Become a peer writing tutor

The Ott Memorial Writing Center is staffed by carefully selected and extensively prepared undergraduate and graduate peer tutors. We seek tutors from a wide variety of disciplines. Our current staff includes majors in Accounting, Biological Sciences, Education, English, Finance, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish.

You may be a good candidate if

  • you are an undergraduate student with two or more semesters remaining at Marquette
  • you have strong writing skills and enjoy talking with others about their writing
  • you are able to take English 4230: Writing Center Theory, Research and Practice during the spring semester

If you are interested in learning more but were unable to attend one of our information sessions earlier this semester, please contact the Director, Dr. Rebecca Nowacek.

There are lots of great reasons to consider becoming an undergraduate peer writing tutor at Marquette's Ott Memorial Writing Center. Our peer tutors

  • develop their own written and oral communication skills by talking with other writers about their writing
  • cultivate skills valued by employers and graduate programs (alum regularly report that they are asked early and often about their tutoring experiences on job interviews)
  • join a welcoming and supportive community of writers and learners
  • become leaders on campus (conducting workshops, planning campus-wide events, etc.)
  • conduct their own research, if they choose--sometimes presenting it at regional, national, and international conferences

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Why become a peer writing tutor?

  1. Dynamic, engaging work: no two days are the same!
  2. An inclusive work environment with people from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
  3. Good pay.
  4. Flexible hours.
  5. The pleasure of talking about writing with other writers.
  6. Opportunities to improve your own writing, which is useful in every major and profession.
  7. Opportunities to develop professional skills like critical thinking and time management.
  8. Opportunities to design and lead campus workshops.
  9. Opportunities to conduct and present research at national conferences.
  10. Social events, free food at staff meetings, and library study space for writing center staff.

Who works as a peer writing tutor? 

 

The Ott Memorial Writing Center is staffed by undergraduate and graduate students who go through extensive training and a competitive selection process. Our tutors are not only strong writers; they are also empathetic listeners and creative problem solvers. We seek tutors from a wide variety of disciplinary, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

Our staff includes majors in Accounting, Biological Sciences, Education, English, Finance, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish.

 How can I become a peer writing tutor? 

  • All undergraduate tutors must first take English 4230: Writing Center Theory, Research, and Practice. The course is offered each spring.
  • Information sessions, which allow you to meet current tutors and learn more about the benefits of working in the writing center, will be held on
    • W Oct 28, 7pm
    • M Nov 2, 7pm
    • R Nov 5, 7pm

All sessions will be held in the Ott Memorial Writing Center, in 240 Raynor Memorial Library.