Draft of Research Essay

Research Question: How do understanding nonverbal interactions between tutor and learner in the writing center help the tutor have successful tutoring sessions?

I hope to show that understanding the nonverbal cues of learners who come to writing centers for assistance can provide more successful tutoring sessions. I will be comparing deliberate and spontaneous facial movements of the students and I will look for some specifics including these:

What is the greeting like when tutor and learner meet?
Is there a handshake?
Tutor smile?
Learner Smile?


I will look at the body language of the tutor as she listens to the learner.
I will look at the body language of the learner as she listens to the tutor.
I will look at the body language of the tutor as she asks questions of the learner.
I will look at the body language of the learner as she listens to the tutor.

What is the eye contact like?
Is there lots of eye contact?
Does either tutor or learner avert his or her eyes?

I will watch the proximity of the tutor and the learner.
Does the student lean in or pull back?
Does the tutor lean in or pull back?
Are they sitting across from each other, or side by side?
Are they too close?
Too far?
Close enough?

What are the facial expressions?
Smiles?
Frowns?
Consternation?
Confusion?
Thoughtful?
Exasperated?
Worried?
Concern?
Impatience?
Anxious?
Frustration?
Appreciation?
Bewilderment?

What does learner do with his hands and feet?
Does the learner tap his foot?
Does she nervously tap fingers?
Does she make some other nervous movement with her hands?

Hand gestures:
What kinds of hand movements?
What do these particular movements mean? (see research literature)

Any spontaneous facial movements?
Eyebrow raises?
What kinds of facial display?

During my observations of tutors in the CAS, I will be looking for all of the above. I will take notes and record when I find those things that I am looking for. I will record the frequency and when a particular issue presents itself. After gathering the data, I will categorize and code all of it for organization. Then I will draw a conclusion and report on what my findings bring to my personal research. I will show what works and what does not work.