Using an English Tutor in the Engineering Classroom

In an attempt to improve the written communication skills of engineering students, a technical writing expert was engaged as a writing tutor. The tutor worked solely with the students in a required, four-credit undergraduate water resources course. The tutor critiqued the students' grammar in laboratory reports and cover letters that were required as a part of project submittals. After making written comments on paper, the writing expert met with individual students to discuss writing improvements in detail. The engineering professor also commented on grammar, but it was the tutor who was responsible for ten percent of the grade on laboratory reports and projects. The results of the process, including a student survey, are discussed.