Writing Center Positions for Graduate Students

April 16, 2018

The Writing Center
• The Writing Center offers services to all USC students in the form of one-to-one consultations and small-group
workshops. Our goal is to contribute to the development of better writers, not just better products, and to assist
with the skills and processes of critical thinking, drafting, and revising that lead to clearly expressed positions,
coherent arguments, and persuasive reasoning.
The Consultant Position
• Qualified graduate students in all disciplines are encouraged to serve as Writing Center consultants for the 2018-
2019 academic year. Students not employed elsewhere on campus may work 10-20 hours per week as a
consultant. Those who hold Teaching or Research Assistantships requiring 15-20 hours per week (i.e. 50%
appointments) and students holding fellowships may be engaged up to 5 hours per week. Students who hold
Teaching or Research Assistantships or a fellowship must seek permission from their department and the
Graduate School. Any questions about the eligibility of certain students can be directed to Cory Elizabeth Nelson
(corynels@usc.edu). Because of visa restrictions, international students with Teaching/Research Assistantships or
fellowships are not allowed to serve more than 20 hours weekly.
Professional Benefits to Graduate Students
• Meaningful teaching or tutoring experience is a valuable part of graduate students’ professional development, for
it cultivates a range of important abilities that help to prepare students for their careers.
Duties, Qualifications, and Compensation
• Primary duties include participating in a paid orientation on August 15, 2018; tutoring on a one-to-one basis; and
teaching workshops on grammar, style, and other writing skills.
• Consultants should have experience in one or more of the following: teaching, tutoring, or grading.
• Consultants should demonstrate proficiency in academic writing, professional demeanor, and interpersonal skills.
• Compensation for consultants is $21.00 per hour.
Application Process
• This memo may either be forwarded to promising graduate students, or their names can be emailed to the Writing
Center at writing@usc.edu.
• Applicants should send the following materials to the Writing Center at writing@usc.edu: a short letter
addressing their interest in the teaching and tutoring of writing, a copy of their curriculum vitae, and a 5-10 page
sample of their academic writing.
• Once the Writing Center reviews materials, selected applicants will be invited for an in-person interview. Before
making any offer of employment, the Writing Center will contact the applicant’s DGS (Director of Graduate
Studies) for a reference.

Published on April 16th, 2018Last updated on April 16th, 2018