IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2004

The Effects of Tutor Expertise in Engineering Writing: A Linguistic Analysis of Writing Tutors' Comments

J. Mackiewicz

Abstract

Writing tutors often have very little or no expertise in conventions of engineering writing. In this study, I examine the topics and politeness strategies of tutors' comments, investigating how non-expertise in engineering writing decreases the effectiveness of tutors' interactions with engineering students. I show how the three non-expert tutors gave inappropriate advice and often stated their advice with certainty. I also show how a tutor with expertise in engineering writing gave specific and useful guidance to her tutee and built rapport with him as well. I outline how writing tutors could be trained to help engineering students better.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2004-12-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2004.840485
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
peer tutoring
Export
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Weissbach et al. (2018)
    Collaborating With Writing Centers on Interdisciplinary Peer Tutor Training to …
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  2. Fillenwarth et al. (2018)
    Quantification of Engineering Disciplinary Discourse in Résumés: A Novel Genre …
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. Yin et al. (2013)
    A Study of How Information System Professionals Comprehend Indirect and Direct …
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. Friess (2011)
    Politeness, Time Constraints, and Collaboration in Decision-Making Meetings: A …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Thompson (2009)
    Scaffolding in the Writing Center: A Microanalysis of an Experienced Tutor’s Ve…
    Written Communication
Show all 7 →
  1. Mackiewicz (2006)
    The Functions of Formulaic and Nonformulaic Compliments in Interactions About T…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  2. MacKiewicz (2005)
    How to Use Five Letterforms to Gauge a Typeface's Personality: A Research-Drive…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (19) · 4 in this index

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CrossRef global citation count: 35 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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