Wallace,+Ray.++The+Writing+Center’s+Role+in+the+Writing+Across+the+Curriculum+Program..+Theory+and+Practice

Wallace, Ray. “The Writing Center’s Role in the Writing Across the Curriculum Program: Theory and Practice.” WCJ 8.2 (1988): 43-48. Reprinted in Barnett: 403-407.

Wallace discusses his university’s implementation of a WAC program and the role of his WC in that process. He suggests that the WC should only be a “support service” (407) and that writing should never be separated from content. Thus, disciplinary tutors should be used and the WC should work hand in hand with professors from the disciplines, including using them in the training of tutors and to provide information. By making the process a 2-way conversation, both the WC improves its ability to help writers in other disciplines, and the instructors learn about teaching writing in their classes.

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“As the writing center became a place where professors and tutors could echange ideas and techniques that proved effective, theory and practice merged” (406).

“The center is, and should always be, only a support service; writing-across-the-curriculum advocates should never expect writing and content to be separated in terms of instruction. As writing center personnel, we owe it to these new colleagues to provide the most effective support” (407).