The following video was based on a role playing session from our fall training, 1996. It stars our head writing assistant and tutor from the '96/'97 academic year, Jennifer Guy and Tim O'Leary.
This tutorial session is packed full of things to talk about, so it will be helpful for you to take notes as you watch. You will be asked to answer questions not only about the overall tutorial dynamic, but also about particular things the tutor and tutee have said. You will also be asked to think of other tactics or questions the tutor could have used, so pay attention to details.
A little later on in the video we will return to the central action and spin it off along two different trajectories. These trajectories are based on options that were available to the tutor, but that she "missed" the first time through. We want you to see just how much a tutor's questions can affect not only the tutorial dynamic, but also the outcome of a student's paper. If you come away from this exercise with anything, it should be the awareness of your own influence over a tutorial and the critical importance of listening to the tutee.
If, after watching the video clip, you don't think that you've 'gotten' our point, click on the "Huh?" button.