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What Is A Writing Consultant?

The success of our Writing Center depends upon dedicated, enthusiastic people who care about becoming better writers and helping others to do the same.

 

That quality - of caring enough about how people think and how writers match their best words to their best ideas - is what defines a good writing consultant.  Each year, teachers identify and recommend students who have displayed this quality in their classes.  These students are invited to apply to the Writing Center internship program, which provides training and support for students as they work as writing consultants in the Shaker Writing Center. 

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About the internship

New interns will begin the semester by reading about and discussing writing center theory and practice.  The Shaker Writing Center is based on ideals that exist in writing centers around the world, and it is important for all of us to have a strong sense of why we do what we do. 

 

Using The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors and various articles, we will establish a foundation that we will use as we enter into peer-to-peer conversations about writing.  We will focus on different genres and modes of writing.

 

Upon successful completion of the training, interns may serve as writing consultants at the Shaker Writing Center and will create and develop inquiry projects that continue to make our writing center a valuable and necessary resource in the North Colonie community. Examples of past inquiry projects include the creation of workshops (College Essay Writing, Resume Writing, etc.), collaboration with young writers (Creative Writing Club, the Young Writers Program, Breakout EDUs and GooseChases with elementary students, etc.), and the establishment of a world languages branch of the Writing Center.

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Student interns will also lead North Colonie's celebration of the National Day on Writing in October and develop and run the 4th grade Young Writers kick-off and revision days.  

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We encourage writing interns to register for both semesters if possible so that you have Writing Center time built into your schedule. Students who enroll in both semesters must maintain the GPA requirement and must meet the minimum requirement in internship hours in order to continue into the second semester. Students must also maintain the GPA requirement in order to continue on as writing consultants.

Expectations and Responsibilities

  • show a genuine interest in writing and an enthusiasm about interacting with others

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  • motivate yourself to follow your own lines of inquiry

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  • listen patiently and thoughtfully to others

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  • take on a leadership role, as outlined in the consultant contract

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  • maintain an overall GPA above a 90, with a semester average of at least a 93 in English

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  • adhere to the guidelines and rules set forth in the Shaker High School Code of Conduct 

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  • be available in the Writing Center a minimum of 50 hours for consultations and other Writing Center programs/projects

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  • meet with the Writing Center director and intern group for a minimum of 25 hours of seminar classes per semester

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  • submit a weekly log outlining your consultations and seminar hours

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  • participate in activities and workshops throughout the district

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  • bring in students who are unfamiliar with the Writing Center 

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  • actively encourage students who have used the Writing Center to return

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  • work to ensure that the Writing Center is relevant to and supportive of the work that Shaker student writers—at all levels and from all grades—are doing

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  1. Download and print the application.

  2. Complete the application.  Use the Writing Center as you respond to the 3 writing prompts.

  3. Schedule an appointment with Mrs. Matrose, an English teacher and the Writing Center director, to introduce yourself and hand in your application. 

Apply
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