by Linda Baker, Psychology

In the spring of 1999 I received the best batch of first papers I'd ever read for a course. They were well written and true to the assignment. I found the reading and the grading process far more efficient and enjoyable than usual. Papers were organized and thoughtful. I could focus on the students' understanding of theory instead of spending time on editing and deciphering. This was the semester I had chosen to work with Writing Fellow, Anne Meyers.

Phyllis Benay had contacted me the previous fall about participating in the Writing Fellow program. In January she, Anne, and I met to work out logistics. Anne spent time getting to know me and understanding the goals of my writing assignments. She requested copies of the syllabus, handouts, and assignments for the course. We agreed on a confidentiality policy because some students would be writing about personal material. We hoped that if she worked with students on the writing process, that students would improve their writing and I would receive better papers.

Anne introduced herself to both sections of the course (60 students) and explained her role as a Writing Fellow. She circulated a schedule which students used to sign up for appointments. Most importantly, she knew how to relate well to me and to my students, and she earned our trust in her ability to provide constructive feedback as she assisted the students with their writing.

Although she met individually with students only twice during the semester to help them edit and deepen the content of their writing assignments, the resulting papers were far more interesting to read than they might have been otherwise. It was a wonderful luxury to have someone who thoroughly understood the assignments working with my students.

Students felt that they had learned so much during their first appointments with Anne that they were able to do a better job on subsequent assignments. Written evaluations of the Writing Fellow program confirmed what we already knew- students felt they had improved their writing and had been more successful in the course. I felt that they had grappled more with the course content and that our communication about the subject matter was enhanced. I would jump at the opportunity to work with a Writing Fellow again.