Just Move On

So far, I haven’t really used defensive minimalist techniques in my turoring––it doesn’t feel like my style. Maybe, like Kassie wrote, I do it instinctively sometimes. However, I don’t sit back in my chair and intentionally mimic the student, or consciously try to copy him.

A while ago in class, tutoring was described as a negotiation between the tutor and the student writer. Both need to be involved in setting goals, discussing ideas, and improving the paper for the session to be productive. If one or the other doesn’t participate, the session stalls and fails to be effective.

As a tutor, I feel like I feed off of the student’s involvement in the session. If she is excited and involved and interested, so am I. But if she is disinterested or distracted during the session, I find it difficult to do my best. Although at times I am tempted to “take over” a session, it is more natural for me to put the same amount of effort into a session as the student (maybe this is a subtle form of defensive minimalism?). When a student doesn’t seem interested in a session I try to ask questions and get the conversation started. But if the she remains unresponsive, instead of trying to get her attention by using defensive minimalism techniques, I prefer to just move on—move on to the next paragraph, the next question, the next student.

I get the impression that defensive minimalism is too confrontational for me. Honestly, I’m no good at confrontation—I don’t like it, it doesn’t come naturally, and I certainly can’t use it to my advantage. When I have tried to be confrontational in the past, it has never been helpful. Usually, the person can sense my complete awkwardness and lack of comfort and the situation gets worse than it already was. I would rather act naturally and speak sincerely to try and win the student over. Sometimes it works, but sometimes you just have to move on--NEXT PLEASE!