WRITING TUTORIAL
QUESTION TYPES
The Writing Hub
WRITER-ORIENTED: WRITER-ORIENTED:
IDEA GENERATING PROCESS
Elicit information about the
Encourage further thinking about
student's writing process and/or
the paper and generate new ideas
conceptualization of the paper
(take thinking further)
"How did you go about writing this
"What kind of word is 'magic'"?
paper?"
"What are some questions you
"What do you see as the purpose
still have after this experience?"
of this assignment?"
REQUEST FOR
AGENDA-FOCUSED
ACTION
Discover a student's concerns about
the assignment/their writing to set Ask student to perform an action
an agenda for the session during the session
"What would you like to focus "Can you point out where your
on?" thesis is?"
"What are your concerns about "Can you spend a few minutes
the paper?" revising that sentence?"
COMPREHENSION
PERMISSION
CHECK
Assess student's knowledge of Ask permission from the student to
material or concepts discussed perform a procedural action
"How would you define analysis?" "Can I read your paper aloud?"
"Based on our conversation, how "Can I take notes on your paper?"
would you revise this topic
sentence?"
INFORMATION
CONFIRMATION
SEEKING
Elicit information about the course, Ask student to confirm something to
writing assignment, student's the tutor
writing, etc.
"So, you're saying that your
"What class is this?" argument is _____?"
"What kinds of things are you "So, you want to work on your
learning about in class?" thesis statement?"
ADAPTED FROM: LIMBERG, H., MODEY, C., & DYER, J. (2016). "SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
YOUR THESIS IS SO FAR?": TUTOR QUESTIONS IN WRITING TUTORIALS. JOURNAL OF WRITING
RESEARCH, 7(3), 371-396.