Addressing Writer’s Block or Other Writing Issues
PWR instructors certainly address such issues during required
conferences with students and often in many extra conferences
as well. The Stanford Writing Center also provides additional
support for students who need it or for students who are simply
very keen to improve their writing. Probably the most common
writing problem Stanford students have is grasping the nature
of a complex research-based argument. Such students will benefit
greatly from the help of tutor/consultants in the Writing Center
. You may also have multilingual students who will benefit from
extra consultation on the idiomatic use of academic English.
Occasionally you will encounter students with writing anxiety
that can result in writer’s block. Such students need understanding,
but more importantly, they need special help. You can begin this
process by taking some of the pressure off of such a student:
say, for example, that you don’t need a full essay—just
a page or two will do. If handwriting a draft seems less threatening,
suggest that you will be glad to read a handwritten draft. Other
strategies for students with writing anxiety include asking them
to come into the PWR computer office or go to the Writing Center
and just sit at a computer and type for an hour or so—whatever
comes to mind; doing so may loosen the student up enough to get
the writing started. Some students find success in tape recording
or talking out a draft or notes for a draft and then transcribing.
Please notify the PWR Director or Associate Director about a
student whose academic progress may be jeopardized by writing
anxiety, so that we can work together to help the student progress.
