Boba Samuels

Writing Consultant

Contact Information

Email: bsamuels@wlu.ca
Phone: 519-884-0710 ext.3869

Office Location: DAWB 1-102
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30

Biography

As a writing consultant at Laurier's Writing Centre, my primary responsibilities are to advise students on their academic writing, provide instruction to students and faculty about all aspects of writing in the disciplines, and conduct research on writing.

I have focused my research primarily on understanding how students learn to write, particularly in the disciplines at university. My current work includes collaboration in a cross-Canada project exploring university writing assignments and a study of a new on-line writing resource (The Assignment Planner) that we have just launched at Laurier this year.

During my undergraduate degree in educational psychology and my graduate education, I focused on exploring students' academic writing development.  Currently I am completing my doctorate (ABD) in Education Studies (at UWO), looking specifically at students' writing in anthropology.  

I have had the pleasure of teaching several university level writing courses, including ESL writing, rhetoric and exposition, and oral discourse.  As well, I have tutored at writing centres for the past eight years.

A secondary interest is in the newly emerging field of Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE), in which neuroscience and education seek to mutually inform each other.  In addition to the exciting possibilities of the research itself, I am most interested in how transdisciplinary approaches to research and learning are demonstrated in this field, and in how the discourse of MBE reflects transdisciplinarity.

I anticipate another busy and exciting year!

Additional Information

My publications:

Klein, P.D. & Samuels, B.M. (2010). Learning about plate tectonics through argument writing.  Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 56, 196-217.  http://tinyurl.com/3hwc8re

*Graves, R., Hyland, T., & Samuels, B.M. (2010). Undergraduate writing assignments: An analysis of syllabi at one Canadian college.  Written Communication, 27 (3), 293-317. http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/07410883/v27i0003/293_uwaaaosaocc

Samuels, B.M. (2009). Can the differences between education and neuroscience be overcome by Mind, Brain, and Education? Mind, Brain, and Education 3(1), 45-55. http://tinyurl.com/3ubv4ek

* Authors listed in alphabetic order.