WHAT WRITERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

THE BOWDOIN WRITING PROJECT

What is the Writing Project?

A peer assistance program designed to enhance learning, sharpen thinking, and strengthen writing in courses in any discipline. It is based on the premises that:

  • writing clearly about a subject helps you to know it;
  • all writers benefit from going through the process of writing a draft, getting feedback from an intelligent reader, and revising; and
  • peers can provide a uniquely helpful kind of feedback.

How does it work?

All students in a course assisted by the Writing Project write a draft of a paper, get feedback from a Writing Assistant, and revise before handing in a final draft to the instructor.

Who are the Writing Assistants?

Writing Assistants are fellow undergraduates, engaged, as you are, in making the most of their education at Bowdoin. Nominated by professors or peers, they are selected on the basis of their reading, writing, and communication skills. They take an Education course that examines the writing process and how it can be used to raise the quality of learning and writing.

What does a Writing Assistant do with my paper?

A Writing Assistant reads a draft of your paper, writes comments on it, and discusses it with you in a half-hour conference. During this conversation, the Assistant helps you to focus, organize, clarify, and expand your ideas by asking questions and suggesting strategies for revision. You then have the opportunity to revise your draft before submitting it to your instructor for further feedback and a grade. The course syllabus normally allows ten days for this process.

Are the Assistants experts in the subject matter of the course?

NO. Writing Assistants should not be confused with TA’s in a particular field. They are educated lay readers who have demonstrated skill in writing in subject areas across the curriculum. You will know more about the content of the course and your paper than the Assistant will. Thus, it is important that you write clearly enough that an intelligent but non-specialized reader can understand you. During your conference, your Writing Assistant will spend time discussing the content of your paper in order to encourage you to develop, connect, and refine your thinking, but he or she cannot advise you on the accuracy or value of particular ideas. You should address all questions about course content to your instructor.

If a Writing Assistant is not an expert in the field, how can she help me?

A Writing Assistant serves as a friendly reader who offers a “fresh eyes” perspective, empathetic but critical feedback to help you re-vise your ideas--to see them again and anew. The feedback from a Writing Assistant should help you clarify and sharpen your thinking.

Will my Writing Assistant help me with grammar?

If you have specific questions about grammar, a Writing Assistant will be glad to answer them for you or to help you find the answers. Assistants also call attention to repeated, patterned error and make sure that you understand the grammatical principles involved. They will also point out any glaring problems, especially when they inhibit clarity. The Assistants do not proofread drafts, however, as if they were final copy. You must proofread your final draft carefully. Conferences are structured around the needs of particular writers, but priority is given to identifying main ideas and presenting them in a structured, coherent way.

Will the Writing Assistant play a role in determining my grade?

NO. Writing Assistants have no part in grading.

Do I have to accept suggestions made by a Writing Assistant?

NO. Writing Assistants and your instructor respect your authority and responsibility for your own writing. As author of the paper, you can—in fact, you must—make your own choices about how much and what sort of revision you will do. As a student in this course, you are required only to engage the writing process by turning in two drafts of a paper and having a conversation about your writing with a Writing Assistant.

What are my responsibilities in this process?

  • Write a careful draft, turn it in to your instructor with a yellow self-assessment sheet on the first due date, and sign up for a conference with a Writing Assistant. You will get the most out of this process if your draft is a serious, considered effort—not a freewrite or a first draft.
  • Meet with your Writing Assistant at the appointed time to discuss your draft. (Please call or e-mail in advance if you cannot attend a conference as scheduled. If notified in advance, Assistants will try to reschedule conferences.)
  • Revise your paper in whatever ways you choose. Proofread.
  • Turn in your early draft with the Assistant’s written response along with your paper on the final due date. Also complete and turn in the yellow self-assessment sheet.

To whom can I address my questions and concerns about the Writing Project?

To your professor, your Writing Assistant, or to the Director of the Writing Project, Kathleen O’Connor (x3760; ; 102 Kanbar Hall). You may also want to consult the Writing Project website at academic.bowdoin.edu/writing_project.