The+Debate+Over+Generalist+and+Specialist+Tutors.Genre+Theory’s+Contribution

Walker, Kristin. “The Debate Over Generalist and Specialist Tutors: Genre Theory’s Contribution.” WCJ 18.2 (1998): 327-45.
Walker engages with the debate between generalist vs. specialist tutors. She suggests that a middle ground can be reached, and that genre theory can provide a means for that negotiation. Generalists can think about the ways that they learned to write in their disciplines so as not to prejudge the writing, and generalists can learn disciplinary genre conventions. Gives several examples of how this can occur, such as discussions with instructors, giving examples, comparing skills of beginning and advanced students, etc. Most important is understanding that genres exist in context. Simple skills and conventions cannot just be learned, but must be able to be understood and critiqued within social context.

"Instead of focusing on the dichotomy between generalist/specialist tutors, writing center staff can focus on establishing a broader theoretical framework for tutor training that better prepares both generalists and specialists to help writers in all disciplines (34)."
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"Because writing conventions emerge from social situations, as Berkenkotter, Huckin, and Winsor discuss, learning about the conventions through social interaction can allow writing center staff an 'inside look' at the ways writing is produced in a field. All kinds of communication - from casual discussions to formal interviews - can provide a Burkean 'terministic screen' through which to view these clients' positions within the academy. And, provided with this information, tutors can understand more about the social culture in which these clients are writing, an understanding that leads to more focused and informmative tutoring sessions" (35).