The People Make The Place: Reminding Tutors of Their Value in A World Of Artificial Intelligence: Abigail Patchen: WLN, Volume 49, Issue 1. 2024. 

As an English Major, and literary purist, it is easy to sit in a castle devoid of AI. Banishing AI to the far away land of cheaters, and slackers, I determined my kingdom will never be soiled with such defilement. Shockingly, this small minded thinking may not be the most effective when considering AI in our society. Pretending that AI is inherently evil, a demon to be battled, is not a helpful way to consider an extremely valuable tool that is effective throughout culture. AI can be used positively, as a brainstorming, editing, and information gathering tool. Having a brainstorming, and editing tool at the convenience of your fingertips is a luxury for the busy writer, which can result in students who dismiss the need for the writing center. After all, if Grammarly (an expertly specialized grammar machine engine) can check my paper for errors, and even offer more effective sentence structures, why would the Writing Studio be necessary? 

This mindset, though common, casts many misconceptions on the purpose of the writing Studio. The Writing Studio helps writers develop not in the minutiae of sentences, but as holistic storytellers. By bringing a paper to the Writing Studio, writers will discover not only grammar edits, but a big picture perspective on the drafting process, and patterns of errors. AI can only calculate or fix the content a writer creates, but in the Writing Studio, consultants seek to support the writers as people, for long term learning and holistic growth. 

In her paper “The People Make The Place: Reminding Tutors of Their Value in A World Of Artificial Intelligence” Abigail Patchen discusses the importance of human editing, and considers both the physical and emotional support systems they give writers. To begin, the Writing Studio helps writers from a tangible paper perspective. Patchen remarks that consultants “can answer more than the question you are asking, we can identify the real problem in and throughout your papers.” Oftentimes writers can identify grammatical issues, but struggle to see the larger picture. This idea can be compared to an injury. A person can recognize and diagnose a cut: clean it and slap a bandaid on it, but only a doctor could diagnose an internal disease like pneumonia. The patient may see surface symptoms of coughing, or weariness, but only a doctor can connect the symptoms to the true disease. It is the same in the Writing Studio. Patchen suggests that as tutors we can recognize consistent problems and offer exercises that can cultivate long term solutions. I have found this extremely true to my own personal experience in working long term with a client. When she first came to the writing studio, she wanted to work on her transition sentences between paragraphs, something the writing studio, or AI, could have helped her with. But as we worked, I noticed that she struggled with transitions because her papers lacked a coherent structure. As we spent time together, we analyzed and approached her writing process holistically, from brainstorming, to thesis building, to sentence structure. Her improvement was evident, and exciting to both myself and her. AI can fix surface level issues, but as a consultant I can identify and partner with writers to find long term solutions. 

Patchen continues that once a consultant has identified the core issue they can then “Provide a scaffolding support system of tools, resources, and tips that eventually help the student to work through the adversity on their own.” Once the core issue has been addressed, consultants provide writers the knowledge, tools, and exercises for their success. Patchen also suggests that writing studios humanize the writing process through good conversation “This can spark potential new directions that would be out of reach if the writer was working in solitude.” Talking through issues with a person is crucially enlightening to discovering a unique writing identity. Engaging with others, especially a professional, diminishes writers’ block and helps keep writers creatively stimulated. Through the partnership of writer and consultant, writers are no longer dependent on AI to solve their problems, but can become progressively self-sufficient in their writing. The Writing Studio offers personal support for struggling writers. 

Alongside tangible writing results, the Writing Studio supports writer’s emotionally. Patchen expands on this, emphasizing that positive affirmation gives writers confidence. In a session I work to offer positive and constructive feedback. I delight in writers who develop interesting structure, form engaging sentences, and intentionally incorporate evidence. By rejoicing in a choice the writer made, I encourage them in boldness to make more! She elaborates, “our job is not to help students put words on a page but to help them create something that is entirely theirs; something to take pride in.” At the Writing Studio, we care exponentially more about the creator than the content. The best part of being a consultant is getting to instill confidence and pride in a writer. Consulting is not about the consultant, it is about the writer. A consultant’s job is to offer both tools and encouragement needed to promote confidence in writers. 

I love the way that Patchen closes her paper “The time we devote to individuals allows us to impart empathy, kindness, and confidence. These are the intangible qualities all tutors have that AI cannot compete with.” AI’s helpfulness does not diminish the Writing Studio. Unlike AI, Consultants are blessed to engage writers in front of them, encouraging them in holistic education.