The Idea of a Writing Center

All these concepts and quotes come from Stephen North's essay, "The Idea of a Writing Center."

"It [the writing center] represents the marriage of what are arguably the two most powerful contemporary perspectives on teaching writing: first, that writing is most usefully viewed as a process; and second, that writing curricula need to be student-centered." -438

"In axiom form it goes like this: Our job is to produce better writers, not better writing." -438

"That is, it will not derive from a generalized model of composing, or be based on where the student ought to be because she is a freshman or sophomore, but will begin from where the student is, and move where the student moves... -439

Teachers cannot expect centers to "take care" of some of a student's problems for them. Failing papers should not have "go to the writing center" written at the bottom of them.
Students sent to the writing center (those extrinsically motivated) wont have the right mindset to change their process of writing.

We are not here to supplement the work of some curriculum. We are here to talk to writers. We are not here to be student-advocates, we are here to help students work within their rhetorical situation, which accepts the teacher as given.

Due to the situation of writing centers, there is rarely time for composing to happen during the session.