both to help lost students find their way and to be neighborly with the people with whom we share space and amenities.
In the First Floor Offices
TWP Administrators and Staff: Kristen Neuschel, Director of the TWP; Denise Comer, Director of First Year Writing; Cary Moskovitz, Director of Writing in the Disciplines; Vicki Russell, Director of the Writing Studio; Marcia Rego, Director of Faculty Development and Assessment; Vanessa Turnier, Assistant to the Director of First-Year Writing and Payroll Clerk; Jennie Saia, Program Coordinator; and Melissa Pascoe, Business/Program Manager.
In the Second Floor Offices
MostTWP Fellows’ offices are on the second floor.
B. Finding What You Need
1st Floor
Coffee and Office Supplies: Down the hall in Art 114, thesmall room on the right with the copier and printer
Water Cooler and E-Print Station: In the front reception area
Bathrooms: Gender-specific bathrooms down the hall on the rightRecycling Bins: Located by the department mailboxes. Recycling bins are also outside the building, next to nearby Bivins Hall
2nd Floor
Food/Drink: Coffee and tea maker in the 2nd-floor lounge
Kitchen: Microwave, toaster, and refrigerator; water cooler; napkins, plates, and so on.
Recycling Bin: In the 2nd-floor lounge. Recycling bins are also outside the building.
II.2nd Floor Lilly Library (Evening / East Campus)
There are two Writing Studio stations set up at Lilly Library, both on the second floor. One is located on one side of the stacks next to the bathrooms; the other is on the opposite side of the stacks next to the elevator. There is a computer at each station, white board, table space, and two chairs. The space by the elevator has a rolling chair. If it has rolled away, please retrieve it and roll it back. Both Writing Studio tutoring spaces have signs indicating that they are reserved for the Writing Studio during our evening sessions (Sunday through Thursday, from 7 to 10 PM). Be assertive about asking students to move from our reserved tables, as no other space on the second floor has our workstation computers or is acoustically conducive for tutoring sessions.
III.112 Perkins Library (Daytime & Evening / West Campus)
Our West campus space is on the first floor of Perkins. We have three tutoring stations, an area for workshops, and a small library. There is also a printer, small library, recycling bins, and a coffee and tea maker. Office supplies are stored in a cabinet.
Writing Studio Procedures
This section details various non-conference-related procedures you will need to follow when you come to your sessions. It is divided by location (Art Building, Perkins, and Lilly).
General comments first: We might have work-study students, the Director, or the Associate Director at any of the three daytime locations during the week, Monday – Thursday. If they are working while you are there, they will need access to the back space in 106 Art Building or the back left computer in Perkins. Please use one of the other computers to check e-mail and writer histories and enter conference notes.
I.106 Art Building
A. Opening
Replenish needed supplies (pens and legal pads, etc.) from the supply cabinets in the small room down the hall on the right (Art 114). Fifth-appointment pens are in the box on top of the filing cabinet.
Log on to the computer by pressing the Ctrl/Alt/Delete buttons, then by entering your Net ID and password.
The work station in the very back is reserved for the TWP/WS work-study students. UWT students also use the tutoring carrels for tutoring appointments.
B. Printer Location
Our printer is located down the hall on the right side in the supplies/copier space. Use your Duke unique id number to log in, without the first zero. Also, you can print to the E-Print station located in the front reception area on the first floor.
C. Checking Email
Please feel free to check e-mail during your shift but do not spend more than 5-10 minutes doing so during the time you are scheduled to be working on WS projects.
D. Closing
Log off computer.
Discard any trash you or the writers might have brought in and tidy up the space.
Close door.
E. Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency that will cause you to be late or need to cancel your shift, call the Thompson Writing Program (660-4368, which will go to Melissa Pascoe, Vanessa Turnier, or Jennie Saia) and Vicki (Home: 967-9650, Work: 668-0900; Cell: 919-260-1271) to let them know the situation.
II.112 Perkins Library
A. Opening
Log on to the computer.
B. Printer Location
Our printer is located in the left tutoring station.
C. Checking Email
Please feel free to check e-mail during your shift but do not spend more than 5-10 minutes doing so during the time you are scheduled to be working on WS projects.
D. Closing
Log off the computer.
Discard any trash you or the writers might have brought in and tidy up the space. There are recycling bins near the bookshelves.
E. Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency that will cause you to be late or need to cancel your shift, call the 112 Perkins phone (684-6796) and Vicki (Home: 967-9650, Work: 668-0900; Cell: 919-260-1271) to let them know the situation.
III.2nd Floor of Lilly Library
A. Opening
Make sure ethernet cables are present and plugged in properly.
If you need to replace a light bulb in one of the lamps, check for a replacement bulb in one of the supply boxes. If you don’t find one, ask for assistance from a Lilly librarian, either Lauren Crowell or Kelley Lawton.
Log on to the computer.
A box of reference tools and supplies is stored underneath the table in the space next to the bathroom.
B. Printer Location
Our Lilly printer is located in the right side WS location. If you have difficulty printing, check to make sure the cables are plugged in, and if they are, try turning the printer off and then on again. You can also print to the E-Print stations on the first floor.
C. Checking Email
Feel free to check e-mail during your shift but do not spend more than 5-10 minutes doing so during the time you are scheduled to be working in the Writing Studio.
D. Closing
Log off from the computer.
Turn off lamp.
Discard any trash that you, writers, or other tutors have left behind.
E. Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency that will cause you to be late or need to cancel your shift, call the Reference Desk librarian (Lilly: 660-5995) and Vicki (Home: 967-9650; Work: 668-0900; Cell: 919-260-1271) to let them know the situation. The Lilly spaces do not have their own phones.
IV.Severe Weather Procedures
The Duke number to call for info on campus closures is 684-4636.If Trinity College cancels classes due to severe weather, the Writing Studio automatically closes, too. If, however, the weather is severe and classes are not canceled, the decision to try to make it to campus is up to you.
If you decide you cannot get to campus safely, first notify Vicki and Jim. If another scheduled tutor cannot fill in for you, you will need to e-mail the writers who have signed up or phone them and cancel the appointment slots on the calendar to make sure no one else signs up. In your e-mail and phone message, offer the writers the option of 1) canceling and rescheduling on-line for another time or 2) sending their drafts via e-mail to you. If they choose the latter, you need to send them the E-Tutor submission form questions to answer to guide your response. E-mail Vicki and Jim to let them know if you decide to cancel any appointments.
Cancel the appointments in the Tutor’s Assistant by going to “View and Update Appointments” for yourself and deleting the name and e-mail of the student by hitting the backspace key. Then click the “delete” box and then the “submit” button at the bottom of the page. Be sure to do this correctly or the system becomes fouled up. Writing Studio administrators will freeze appointment slots in the case of weather closings or other emergencies.