University Writing

Meeting with Your Writing Fellows
Plan to meet with the Fellows assigned to your class at least twice a semester, once before each writing assignment.

In your first meeting with the Writing Fellows, you will:

1. Review the assignments
   • Provide the Writing Fellows with copies of syllabus, assignment sheets, and grading rubrics.
   • Discuss your expectations thoroughly.
   • If possible, provide models of good writing for the assignment.
2. Review logistics of fellowing process
   • Schedule class introduction (About 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the class).
   • Provide a copy of the roll (preferably a picture roll) and divide up students among the Writing Fellows.
   • Establish a plan, including dates, for picking up and returning papers. Consider whether electronic or paper submissions would work best for your class.
   • Arrange for the students to submit cover sheets for the drafts. Make this part of the requirements for submission. (Click here to see the cover sheet.)
   • Establish a plan for students to sign up for conference times (This is traditionally a paper sign-up sheet passed around in class. However, some professors have had the students sign up through the Blackboard discussion board. Others have found success with online sign-up sheets using Google Docs.)
   • Discuss how you will reward/penalize students who complete/don’t complete the fellowing process.
   • Consider giving the Writing Fellows access to Blackboard.
3. Discuss other ways the Writing Fellows can help
   • Early Contact. The Writing Fellows are willing to help the students as they prepare their draft. They can do this in a class workshop, through email, or in conferences.
   • Class presentation. The Writing Fellows could present a workshop to the class to teach a particular writing skill (such as outlining or documentation).
4. Review the Writing Fellows contract together and sign it. (Click here to see the contract.)

In your second meeting with the Writing Fellows, you will:

1. Review the first round of fellowing
   • Discuss what went well in the first round.
   • Bring up any concerns from the first round.
   • Discuss solutions to any problems.
2. Review the next assignment
   • Discuss your expectations thoroughly.
   • Provide the fellows with assignment sheets, grading rubrics, etc. for the second assignment.
   • If possible, provide models of good writing for the assignment.
3. Review logistics for the second fellowing
   • Plan times to have students fill out cover sheets, fellows pick up and return papers, etc.
   • Schedule a time for students to evaluate their experiences with the Writing Fellows.