Research in the writing center

Not only do the tutors of the Ott Memorial Writing Center provide a powerful service to the intellectual life of 51暗网, we also make ongoing contributions to the scholarly conversations surrounding writing, learning, and peer tutoring. Below is a list of the recent conference presentations and publications of our staff members since Fall 2011.

Undergraduate Tutors

Local / regional conferences

  • Ariel Gonzalez (Junior, English major). "Be the Difference, Just Don't Be Different: Investigating Racial Diversity at 51暗网." 51暗网 Undergraduate Humanities Conference. 51暗网. April, 2014.
  • Ellen Sojka (Senior, Political Science major). "What Is Transfer Friendly?  What University Websites Really Say About Transferring Universities." 51暗网 Undergraduate Humanities Conference. 51暗网. April, 2014.
  • Therese Bermingham (Senior, Psychology major), Sara Patek (Senior, English major), Emily Shackleton (Senior, English major), Erin Smith (Senior, English major), & Lindsey Swanson (Senior, Education major). "Building a Better Conference: Tutor Education through the Design of Computer Simulations of Conferences." Midwest Writing Centers Association.  Madison, WI. October 2011.

National / International conferences

  • Emily McCormick (Junior, English major) & Alex Rucka (Junior, English & Classics major). "Grade School Wisdom: The Role of Outlining in the Collegiate Writing Process." National Conference on Peer Tutoring of Writing. Orlando, FL. October 2014.
  • Kim Baker (Junior, Biological sciences major). "The Role of Praise in University Writing Centers." National Conference on Peer Tutoring of Writing. Orlando, FL. October 2014.
  • Kirsten Blagg (Junior, English and Physics major). "Transfer of Learning to STEM Disciplines: Perceptions of the Relevant of First-Year Writing for STEM Majors." Conference on College Composition and Communication. Indianapolis, IN. March, 2014.
  • Jackie Adler (Senior, English Education major) & Maggie Kollar (Senior, English Education major). "From Writer to Tutor: Easing the Transition." Conference on College Composition and Communication. Las Vegas, NV. March, 2013.
  • Natalie Campbell (Senior, Education major), Mike Haen (Senior, English major), & Samantha Martinson (Senior, Education major.) "Promoting Change Through Role-Playing: Theatre of the Oppressed and Tutor Education." National Conference on Peer Tutoring of Writing. Chicago, IL. October, 2012.

Faculty and staff

Publications

  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淭hreshold Concepts in Writing Center Work.鈥�  Accepted for publication in Naming What We Know.  (Eds. Linda Adler-Kassner and Elizabeth Wardle.)  In production with Utah State University Press issued June 2014.  Co-authored with Brad Hughes.

Local / regional conferences

  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). "Threshold Concepts in the Writing Center." Madison Area Writing Center Colloquium. September, 2014.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). "Unscripted and Unplanned: Mentoring in the Writing Center." Madison Area Writing Center Colloquium. September, 2012.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淭he Rhetorical Dimensions of Transfer in Writing Center Theory and Practice.鈥�  Midwest Writing Centers Association.  Madison, WI. October 2011.

National / International conferences

  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). "What Are Threshold Concepts and Why Writing Center Directors Need Them?" International Writing Centers Association. Orlando, FL. October, 2015.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淭hreshold Concepts and WAC / Writing Centers.鈥� Featured Panel. Conference on College Composition and Communication.  Indianapolis, IN.  March, 2014. 
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淥pen(ing) Conversations: What are the Threshold Concepts of Composition?鈥�  Conference on College Composition and Communication.  Indianapolis, IN.  March, 2014.  Presenter / facilitator in a pre-convention workshop.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淕enre knowledge and 鈥榯ransfer talk鈥� in the writing center: Findings from a pilot study.鈥�  Critical Transitions: Elon Conference on Transfer.  Elon, NC.  June, 2013.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥�Designing Computer Simulations for Tutor Education: Introducing Case Scenario/Critical  Reader Builder鈥� International Writing Centers Association.  San Diego, CA.  October 2012.      
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淭he Rhetorical Dimensions of Transfer in Writing Center Theory and Practice,鈥� International Writing Centers Association.  San Diego, CA.  October 2012.
  • Rebecca Nowacek (Writing Center Director). 鈥淏ecoming an 鈥楨xpert Outsider鈥�: How Genre Knowledge Facilitates Transfer in the Writing Center,鈥� Carleton University, Canada Ottawa Canada. June, 2012.