Learn about the Herbert Writing Center’s training program
Mission Statement & Best Practices
Our mission in the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center (JAHWC) is to create a welcoming and respectful environment where undergraduate and graduate writers from any discipline and background can develop their ideas, share their concerns about writing, and receive thoughtful and encouraging feedback tailored to their needs and goals from knowledgeable and supportive writing consultants.
We regard the one-to-one writing consultation as a dialogue, a conversation focused on helping a writer develop successful composing practices (rather than editing writers’ work or telling a writer what to do). A key skill we want consultants to develop is to be able to recognize the most important areas that need to be revised in a given draft and to prioritize what to focus on during a consultation.
We realize there can be differences between writers’ expectations about what a writing center offers and what we actually do, so our writing consultants work to establish a consensus between themselves and the writer about how each writing consultation will proceed and strive to be transparent with writers by explaining what they are trying to focus on and why.
While in writing consultant training, I got the opportunity to observe other writing consultants and be observed by an experienced writing consultant. These observations taught me the importance of building a relationship with your clients. I noticed that students who were comfortable with their writing consultant, or had a certain level of respect for them, were willing to contribute more to conversations.
Anna Grace. 2nd-year MA, English Literature
To these ends, our Writing Consultant Training Program is designed to help our writing consultants develop a firm sense of belonging in our writing consultation community and self-efficacy as informed writing center writing consultants.
Training Model for New Writing Consultants
We provide a year-long training program. This program helps new writing consultants develop effective writing consultation practices. We use “best practices” for consultations. We believe that there are many ways to be a consultant.
Training
New consultants learn about writing genres and processes. They also learn communication practices. They understand a wide range of topics.
We have spent a great deal of time learning more about communication and working with others in different types of circumstances, and I believe that is the most important thing anyone can learn from any field of work. After I graduate, I plan to attend law school to pursue a career as an attorney. Communication, working with others, and working through different situations are such valuable skills I’ve learned through this experience that I know will serve me well in my future career.
Parker. Senior, Psychology & English- RWL
Training that Transfers: The benefits of training extend beyond writing consultation. Training and consultations are valuable experiences. They can be applied to a variety of fields.
The soft skills I learn and get to practice while writing consulting in the writer center are irreplaceable. Getting to meet with diverse groups of students while being able to discuss their beliefs and passions in a one-on-one setting isn’t a thing everyone gets to do or would enjoy doing. Honestly, I didn’t think I would particularly enjoy it at first; however, after the conversations and the joy I get from feeling like I’ve helped someone, I love it. Working at the Herbert Writing Center has been a wonderful experience and unmatched social competence training.
Maurice. Junior, Biology & Environmental Science
Training prepares first-year MA and MFA students to teach in their second year. Training contributes to the quality of the English Department’s instructors.
This semester has been a journey of growth and learning. My belief that writing consultation is as much about empathy and understanding as it is about academic skills was re-established during this training period, and I’m excited to continue this journey, using the insights and skills I’ve gained to make a positive impact on my students’ learning experiences.
Maryam. Second-year MFA, Poetry
Course Credit
ENGL 400: Consultants can earn 1-2 internship credit hours as part of their training.
Through months of training, I have gained a deeper understanding of the writing process. This newfound knowledge not only enables me to better assist students struggling with their writing but also allows me to produce work that more effectively showcases my own writing skills. In addition, I have gained valuable collaborative skills that build teamwork through working with peers and other writing consultants.
This internship has helped me grow my interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse population, which is especially necessary since I plan to work in healthcare. I practice solving problems or answering questions in real time every writing consultation session which will transfer over to working with patients and healthcare administrators. I am overall more confident in facing new situations and collaborating with others after completing writing consultation training and the internship.
Giselle. Junior, Kinesiology and Hispanic Studies
English 359: Peer Tutoring in Writing–Theory and Practice
In this course, offered each Spring, you receive the same training as the conventional pathway, but you would also earn 3 credit hours towards your degree. This course also satisfies the Engaged Inquiry requirement for VolCore. Students who take this course and pass with a B or higher receive priority consideration during the hiring cycle. We strongly encourage students interested in a writing consultation position to contact their academic advisor to determine how this course might fit into their course plan of study.
Professional Development for Experienced Writing Consultants
Undergraduate consultants can become experienced consultants once they complete training. Experienced consultants receive professional development support. They also engage in group discussions about consultations, theory and practice.
Experienced consultants can join a variety of projects and events. This includes our Flagship Writing Project, the Writing Blitz, workshops, tabling, and more. Experienced consultants who want to be a Senior Consultant can join the JAHWC Journal Club.
Going forward, I can use many of the skills I’ve developed with the Herbert Writing Center in future writing consultation and beyond. Having good “customer service” skills and making people feel welcome when they are sharing a vulnerable piece of themselves can be applicable to many situations. Additionally, nearly all of the skills that I try to teach students are helpful in my own writing, such as thoroughly reading the rubric, breaking a task down into chunks, and much more.
Sam. Senior, English and Secondary Education
Our Writing Consultant Community
Our writing consultants have a community that values meaningful connections. While on shift, writing consultants build relationships and share ideas. We organize social events, including trivia, game nights, and more. This relaxed environment helps consultants engage in conversations and friendships.
Trivia Nights
Craft Nights
One of our consultants hosted a craft night where consultants could paint a mini pot and plant their own succulent.
These informal interactions are the building blocks of our community. These connections enhance professional growth. They also contribute to the supportive atmosphere of our center
Contact Us
For more information about our writing consultant training program,
contact Assistant Director, Dr. Michael Sutherlin, at writingcenter@utk.edu.