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It's no wonder writing tutors are in such demand--writing is a crucial academic skill, and one-on-one coaching is often the best way for a student to become a better writer. As a writing tutor, it's important that you notice and encourage strengths while making a kind yet honest assessment of areas for improvement. Also, make sure the student does her own work--don't do it for her.
Steps
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1Have the student explain the paper topic to you and identify any problems she thinks her paper may have.
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2Avoid writing on the student's paper. Let her hold the paper and share it with you.Advertisement
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3Don't edit. Oftentimes, students will hand a writing tutor a paper and say, "Edit this for me." But if you do that, you don't help your student learn. Offer to teach her to edit instead.
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4Teach with examples. It's hard to write an effective conclusion if you've never seen one. Show the student a couple of good papers on related subjects so she knows what she's working toward.
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5Start by encouraging the student to brainstorm ideas and get them on paper. You might even take notes while she brainstorms aloud.
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6After brainstorming, help her start to organize her paper. Ask her to identify which ideas go together.
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7After the student has written a couple of drafts, begin the sentence-level editing process. Encourage her to identify her own errors and show her how to look up corrections in a style guide.
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8Remind students that multiple drafts are necessary. No great writer "gets it" on the first draft!
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9If a student has a lot of grammar errors, take the time to teach the grammar principle behind the mistake.
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References
- Excerpted from www.tutoring-expert.com
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