Major Themes in Writing Center/Comp Pedagogy

Building Block Approach
Shaughnessy
Associated with skill and drill workbooks
Criticism involves
student perception of this work
obstacle to academic access


Universal Design
Maximum accessibility-mainstreaming
"Studio" method
Extra breakout sessions for foundational problems

Academic discourse approach
Basic writers lack of knowledge of academic discourse is as problematic as their lack of
knowledge of grammar conventions.
Significant amounts of academic reading
Academic writing that takes account of student experiences
Criticism involves
this devalues other discourses
it might devalue writing itself if emotionality is reduced

Contact Zone
Mary Louise Pratt
Writing, and writing focused environments
are zones of contact between dominant and non-dominant cultures.
These zones are characterized by asymmetrical power relationships.
This appeals to ESL, dialect speakers
It validates their primary mode of communication, while teaching a new one.
Academic writing with mulitcultural sensitivity.
-hybrid discourse