“I Will Probably Still Do it My Way”: Is This the Outcome of a Successful Tutorial Session?

Abstract

This educational case study describes a session between a graduate student tutor and a mature student who is enrolled in a first-year composition course. This case study presents selected portions of the student's essay and transcripts from interviews with the student and tutor who separately discuss their perspectives on the session. The study raises questions such as who is responsible—and to what degree—for the paper? Should students have any responsibility to make the revisions talked about during writing conferences? And what is a good tutoring session?

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pam Flagel

Pam Flagel is Senior Writing Tutor and Jim Bell is Coordinator of the Learning Skills Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC Canada V2N 4Z9.

James H. Bell

Pam Flagel is Senior Writing Tutor and Jim Bell is Coordinator of the Learning Skills Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC Canada V2N 4Z9.