Lundsford

Lundsford performs an interesting experiment to try to figure out the best formula for learning in a writing center environment. She set up several tutoring scenarios and observed in which situation the student thrived and the main goal of the tutor was achieved. The first scenario was set up with a dominating tutor, assuming all authority over the studen which they were attempting to aid. The second, was an inverted version of the first situation, the student took complete control of the meeting, and took the tutor through the problems they think they had. The final, and most successful of the situations, was done with equal collaboration. Both the tutor and the student seeking help took control of the situation, they shared equal control and authority, and worked together through the entire meeting to try to touch on problems both of them had esablished. I agree that the last situation was the least stressful and most comfortable for the student because they are not intimidated by a tutor who assumes all authority, or pressured with the leading role in a meeting which they attended in order to recieve help. To Lundsford the writer is a delicate flower, too much domination or picky grammatical comments has the same effect as an overbearing gardener, flooding the flowers with water and drowning them with good intentions. Too little criticism and over complimentary tutors are not satisfactory either, however, this situation mimmicks a gardener who leaves the care up to nature itself. Eventually, without sufficient conditions, the flower will become starved of water and eventually whither up in a failed attempt to thrive on its own, much like a student who is starved of educational enlightenment and commentary from the tutor. However, a flower, or student, who is given just the right amount of water and enough space to bloom on its own, much like a student with a collaborative tutor, will thrive and flourish in a perfect atmosphere.