The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors

by Leigh Ryan

The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors discusses the needs of writing tutors as both teachers and scholars, helping you establish your tutoring techniques and reflect on your teaching philosophies.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Read For School, School, Reference, College, Teaching

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found out that I would be co-directing my school's Writing Center next school year, it would be an understatement to say that I felt like I was about to taking on a daunting task. I immediately started gathering resources to help me understand what exactly it is that a Writing Center entails, as well as the ways that I can prepare my Advanced Composition students to be successful tutors. One of the first books that I picked up was The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors: Fifth Edition, and I am so glad that I did.

Although the intended audience of The Bedford Guide is, as the title suggests, writing tutors, as a teacher I believe that this is an invaluable source. The guide takes on the variety of responsibilities of writing tutors and writing centers and offers a number of practical, easy-to-implement strategies to prepare and run a successful writing center. The guide encourages tutors to reflect on their own attitudes toward writing and emphasizes that their job is to help tutees improve their own writing. What I also like about this guide is that it focuses on the importance of recognizing the author’s ownership of his writing, as well as the fact that tutors shouldn’t feel like they have to turn every paper into an A paper. This guide has helped me to feel less overwhelmed by all that a writing center entails, and instead has made me excited to embark on an awesome journey toward helping to create an empowering and effective student-run writing center.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. It took me a while to read because I'd get past a few pages and then have to take a nap. It's all very useful information and I'm sure I'll use it when I start tutoring... umm, some of the scenarios and things to remember were overwhelming. Although I'll use this book to reference and remember ideas about tutoring, I don't think it can prepare me for the job as much as just doing the job will.

[james]

for the record, i did not actually finish this, but i'll be damned if i dont get to use it to cushion my goodreads goal

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just recently started a job at the writing center at a local college, and this was the required reading material. Although it's a dry subject, I learned a lot from this book and it has already helped me tutor a couple of people!

[Elizabeth Gunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

*read for work

Solid book, good tips, but could easily be taught in an hour or two hour training session.

[Emily Krueger · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far my favorite book we read for this class.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you plan on tutoring in any aspect, this is a great resource.

[Peregrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this very helpful as a beginner's resource, and I'm a lot less worried about my new job now.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this because I will be a writing center tutor starting this fall. This was a really helpful book as tutoring is new to me.

[Klaudine]

No rating but I can tell this'll be a super useful tool moving forward as a tutor.

[h.f.]

Read for work

[Resh · Rating 3 out of 5]

im counting as finishing this bc we talked about this too much and i read it vaguely

[Kayla]

Read for school.

[Sabrina_K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction for writing tutors.

[Elias James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of the lack of detail the previous reviewer gave, I feel the need to defend this book. It is a really great resource for any writer or tutor. It teaches the main skills (writing, teaching, and people skills) required to be a good English tutor. We went through a good portion of this book as well as A Tutor's Guide in our class and both helped a lot. Note to teachers: the publisher is usually willing to provide these for college-level classes, ask them about it (saved money for students and gives you another tool to work with).

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a comprehensive and helpful look at the many aspects of tutoring in a writing center that managed to provide good guidance without seeming either overwhelming or condescending. January 2016 Update: The latest (6th) edition (for those familiar with previous ones) is substantially different, particularly in its approach to online tutoring and digital literacies, than the prior one. It's worth an update for your writing center.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely will help anyone to be able to become a writing tutor. The chapter gives effective tips for dealing with a wide range of issues while tutoring, such as a writer who plagiarizes, non-native English speakers, those students with the "perfect paper", and even those that come into the writing center to vent about all of their own personal problems. This book helps with any of these issues and more. I would highly recommend using this guide to train tutors!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were to teach a Writing Center course, this would be the book I use. It's short, practical, easy to navigate and, above all, includes occasional illustrative comic strips. Excellent. In fact, I like it for my dream "Semi-radical Academic Workshop" course that some day, some glorious day, I will teach.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used this with peer tutoring class. Within the limits of a tutoring guide, I liked it fine. Tutoring guides in general, though, present material as less complicated than it is. We supplemented with many outside articles and resources.

[Michael B Tager · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not like a FUN READ or anything, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It's the "Dumb and Dumber" of Writing Tutor guides. There's thoughtful questions, "nuts and bolts" and some history to give it all context.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good summation of what a writing tutor needs to know in a slim volume.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple little text book that will serve our future high school writing center well.

[A.L. Stumo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better for peer tutors than professional or faculty tutors, but still good.