meeting with the professor

All of the professors in the program requested Fellows; they are doing this because they want to, and they will be happy to talk to you and make plans for the semester. But professors are very busy; you'll need to set meetings up well in advance, and it's a good idea to confirm those meetings closer to the meeting date. You and your fellow Fellow will need to meet with the professor several times during the semester.

first meeting

The first meeting of the semester is very important for everyone involved, because it gives you a chance to get acquainted, exchange logistical information, and begin learning about what the professor values in writing and how you can work effectively within the course. This initial meeting is also a great time to be sure the professor clearly understands what Fellows do. Even though someone from the program has already met at least once with each new professor, communicating effectively with the professor will make things much easier. Be ready to explain your role as a peer tutor and to ask questions if you feel that something needs to be clarified. Listen carefully and take good notes.

Write down a list of questions or issues you want to raise, and bring it with you to this first meeting. When you meet with the professor, make sure you ask for:

• A copy of the course syllabus
• The professor's schedule and the best way to reach him or her
• Copies of the assignments and due dates

And be sure to:

• Set up a day, in the first or second week, to attend class and introduce yourself to the students; for more information, see the section on saying hello to the class.
• Ask about the professor's over-arching goals for the semester. What does he or she hope students will take away from this course? What kinds of students enroll in this course?
• Set up a system for the paper exchange (see the section on the paper chase).
• Discuss a late paper policy: Are you going to accept late drafts? How late? Does the professor want to know who turns in late drafts?
• Discuss a missed-conference policy: Does the professor want to know who misses conferences?
• If your schedule allows, ask the professor if there is a day that would be especially helpful for you to sit in on the class. Attending is not required, but some Fellows in the past have found it helpful. You should always refer content-based questions to the professor, even if you have attended a class to get a better sense of the material.

discussing assignments

You will also need to meet with the professor to discuss his or her expectations for each assignment. Before this meeting be sure to spend some time reading and analyzing the assignment. Ask yourself what the purpose of the assignment is, what elements (i.e. thesis, analysis, summary) are required, and how the professor defines those elements in his or her discipline. Look for terms the professor uses in the assignment and consider whether those terms might be used slightly differently in the professor's discipline. Think about what in the assignment might confuse you if you were a student in the class. During the meeting, ask what the professor expects from written assignments: What are the goals of the papers? How does the instructor define a "good paper"? Does he or she encourage experimentation? Is there a particular form the paper should follow? Does he or she have copies of one or two successful student papers you can skim?

while you're commenting

Be sure to touch base with the professor while you are in the process of commenting on the drafts. Come to the meeting prepared to talk about trends you are seeing in the drafts (i.e. no one seems to have a thesis). Write comments on one or two drafts before the meeting and be prepared to share your comments with the professor and to discuss what was particularly difficult to comment on or that strikes you as very successful in those drafts. This meeting allows you and the professor to make sure you are on the same page.

after the professor's done grading

Plan to meet with the professor after he or she finishes grading the papers to exchange feedback: Did everyone come to the conferences? How did the students respond to your comments? What might you do differently on the next round of papers?