It is that time in the quarter where everyone is scrambling to piece together that final research paper (myself included). The UCWbL will soon be very busy with final papers and final projects. We get plenty of practice during the year giving feedback on papers, but abstract projects are a bit of a different story. There are many different kinds of final projects that, even though they are not traditional papers, we can still offer our advice and expertise. The main examples that come to mind are presentations/speeches, creative expression pieces, and three-dimensional design projects.
Presentations and Speeches:
Many classes require presentations and speeches for final projects either in addition or in replacement of final papers. Luckily, because of our experience with Digication, we have some expertise to share on design. If you have an appointment for a presentation, I would suggest looking over the Get Help page on Digication and review their design advice. Another great resource for graphic design projects such as ads, presentations, and marketing materials is Canva. The program is very user-friendly and is a great resource to share with writers. You can also use your own experience with presentations to help tutors. In the same way that we share our own methods for writing to students, we can also share how we tackle creative projects.
In the same way, it is useful to have another set of eyes on a paper, it is useful to have another set of eyes and ears on a presentation! Presenting to a tutor will help a writer practice with a real person with real questions before they take on their class or another group. The most useful things you can provide to your writer/presenter are questions. This will help them to identify any missing pieces of information in the presentation and practice thinking on their feet. Questions are not something that they can necessarily prepare themselves for on their own, so it is important that you serve as the audience just as in writing assignment appointments.
Creative Expression Pieces:
Abstract representation projects are very common for classes based on creativity and the liberal arts. These pieces may be a demonstration, collage, or multimedia creation. For example, a friend of mine who works at Starbucks is doing a project where she asks everyone in the class’s name and writes it on a Starbucks cup. The demonstration is to show that even in an increasingly impersonal world, capitalist corporations can still make efforts to make experiences more personal. Her emphasis is on treating the customer as a real person. In a face-to-face appointment, she could try this out logistically with a tutor, and then practice her explanation while also responding to any questions or reactions from the tutor.
A second example is something that everyone who works at the UCWbL has done; a lesson. Some people teach languages, others how to draw, and I taught how to make a friendship bracelet. For me, I think coming in to practice my demonstration with a tutor would have been very beneficial. This way, I could have seen where my instruction was clear and where it might have needed to go more in-depth. If you know anyone working on a project like this, encourage them to try it out at the Writing Center!
Three-Dimensional Designs:
These types of projects are probably the least likely to come our way at the UCWbL, but why not be prepared for anything? At one point in your life, whether it be a diorama, sculpture, or prototype/model, you most likely have done some kind of three-dimensional project. Even if you are not an expert at design, do your best to come in with an open mind. The student may not be an expert either. I know a few people who had the option to do creative pieces for their Discover/Explore final, a class that nearly every undergraduate at DePaul takes. Try to start off as a blank slate with no assumptions or preconceptions. Understand that the student is there for a second opinion, and ask what they want from that second opinion.
A good way to begin might be to ask the student to explain their process; the who, what, when, where, why, and how. These are things that I am always looking for in essays, and I think that this can cross over to three-dimensional projects as well. As the student practices talking about their project, they will become more concise and precise in their understanding of their work. It can be very difficult to explain a creative or artistic project in words. Often in these projects, the ideas come first and then the words. The student is the master of the ideas, and we can help them form the words to explain them by actively listening and engaging. Honestly, just be the good person and nice writer you are and hopefully the rest will come pretty easily!
All in All:
So, do we often get these projects? No, not necessarily, but it is better to be prepared and to have a wide range of capabilities. A big push at the Writing Center is always to reach more people, and this often means more departments and majors. Letting people know that they can rehearse presentations and speeches with us may encourage more students to use us as a resource. Furthermore, if people come in wanting to work on more abstract projects, we can serve as an audience and help them put their art into words. Hopefully, this helps boost your confidence a little as a tutor. Just stick to the core values and core practices, and you should be golden. Please comment or share if you get any final projects like these!
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