By Elizabeth Chailosky

Florida State University is currently holding its annual Master’s in Four competition, which recognizes and honors master’s students and their dedication to their field of study.

As one of the seven finalists, Alex Pippin, a student in the English-Rhetoric and Composition Program, needs the support of the department as she attempts to win the award.

Participants of the competition have four minutes and a maximum of four slides to present their research through videos. Each presentation is judged based on its effectiveness and delivery and scored out of sixteen points. A panel of judges selects the first-, second-, and third-place winners, and a fourth winner is selected through an online vote and awarded the “4 the People” prize.

After working as an undergraduate tutor in the writing center at Wake Forest University, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English and psychology, Pippin became interested in learning how multilingual and non-native writers work with and understand the English language.

“I wanted to understand my multilingual students’ language experiences more fully,” Pippin says, “and because I believe that writing centers contribute unique insight into these language experiences, I wanted to look more closely.”

Titled “How Multilingual Students Convey Their Concerns in Writing Center Encounters,” Pippin’s presentation examines new ways tutors can interact more successfully with multilingual students. Due to the increasing multilingual student population, Pippin explains that such research involving multilingual students is critical.

“I hope to use these findings to contribute to ideas of how multilingual students writing center tutors can best work together to further the language abilities of students,” she explains..

After Pippin graduates with her master’s degree, she will enter the Ph.D. program in composition and applied linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“I’m interested in developing knowledge of linguistics and learning more about writing program and writing center administration so that I can hopefully direct a writing program or writing center with multilingual students in mind,” Pippin says.

Make sure to vote for Pippin before 11:59 p.m. on March 29. Winners will be announced April 2.

Elizabeth Chailosky is a double major in English, on the editing, writing, and media track, and Women's Studies.

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