English Tutoring

I earned a B.A. in English (with a 3.9 overall GPA) and am currently pursuing my M.A. in English literature and composition (with a 4.0 GPA overall). I have taken college courses in American, British, and world literatures; business writing; analytical and persuasive writing; and creative writing. I have tutored extensively in writing and literature courses at the collegiate level, including work with multilingual students.

Literature Tutoring

My undergraduate coursework consisted primarily of literature courses including American literature from the 15th century to the present, British literature from the 11th century to the present, surveys of world literature and drama, and multiple creative writing workshops. Although I consider myself knowledgable in most literary periods, I am particularly passionate about early American and British Modernism!

Philosophy Tutoring

I absolutely love philosophy and it is a significant component of my graduate studies, in which I am most interested in aesthetics and theories of cultural development. I took two undergraduate philosophy courses focusing on the connection between the Ancient Greek philosophers and Nietzsche, and a course in formal logic. Studying philosophy can significantly improve your writing and critical thinking skills, among many other cognitive benefits! I also had the privilege of being part of a philosophy club as an undergraduate, which fostered open intellectual discussion among students of all disciplines and levels of study.

Reading Comprehension Tutoring

Deliberately building reading comprehension skills is crucial for academic and job success at all grade levels and ages, but it requires active and persistent practice! I strive to teach rhetorical reading strategies (as suggested by the research of composition scholars Linda Flower and Christina Haas) to readers of all levels in order to help them acquire transferable skills they can bring to texts of all genres and levels of complexity.

Study Skills Tutoring

Like reading and writing, productive and consistent study skills are crucial to academic success! I strive to help students identify which learning styles are most comfortable and effective for them (auditory, visual, etc) and identify personalized strategies to maintain focus in class, take effective notes, use study materials, and keep track of progress.

Writing Tutoring

Writing is both my personal and professional passion, and I love to teach it. The kinds and complexity of writing tasks assigned in college can be a far cry from what students are accustomed to in high school, even for the brightest and hardest working students. The bulk of my tutoring experience has focused on helping students overcome these hurdles and learn the 'lay of the land' of college writing. This past spring semester I took a graduate seminar on teaching writing, and have gained both practical skills and a solid theoretical framework for how and why to teach writing.

Writing Advance Tutoring

As a graduate student studying English composition, I am particularly invested in teaching writing. "Advanced" writing, for a college student, might mean learning new skills including undertaking database research, synthesizing source materials in a variety of genres, and using MLA, APA, or other citation styles (among other skills, of course). In addition to these process-specific skills, students may have to grapple with posing and sustaining a longer inquiry that adheres to specific disciplinary conventions. I strive to support students throughout the research and writing process, and to polish the details of their writing while maintaining focus on the bigger picture.

AP English Tutoring

Despite its highly challenging nature, AP English is a remarkably worthwhile course to undertake in high school, as it will give you invaluable preparation for the challenges of college-level reading and writing, regardless of how well you score on the exam. While the AP exam format can seem trying and unfortunately high-stakes, Advanced Placement English is actually near and dear to my heart; had I not taken this course in high school, I sincerely doubt I would have majored in English in college, let alone pursued it in graduate school! Having made it through this course (alive!), my tutoring in this subject focuses highly on two components: 1) memorizing and mastering literary terms and devices, and 2) thoroughly planning at LEAST two possible essay responses. Regardless of the approach you choose, extensive practice exams are key!

SAT Verbal/Writing Tutoring

In October 2009, I scored 680 on the verbal portion of the SAT and 720 on the writing portion, scoring in the 90th and 99th percentiles, respectively. The best preparation you can get for the SAT is taking your high school studies very seriously and consistently putting forth your best work--especially in math and English Language Arts, and reading and writing as many materials as you can get your hands on! Regardless of how academically well-prepared you feel, there are plenty of specific test-taking strategies to help you achieve your best possible score. Learning and becoming comfortable with a wide variety of new vocabulary is paramount to success, as well as plenty of practice (especially when facilitated by a tutor or teacher!).

GRE Tutoring

I took the GRE Revised General Test (all sections--math, verbal, and writing) in September 2013 and am highly familiar with the changes that have been made in format, content, and scoring. I scored at the 93rd percentile in verbal, 80th percentile in writing, and 57th percentile in math, and feel comfortable tutoring in all three sections, particularly in verbal and writing. While, like the SAT and ACT, the best preparation you can get for the GRE is consistent reading and writing practice, this exam is also very much about becoming well-versed with the types of questions and specific strategies for answering them. Working with a tutor (as well as with a test prep book or software) consistently over several months is your best bet for success on the GRE--cramming won't help you!