Writing Consultancy, fall 2007

See? Technology, specifically blogging and internet stuff, is satanic. That's why I don't like it.

Yet you managed to comment on her blog entry...Or is this just your required comment for the week?

(oh, snap?)

I think the real problem lies in the emoticons we choose. I mean, why settle for a simple :-) when we could use, say, the Abe Lincoln?

==):-)=

Ah yes. This is possible. After writing my blog entry, I discovered the sexy little scuba diver

..._(:)-o

hmmm...

How about the Hitler?

>:=(

I wonder if there's a universal "Churchill" emoticon. . .it would probably be very effective for dealing with ESL students, but fall flat when dealing with the domestic front. . . .

Along that line, then, John, we totally need an FDR emoticon, too.

"We have nothing to fear [as regards writing] but fear itself!"

how about the "really happy"

C:

or the WHATNOWAI

D:

haha...I always feel like an idiot when I laugh at something online and no one else is in the room...anyway.
I feel like it is so easy to hate on the internet; I mean come on, we are replacing precious human interaction with a computer screen! Pretty soon, they [computers] are going to get too smart and take over the world.

I have an irrational fear of robots and movies like the matrix happening.

But, (ohhh breaking some grammar rules!) there are some definate advantages to internet consulting. Pehaps students who would never consider going to an actual person for writing help (whether it be lack of time, confidence or social skills) would receive the needed help that they wouldn't otherwise get?

I don't know though- I still prefer real people talking to me rather than an emoticon conveying the meaning. Though I must say, you all have impressed me with your extensive knowledge of these little faces. Kind of weird. :) (So, does this comment not seem as mean because I have a smiley face behind it? Because I really didn't mean it to be mean!)

It actually did sound less mean...crap. Although, I'm not sure I thought it was mean in the first place. BUT SEE?! That's the problem! And how do I know you're not still snickering, alone in your room, oh anonymous commenter?

But anyway, isn't it great that we're all "hating [or not hating] on the internet" on the internet? Ha! This topic is insane. Sorry.

xD

Well, all faces aside (hehe), this is indeed a "gigantic" topic. For some reason your post reminded me a lot of facebook, instant messages, LOL & the condensation of language on the net...well, u guys know wut i'm talking bout...

Like Emily said, the idea of this "virtual realm" interferes with the idea of having a tangible, interpersonal one-on-one tutoring session. However, Murphy/Sherwood also mention the upside of consulting online: the idea of not having "physical" barriers (consultant worrying about how the student will react to his/her pointers & consultant being able to communicate fully what the he/she wants to say to the student).

Although I can't quite pin down my thoughts on how to judge & weigh the benefits and setbacks of online consulting right now, I just realized that I'm definitely better at writing/typing down my thoughts. (What I'm trying to say is, by writing down what I'm thinking, I'm able to read what I'm thinking & make it make sense) Whether that's a good thing or not when it comes to online consulting: I don't know. Sure, it could mean the student will better understand what I'm trying to convey to him/her, but I could also think too much before I type/speak, thus destroying the personal, natural teaching session that we try to achieve.

?????? #-o

i'm not doing online tutoring, so this is all purely speculation. it seems like online tutoring, while not allowing us to pick up on body language, has other things going for it that might be useful for particular kinds of writers/tutors. as someone who takes a while to gather my thoughts, or to respond to questions, i sometimes feel like it's hard to quickly read a paper and be able to quickly turn around and offer useful feedback. in class, being a consultee, i sometimes find it hard to immediately explain myself when the consultant asks me what i'm thinking somewhere. i think you can try to make a consulting session feel comfortable enough for someone to think out loud and be confused...but sometimes, the reality of personal interactions make this hard. (for example, when a student's clearly uncomfortable while you're reading their paper, doesn't it make you want to hurry? and doesn't that sometimes make it hard to give effective feedback?) no answers there, but interesting to think about...

Hi--
Katie invited those of us not in your class to lurk--so I've skimmed postings a couple of times. I hope that's OK...

I just want to add a bit of clarification about my comment about students not coming to the chat when they submit papers to SWS.online. I apologize if I said many of them don't come--I should have said that a few of them don't come. And it's interesting to me--we don't know why. There are all sorts of possible reasons. But I'm glad it's only a few who don't come.

Thanks for letting me jump in...

Hi Linda! I didn't mean to put you on the spot in this blog entry, I just remembered you commenting on sws.online and shared your interest. Thanks for the clarification...I guess it's interesting either way...

Emoticons are really a big help in communicating online. Although it couldn't represent your exact mood sometimes, it could at least give a hint to it.

Consulting online can help students develop their communication skills. There is also less shyness in their part if they want to consult something.

rDJsgr

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