Writing

What’s New: Fall 2020

All MAX Center tutors and professional staff are working remotely. Use WC Online to schedule an appointment with a writing tutor or writing counselors Becky Graham and Jake Mohan. This Google Doc explains how to make an appointment and meet remotely with writing tutors.

With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Renewed Purpose Award, MAX Writing Counselor Jake Mohan spent summer 2020 synthesizing current literature on antiracist writing pedagogy and multilingual writing, and applying it to writing at Macalester in two guiding documents designed to help faculty and peer mentors understand and assist students in more equitable and justice-oriented ways. You can view those guides here:

Beyond Just: Toward an Antiracist Writing Pedagogy at Macalester

Working with Multilingual Writers at Macalester College

Writing Tutors

Peer writing tutors are available to help with a variety of writing projects, from brainstorming to development to editing. You can bring in any writing project, such as a paper for your first-year course, a project proposal, your capstone, or a personal statement.

Writing tutors are available by appointment or drop-in.

For longer papers and special projects, you may also schedule appointments with our professional writing counselors, Becky Graham (graham@macalester.edu) and Jake Mohan (jmohan@macalester.edu), through WC Online or by emailing them directly.

MAX Pairs

MAX Pairs matches students with peer tutors for a weekly session to provide consistent support to writers facing challenges due to a lack of confidence, proficiency, or experience with written academic English. These writers include, but are not limited to, multilingual writers—those who were raised and/or schooled outside of the United States prior to attending Macalester, and those whose home language is not English.

MAX Pairs is intended to increase students’ facility with and confidence in their written academic English skills, and to mentor students as they navigate the traditions and processes of American academic life.

Students interested in MAX Pairs can read more about it in this MAX Pairs Overview (Google Doc) and can sign up for MAX Pairs by completing this Google Form.

Works in Progress

Works in Progress is a peer-review program where writing tutors facilitate workshops for specific classes. Students meet in the MAX Center to respond to each other’s writing and develop strategies for revision. Faculty members interested in implementing Works in Progress in their classes should contact Julie Lucking at lucking@macalester.edu.

How Works In Progress Works (Google Doc)

Interested in becoming a writing tutor?

We recruit and hire new writing tutors every spring in late March and early April. If you are interested in working as a writing tutor, please contact Becky Graham or Jake Mohan.

On Writing

MAX Writing Tutor and Media & Cultural Studies Major Alya Ansari ’19 made this short film about the MAX Center and writing at Macalester.