North Texas Writing Centers Association
Newsletter

       Volume 10, Issue 2                              Alice Newsome, Editor                  April 08, 2002
 

Notes from the PRESIDENT
By Sandra Beaty
 

   In the Fall of 1992, at the encouragement of Dr. Travis Livingston, I attended my first meeting of the
North Texas Writing Centers Association.  I had just assumed the duties of Writing Center Director at Tarleton State
University, and Travis had encouraged me to seek out professional contacts in my field.  I remember being somewhat hesitant
about attending, but at that meeting, I was welcomed, listened to, encouraged, and included.  At his urging, I later ran for office
of Secretary, and have been on the executive committee ever since.
   Now, my term as President of North Texas Writing Center Association is ending.  It has been a satisfying
experience for me,
and I am thankful for the assistance and support
I have received in fulfilling the duties of the office.

   Special thanks go to all the members of the Executive Committee with whom I had the pleasure of working these
past three years.     I am grateful for your devotion to the essential tasks of scheduling meetings, planning programs,
and keeping records for the NTWCA.   Another area of support that I appreciate is the quality of the programs during my tenure.
TCU’s Kurk Gayle presented an excellent program giving insights for tutoring ESL writers. Collin County gave us Professor Twila Papay’s
insight into establishing a Writing Program in South Africa. Plus the various programs on writing proposals for funding, incorporating
technology into the Writing Center, and working with diverse student populations presented excellent suggestions for
Writing Center Administration.

   Our last meeting at Tarrant County College was a very pleasant experience.  Mike Matthews and Vera Ornelas provided
a congenial atmosphere for the meal and conversation.  Plus the program gave us some interesting and valuable information
about the TASP and TASS tests.  Thanks Guy and Charlsye for the update!
   Please mark your calendars to join me and the rest of our good NTWCA colleagues at the April 19th meeting in
Granbury.  I look forward to seeing you then.
     Sandy Beaty, President
         sbeaty@tarleton.edu
 
 

Please note the Proposed Slate of New Officers.
The members will vote for officers during the Spring Meeting.
At that time, additional nominations will be considered.

President—Guy Litton
Vice-President—Marie Schein
Secretary—Steve Sherwood
Treasurer—Vera Ornelas
Newsletter Editor—Alice Newsome
 
 

February Program Results
 

The February Program, “Changes in TASP and TAAS: How the Changes Affect Writing Center Policy and Tutors”
featuring Guy Litton and Charlsye Smith (Texas Woman’s University), was extremely informative and beneficial.

Charlsye provided her research results, which examined the best predictors of student success in college writing situations.
Charlsye presented two considerations:  TAAS scores and students’ writing experience.  Her conclusions support the
assertion that the more writing experience students have, the better they perform on initial diagnostic college-level essay exams,
regardless of TAAS scores.

Guy outlined the progression of TASP since its implementation.  He focused on a number

                                                             of interesting TASP facts, as well as issues for further discussion.

In addition, Guy provided members with several very useful links; a few are listed below:

TASP Policy Manual
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/HTML/0211.htm
********************************
The latest bulletins regarding TASP
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us
********************************
Article by Lloyd Kinnison about TASP, GPAs, and education majors
http://www.nationalforum.com/19KINN~1.htm
********************************
Texas Academic Skills Council newsletters
http://www.tasp.nesinc.com/fyi_all.htm
 
 

TCU to Send Contingent to
International Writing Center Conference
 

The entire professional staff of the William L. Adams Writing Center at TCU plans to attend the International Writing
Centers Association Conference in Savannah, Georgia, April 11-13.  Jeanette Harris, director of the writing center at
TCU, will chair and take part in a roundtable presentation concerning the problem of how individuals can continue
to be energetic, productive writing center directors and tutors.  Consisting of five seasoned writing center directors-- Muriel Harris,
Jeanne Simpson, Kevin Davis, Lady Falls Brown, and Jeanette Harris--the roundtable will focus on strategies
for remaining professionally active.

In addition, Margaret-Rose Marek will chair a panel presentation by Steve Sherwood,
Marie Schein, and Dave Kuhne.  This presentation will deal with post-process theories of composition
and their implications on writing center work.
 
 
 
 

NTWCA Spring Meeting
Friday, April 19, 2002
11:30 AM—3:00 PM
The Dora Lee Langdon Cultural Center
Granbury, Texas

Hosted
by Tarleton State University

The Spring Program

The professional staff of the William L. Adams Writing Center, Texas Christian University, has
graciously agreed to present the Spring 2002 program.

Margaret-Rose Marek will chair a panel presentation by Steve Sherwood,
Marie Schein, and Dave Kuhne.  This presentation will deal with
post-process theories of composition and their implications on writing center work.

11:30-12:00   Registration
                             12:00- 1:00    Welcome, Luncheon, and Business Meeting
 1:00                Program

The meeting will be held in the Concert Hall at the Langdon Center.  Parking is available in two different lots.
One lot is at the Concert Hall; the other lot borders Stockton Street. Unless necessary, please do not
park in the street, as Friday
traffic in Granbury can be somewhat cumbersome!

Directions to Granbury and to the Landon Center are located at
http://www.tarleton.edu/~lgdnctr/Maps.htm

For more information, please contact  Sandra Beaty  (254-968-9025 or sbeaty@tarleton.edu)
or  Alice Newsome (254-968-9026  or  anewsom@tarleton.edu)
 
 

          The  Tarleton State University Writing Center will provide lunch.
Please note your choices  and email your request to Sandy or Alice by Tuesday, April 16th.

Name:_______________________________________

Sandwich:         turkey                   ham                   chicken salad

Bread:               wheat                    white

Lunch also includes chips, a pickle, a cookie, and a drink.
 
 
 
 

Tutors’ Corner

  As we approach the end of the Spring Semester, the writing center tutors at Tarleton State University
would like to say that it’s been very rewarding working with students from various departments.
Many of our tutors worked with students who faced a number of writing challenges.  Tutoring is an
ongoing learning process in the sense that it gives the students and tutors an opportunity to reason, explore,
and share their knowledge about a given subject.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Barbara Offor, an undergraduate   tutor at Tarleton State University Writing Center,
 designed the print issue of  the North Texas Writing Centers Association Newsletter.