Genre Awareness In The Writing Center

Abstract

This thesis explores how genre theory is represented in writing center scholarship and practice by analyzing tutor training textbooks and also doing a case study of the EIU Writing Center to examine how genre awareness is perceived by writing consultants. This study concludes that increased awareness of genre features should influence the practice of writing consultants and writing centers. Based on the two surveys from my case study, the EIU Writing Center consultants did not appear to have a strong understanding of genre theory since their practicum course (English 5500) and tutor training textbooks have not explicitly provided them with sufficient guidelines on disciplinary genres and/or an introduction to genre theory. My argument is that by explicitly using concepts and principles from genre theory within tutor tutoring training courses and writing center practice, directors of writing centers can provide more effective guidelines to writing consultants on how to work with writers from all disciplines, so writers can respond to their assignments insightfully and extensively.

Date of Award	2010
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Tim Taylor (Supervisor)