Writing Commons
Tutor Application
Unlock
the skills you never knew you had.
Strengthen
your people skills!
Share
your study skills!
Sharpen
your writing skills!
www.kent.edu/writingcommons,
writing@kent.edu, (330)672-1787
Benefits of Tutoring
Students
who are interested in working as tutors often assume that tutoring is similar
to the peer editing that they did in their writing classes or have done for
their friends. However, tutoring involves
much more than that because tutors “work with people, not papers.” That is, the tutor’s goal is to enable others
to take charge of their own writing, not to edit for others. The skills involved in tutoring take substantial
time, study, and practice to develop.
First,
tutors are professionals-in-training, and must take tutor training by
enrolling in a 3-credit-hour course prior to their first semester or by
enrolling in a 1-credit-hour individual investigation during their first two
semesters of tutoring, with the option of continuing. Advancement in the
Writing Commons is dependent in part on continuing professional development.
Second,
tutors acquire many of the professional skills needed for a career after
graduation.
·
Interpersonal
skills
One-to-one interaction between employee
and client.
Listening, facilitation,
conflict-management, and negotiation skills.
Collaboration with other tutors, university
staff, and faculty.
Teaching and public speaking skills.
·
Management
skills
Daily operation of the Writing Commons.
Long-term involvement in a program
development.
Public relations, outreach, and
marketing experience.
·
Self-discipline
Working with minimal supervision.
Developing traits of resourcefulness and
initiative.
Developing optimal communication skills
for professional environments.
Third,
tutors are a part of the Writing Program
in the English Department at Kent State University. Tutoring is an integral part of the Introduction
to College Writing and College Writing I and II courses in the English Department
as well as a vital service offered to all other students including those in the
Writing Program and in all other disciplines. Seeking feedback from others is an essential
part of the writing process. Tutors
fulfill an important role in the development of all KSU students’ writing
skills and contribute to the persistence and success of all students at the
university.
Finally,
tutors learn that in the process of working with other students, their own writing improves
dramatically.
COVER SHEET:
APPLICATION TO BE A WRITING TUTOR
Ø Upload a completed application
in RTF or PDF format to the Career Services website for the job listed as “Peer
Tutor” under “Find Jobs and Internships.” http://www.kent.edu/career/index.cfm
o
Upload
a current resume, a personal statement about why you want to be a Tutor, and
two writing samples to the Career Services website, for the job listed as “Peer
Tutor.” http://www.kent.edu/career/index.cfm
o
Please
ensure that both writing samples are free of grades or professors’ responses,
and that at least one sample includes outside research and an MLA Works Cited
or APA References list.
Ø Have at least one
professor who knows you well email a brief recommendation letter (or fill in the
recommendation form below) to recommend you.
Recommendations should be sent to Writing Commons Director Jeanne R. Smith
(jrsmith3@kent.edu),
Department of English, 113 Satterfield Hall, Kent State University, Kent OH,
44242. Letters should indicate in
what capacity and for how long the professor has known you, and why he or she
thinks you’d make a good Writing Commons Tutor.
Ø Applications are not complete unless your writing samples,
resume, personal statement, and recommendation(s) are received in addition to
this application form. Incomplete files will not be considered.
For more information about becoming a tutor,
please see our website: www.kent.edu/writingcommons
Name: __________________________________________ Banner ID: ____________________
Current Phone:
_______________________ Current email address: _______________________________
Permanent Address:_______________________________________________________________
Be
sure to include city, state & zip
Local Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Your Current Class Standing (circle one): Freshman / Sophomore / Junior
/ Senior / Graduate Student
Your Major(s):
___________________________ Your Minor(s): ________________________________
Current GPA: ___________________ (At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA is preferred).
Please indicate your agreement with the following
statements by signing below:
Ø I understand that if
hired to be a Tutor, I am obligated to attend a pre-semester in-service meeting
the week before classes begin, a mid-semester and end-of-semester professional
development seminar, and weekly staff meetings.
Ø I understand that by
applying, I will be considered for the 3-credit-hour service learning tutor
training program, ENG 41093, “Introduction to Tutorial Practice.” If I complete this course successfully, I
will have hiring priority over students who have not had this training program.
