Writing centers play an important role in secondary and higher education. This reference work synthesizes writing center scholarship and overviews 90 years of discussions of writing center theory and practice. The introduction places writing centers within the larger context of writing pedagogy and investigates the paradigms and philosophies reflected in the evolution of writing centers. The entries are organized in topical chapters, and the work addresses important subjects such as the relationship of writing centers to literacy education, writing across the curriculum, the discipline of rhetoric and composition, and writing program administration.

With the growing emphasis on collaborative learning and the implementation of new approaches to teaching composition, writing centers have moved to the forefront of American education. Writing centers are found in high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges, and large universities, and thousands of students benefit from them. While writing centers provide students with practical assistance, the centers are firmly grounded in theory. This bibliography overviews the tremendous amount of scholarship on writing centers and provides a useful overview of ninety years of research in the field.

The introduction places writing centers within the larger context of writing pedagogy and investigates the paradigms and philosophies reflected in the evolution of writing centers. The bibliographical entries that make up the bulk of the volume are grouped in topical chapters. Each entry includes a citation and a descriptive annotation. Topics covered include the history of writing centers, theoretical and administrative concerns, the relationship of writing centers to literacy education, writing across the curriculum, and the larger discipline of rhetoric and composition.

CHRISTINA MURPHY is Professor of English and Chair of the Department at the University of Memphis. She is the President of the National Writing Centers Association and the former editor of three scholarly journals: Composition Studies, Studies in Psychoanalytic Theory, and English in Texas. Her books include Writing Center Perspectives (1995), Landmark Essays on Writing Centers (1995), The St. Martin's Sourcebook for Writing Tutors (1995), Critical Thinking Skills Journal (1995), and Ann Beattie (1986).

JOE LAW is Associate Professor of English and Coordinator of the Writing Across the Curriculum Program at Wright State University. With Christina Murphy he coedited Landmark Essays on Writing Centers (1995). He has published numerous essays on writing instruction, literature, and the arts. He has served as the Associate Editor of English in Texas and Composition Studies as well as a reviewer for English Journal.

STEVE SHERWOOD is the Coordinator of Peer Tutor Training at the William L. Adams Writing Center at Texas Christian University. He has published essays or fiction in Writing Lab Newsletter, The Writing Center Journal, Northern Lights, Outside, New Texas, Riversedge, Weber Studies, and other journals. He is Vice President of the South Central Writing Centers Association and coeditor of Descant, a journal of fiction and poetry. With Christina Murphy, he coedited The St. Martin's Sourcebook for Writing Tutors (1995).