Paranoid?

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Do any of you tell your professors (if they don't already know) that you work in a Writing Center? I worry all the time about one of my professors that might not know me as well as other ones, especially in my small University, suggesting that I go to the WRC for help on my papers. Am I supposed to just say ok, I'll go and that's it? It's never happened, and being in my last semester, probably won't but it's crossed my mind more than once. I love this job and I love being able to help people discover how to poignantly and succinctly put down their ideas and thoughts but I often fear my own might get jumbled from my mind to the paper. I'm probably paranoid about it but it's happened before. (A story I've heard around the water cooler) Just food for thought I guess.

Comments

  1. Anonymous5:40 PM

    I don't think the issue is so much whether or not your instructors know you work at the Writing Center. I've mentioned it to some of my professors when it's relevant and they're always like, "Oh, cool," but they also don't hesitate to tell me when I mess up in my papers.

    The problem I could see arising is if you think your professors would assume your writing is perfect just because you work at the WC. That could just plain get awkward.

    On the flip side, it's not a BAD thing for a professor to suggest that you seek help for your writing. WCs are for good writers too. I've come in for appointments myself, and I've tutored other tutors on their writing. Every writer can benefit from collaboration with other people who can contribute their own perspectives, questions, and ideas for improvement.

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  2. Anonymous4:16 PM

    I'm not sure what the original post is really trying to get at. So what if they suggest you go to the writing center? Everyone needs help every once in a while. Plus, going up to your professor and announcing the fact that you are a tutor at the writing center might come across as pretentious or attention seeking if nothing precedes it.

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