The So What of So in Writing Center Talk

Even small, taken-for- granted words can have a strong influence on the pedagogical effect of writing conference. In this study, we examined how experienced and trained center tutors’ use discourse marker so helped them to connect ideas manage their conferences with students. We extent which six types varied according English L1 (EL1)/ L2 (EL2) status interlocutor. studied 26 conferences: 13 involved eight tutors working EL1 students, EL2 found that conclusion/ result occurred most frequently in students prompt was only type exhibited significant difference frequency occurrence between two groups, occurring more talk focused our qualitative analysis so, finding it served main purposes. argue examining generates implications for tutor training shows importance paying attention seemingly unimportant use.