The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

Analysis & Response 137 study “Nature of Interactions during Teacher-Student Writing Conferences, Revisiting the Potential Effects on Self-Efficacy Beliefs,” points out that when students discuss their writing with a teacher, those students who are more confident in their writing benefited more from the session (77). While it may be true that more advanced writing students learn more in teacher-student meetings, I believe that students step toward this skill and confidence in writing by initiating such conferences. When students are accustomed to the practice of going over papers with a professor, this very practice will make them better writers, more confident in their writing abilities, and satisfy the need for socialization in writing. However, applying to the course administrator is not the only way to get feedback from more experienced individuals, a student can participate in peer consultations. While this may seem like the workshops Imentionedbefore, it is quite different.Many schools have implemented writing centers where students in all courses and fields of study can come to discuss their papers. Cedarville University has one such writing center. On their website, the administrators of the Cedarville writing center make it clear that the writing center is a place where students can get critique from peers, but those who work at the writing center will not proofread, nor write your paper. The goal of the writing center is to help students improve their writing skills through social interaction (par. 1). Those who work at the writing center are college students who have gone through intensive training, preparing them to critique and encourage aspiring writers. The administrators also clearly state that the writing center is meant to be a comfortable and relaxed environment (par. 1). If a student is set against a one-on-one consultation with his or her teacher, then the writing center is the perfect place for the student to receive experienced critique which, in the end, will help the student to learn more through social writing. Many in society either do not recognize or ignore the lack of social interaction in writing in education as a problem. High school teachers and even college professors, the ones who can remedy this situation, are among the guiltiest. Practically everyone realizes that there is a problem when it comes to the comprehension of the material and writing about that material. These issues are