How to Tutor Writing

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Have the student explain the paper topic to you and identify any problems she thinks her paper may have.

   Let her hold the paper and share it with you. , 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. , 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. , You might even take notes while she brainstorms aloud. , Ask her to identify which ideas go together. , Encourage her to identify her own errors and show her how to look up corrections in a style guide. , No great writer "gets it" on the first draft! ,
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   Step 2: Avoid writing on the student's paper.

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   Step 3: Don't edit.

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   Step 4: Teach with examples.

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   Step 5: Start by encouraging the student to brainstorm ideas and get them on paper.

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   Step 6: After brainstorming

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   Step 7: help her start to organize her paper.

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   Step 8: After the student has written a couple of drafts

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   Step 9: begin the sentence-level editing process.

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    Step 10: Remind students that multiple drafts are necessary.

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    Step 11: If a student has a lot of grammar errors

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    Step 12: take the time to teach the grammar principle behind the mistake.

Detailed Guide

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