Ø I understand that if I
am hired without successfully completing the service-learning training program,
I will be required to enroll in the
1-credit-course, ENG 41096, “Writing Center Theory and Practice,” during my
first two semesters of employment.
Ø I understand that if I
am hired, I will be required to work for the Writing Commons at least 8 hours
per week my first semester.
Ø I give the Writing
Commons permission to verify my GPA & class standing as listed on this
application.
Signature
_______________________________________ Date ____________________
Tutor Application
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________
Banner ID: _________________
Emergency
Contact: _____________________________________________________________
How did you
learn of this tutor position? ____________________________________________
Do you have
College Work Study? __________ CWS is not required
for this position.
If so, for how much $ ______________________
Grade in College
Writing I (ENG 11011 or ENG 10001/10002) ____ Instructor________________________
Grade in
College Writing II (ENG 21011) ____ Instructor________________________
What documentation
formats have you used in your writing? (circle all
that apply):
MLA APA CBE Chicago Other ________ None
What computer
applications do you use?
E-mail Word
PowerPoint Access Excel
Internet Browser Publisher FrontPage
Others: _____________________________________________________________
Will you be graduate assisting
/ student teaching? (circle
one): Y N. If yes, which semester(s)? ________________
Will you be studying
abroad? (circle
one): Y N . If yes, which semester(s)? ________________________
Do you plan to work at
another job while working as a writing consultant? (circle
one): Y N
If yes, about how many
hours per week will you work at your other job? __________________________
Considering other commitments such as internships, jobs, leadership in
organizations, religious groups, sports, etc., what range of
hours per week would you be able to work for the Writing Commons? (You are
required to work at least 8 hours per your first semester.)_______
List your most recent
employer:
______________________________________________________
List the dates of this
employment: _________________________________________________________
If you are still
employed, list the hours that you work. _______________________________________
If not, explain why you
left. ___________________________________________________________
Give the name/phone number
of a person who knows of your work performance. ________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever been
convicted of a felony or misdemeanor other than for traffic violations? (Circle
one.) Y / N
If yes, please
explain.
___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Outside of KSU’s College Writing sequence, what writing-intensive
courses have you taken?
How often do you seek
feedback for your writing?
What kinds of feedback
do you request from readers on your own writing?
From whom do you seek
feedback to your own writing?
Please
describe any previous teaching, tutoring, or other instructional experience:
Personal Statement
Please explain
why you want to become a tutor, and tell us what skills, talents, experiences,
and abilities you believe make you a good fit for a tutoring position.
Faculty Recommendation Form
Faculty Name:
_____________________________ Faculty Email: __________________________
Faculty Phone Number
___________________________
Student’s Name_______________________________
Faculty
Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: ________
Please complete this form and return it to Writing Commons
Director Jeanne R. Smith,
Department of English 113 Satterfield Hall, Kent State University,
Kent, OH 44242
How long have
you known this student and in what capacity? ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
1. How would you rate this student in
terms of patience with a diverse group of students?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
2. How would you rate this student’s
communication skills?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
3. How would you rate this student’s
reliability? (You might consider the student’s attendance, assignment
completion, meeting course requirements.)
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
4. How would you rate this student’s
research, writing, and revising skills?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
5. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being low
and 10 high, how highly would you recommend this student overall?
1 2 3 4
5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
Faculty Recommendation Form
Faculty Name:
_____________________________ Faculty Email: __________________________
Faculty Phone
Number ___________________________
Student’s Name_______________________________
Faculty
Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: ________
Please complete this form
and return it to Writing Commons Director Jeanne R. Smith,
Department of English 113
Satterfield Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242
How long have
you known this student and in what capacity? ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
1. How would you rate this student in
terms of patience with a diverse group of students?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
2. How would you rate this student’s
communication skills?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
3. How would you rate this student’s
reliability? (You might consider the student’s attendance, assignment
completion, meeting course requirements.)
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
4. How would you rate this student’s
research, writing, and revising skills?
1 2
3 4
5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments:
5. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being low
and 10 high, how highly would you recommend this student overall?
1 2 3
4 5
Poor Average Excellent
Comments: