College Writing Program
Support Services for Social Science Faculty
To help faculty in the social sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering address their students’ writing needs, the College Writing Program (CWP) offers several support services. We will also be happy to introduce our services to your faculty during a departmental or other meeting.
If you do not see the service you need, or have an idea for additional services, please do not hesitate to contact us at 273-3584, at cwp@mail.rochester.edu, or at any of the emails at the bottom of the page.
Writing modules: Writing modules are instructional units led by the CWP that help students learn writing principles and strategies that help students meet the writing goals in your classes. These modules consist of a combination of interactive, hand-on workshops addressing a particular writing skill, followed by a CWP-facilitated peer review to provide students with feedback on their writing. The precise composition of the module, including the content, timing, and number of workshops and peer reviews; the skills targeted; and the format in which modules are run (e.g.: in or out of class, in person or online) can all be tailored to your needs.
If you are interested in discussing a Writing Module, or one of the components (either the workshop or the assisted peer reviews), please contact:
Katherine Schaefer, Writing Module Coordinator, at katherine.schaefer@rochester.edu, or call 273-3584.
Consultation on design of writing assignments in the social sciences: The CWP can help you to refine your writing assignments, create a schedule for drafting essays, and develop grading criteria in ways that will lead to improved student papers, better student understanding of the writing process, and a more positive reading and responding experience for you. We have several people on staff with backgrounds in the social sciences and who are familiar with the general conventions in your field.
If you are interested in discussing your course materials, please contact:
Katherine Schaefer, Writing Module Coordinator, at katherine.schaefer@rochester.edu, or call 273-3584
Writing fellow support for your course: CWP writing fellows are undergraduates who have been specially trained to provide feedback on writing projects. Many of our tutors have particular experience writing in the social sciences, while others regularly work with issues that are relevant to writing in all disciplines. Students can always choose to visit the fellows individually during drop-in hours. However, if you think that the students in your class would benefit from a more structured interaction with the fellows, please contact us. We may be able to accommodate semester-long support for your class. Writing fellows are especially suitable for working closely with students on discrete concerns, facilitating peer-review and writing groups, and offering group tutoring sessions.
To discuss semester-long writing fellow support for your course, please contact the Assistant Director of the CWP, Stefanie Sydelnik, at stefanie.sydelnik@rochester.edu or call 273-3584.
Individual consultations: Individual consultations provide opportunities for students to enter into a dialogue about their work with constructively critical readers. The CWP offers individual consultations in several formats http://writing.rochester.edu/help/index.html:
- Writing consultants: Writing consultants (trained graduate students or postgraduate fellows with extensive teaching or tutoring experience) work with students, as well as faculty and staff, at any point in the writing process and on any type of writing.
- Standing appointments with a writing consultant: A specific writing consultant will work with a student on a regular basis, typically once a week. We recommend that students work with several consultants before requesting a standing appointment with a particular consultant.
- Writing fellows: Writing fellows (trained undergraduate peer tutors) provide critical feedback on writing at any stage of the writing process. They are available on a walk-in basis at three locations (Carlson Library, Sue B, and the CWP main office).
- Online feedback (Write-On): Writing fellows (trained undergraduate peer tutors) offer written responses to online inquiries from students, faculty, and staff within 24 hours.
- G-Chat tutoring: Writing fellows (trained undergraduate peer tutors) now offer up to 20 minute online consultations via G-chat in Gmail. Just email URtutoring@gmail.com to add your name to the system, and then message the username URtutoring in Gmail during the virtual drop-in hours.
- ESOL tutoring: Students with ESOL concerns may request an appointment with the CWP ESOL Program Director, G. Paige Sloan gsloan@z.rochester.edu.
If you are interested in having CWP visit to your classroom to advertise our support services, please contact the CWP Assistant Director, Stefanie Sydelnik, at stefanie.sydelnik@rochester.edu
More questions? Please contact us at 273-3584, or email directly:
CWP Director Deborah Rossen-Knill deb.rossen-knill@rochester.edu
CWP Assistant Director Stefanie Sydelnik stefanie.sydelnik@rochester.edu
CWP Writing Module Coordinator Katherine Schaefer katherine.schaefer@rochester.edu
