This page will give you a breakdown of strategies for synchronous appointments. Being with a writer in real time—online or in-person—gives peer writing tutors an opportunity to “use a process approach, to serve as an audience for [writers], and to familiarize [writers] with the conventions of academic discourse” (Shamoon & Burns, 1995, p. 135). Additionally, because each writer and each writing exigence is different, synchronous appointments allow you to “attend to the individual concerns of every writer who walks in the door,” whether the door is real or metaphorical (Harris & Silva, 1993, p. 525).
Building rapport enhances a sense of connection among people that promotes positive communication and aids learning (Mehrabian, 1971; Richmond, Gorham, & McCroskey, 1987; Witt, Wheeless, & Allen, 2004). As Mackiewicz and Thompson (2013) found, “affective connections” between a peer writing tutor and a writer that are established through “building rapport and solidarity” during appointments are crucial to successful tutoring. Our work, “at [its] most successful, require[s] high levels of cooperation among participants” (Mackiewicz & Thompson, 2013, p. 66). In short, building rapport is a necessary skill for any peer writing tutor and has been proven to make writers more invested in their projects and more receptive to feedback.
Whenever you meet writers, greet them by name and introduce yourself. Consider bringing up a topic of conversation to get them talking. You need not focus on their writing immediately: off-topic dialogue can allow you and the writer to build rapport and can sometimes lead to discussions that provide valuable insights into the writer’s sense of themselves as a writer and learner (Lehman, Cade, & Olney, 2010, p. 108). Sharing writing with a stranger can be intimidating, and building rapport allows you to emphasize your role as a peer rather than an evaluator and will make the writer feel safer and more comfortable with sharing their work.
Building and cultivating rapport engages and encourages writers, establishes empathy, creates a safe space for conversation, facilitates risk-taking, and opens a dialogue about writing. Rapport-building conversation can be focused on whatever you think will allow you to connect with writers. If this is a writer’s first experience with the Writing Center, building rapport will help you explain your role as a peer writing tutor.
In this episode of The Breakroom, the Writing Center's web series about peer writing tutoring, Charlotte learns that building rapport isn't a waste of time.
Setting an agenda is a collaborative endeavor that helps you focus your work, manage time in the appointment, and write an appointment letter. Working together with the writer to set the agenda helps you efficiently navigate the appointment and effectively prioritize the 1-3 goals you set.
In order to help the writer navigate what to cover in the appointment, you should gather as much information as possible. Asking questions can help you gauge the writer’s understandings, assumptions, and expectations; this is especially important when working with English as an additional language writers and international students (Bruce, 2009).
When collaboratively setting the agenda, it can be helpful to break down the structure of the appointment; as Bruce (2009) points out, “an explanation of the time allotted for the session may help the student see the need for the organized plan” (p. 35). This provides writers with the opportunity to express what they feel their immediate needs are and will help as you collaboratively set the agenda. Work with the writer to establish how the time of the appointment will be allotted. Use this as an opportunity to explain that the last 10 minutes of the appointment (or the last 5 minutes for a 30-minute appointment) are to be used for writing the appointment letter.
As you collaboratively set the agenda, find out