If you assign writing in any of your classes, you can refer your students to Learning Resources writing tutors. To ensure that they receive the necessary assistance, clearly instruct students to
- Make an appointment well in advance
- Bring a clear description of the assignment
- Inform the tutor that his/her attendance is to be reported to the instructor
- Allow time to make follow-up appointments
- Bring a complete draft, if necessary.
Learning Resources writing tutors will
- try to identify if the student is following the assignment or answering the question posed
- work on the introduction, thesis, and topic sentences to see if the essay reflects that structure and proves that point
- work on paragraph organization, division, and cohesion, also taking note of transitions and flow between paragraphs
- identify how students incorporate and cite information
- point out the most blatant and reoccurring errors in grammar and punctuation
One session does not ensure a “perfect” assignment, and tutors cannot guarantee grades. Also, as tutors have not necessarily taken your class, they can cover basic concepts, but they cannot be expected to determine whether or not a student has the “right answer.”