One-on-One Sessions
The goal of each tutoring session is the student's improved understanding of the writing process and increased confidence in their ability to write.
Getting Started
- Make an appointment on the PASS Portal at least 24 hours before the assignment is due - the earlier, the better! Rushed, last minute writing and revision will not allow you to do your best work.
- Approach the session with an open mind! Use the tutor's feedback, and don't be disheartened if you need to work more on the assignment!
- Don't hesitate to make multiple appointments. Regular meetings can really pay off!
How to Prepare for Your Session
What do you want to accomplish during your tutoring session? The session is for you, so be sure that you benefit from it as much as possible. Students are encouraged to explain to the tutor what they want to achieve in a particular session or over the course of several sessions. It's often helpful for the student to set up a regular meeting time to work on short-term assignments and to make progress on longer-term assignments.
Students will get the most of the session if they bring all materials needed to complete the assignment:
- Assignment instructions
- The instructor's grading rubric, if provided
- Course writing or research guidelines
- Assigned print or electronic texts (textbook, articles, bibliography)
- Rough draft, outline, or notes
- Any other relevant material (such as the course syllabus, handouts, or research material)
- Laptop, if desired
What You Can Expect from CTL Writing Tutors
Because the CTL is committed to self-directed learning, tutors help students take charge of their writing process. A CTL tutor can, with the student's active and engaged participation, help with:
- Assignment Review: Understanding the objectives and criteria of an assignment through a careful reading of the instructor's guidelines and instructions
- Reading Critically and Efficiently: Analyzing a text by listing key ideas, identifying the thesis, interpreting charts and diagrams, analyzing evidence, outlining, summarizing, and finding thematic connections
- Prewriting Strategies: Getting started on an assignment by brainstorming, free writing, clustering, and diagramming
- Using Online and Library Resources: Searching databases available through SHU, assessing online information sources, and developing general information literacy skills
- Revision: Discussing, clarifying, and strengthening important elements in the student's rough draft, such as the thesis statement, supporting arguments, and evidence; using appropriate language and style; organizing the draft by outlining, diagramming, or flow charts; using topic sentences to build strong paragraphs; creating smooth transitions by using linking sentences; and writing a succinct introduction and conclusion
- Documentation: Reviewing MLA, APA, or Chicago formatting guidelines; addressing plagiarism concerns by creating, understanding, and using citations, bibliographic entries, and end-notes or footnotes; and learning when and how to paraphrase and summarize source material
- Proofreading Strategies: Finishing a paper by reading the draft aloud and/or marking a hard copy; and by reviewing punctuation, grammar, and the principles of sentence structure.
What You Should Not Expect from CTL Writing Tutors
CTL Writing Tutors will not:
- Completely rewrite or correct the paper for you. Instead, the feedback will enable you to reflect and use the detailed comments to revise and improve your paper.
- Copy edit your paper. While the OWL reviewer will help you recognize patterns of grammatical or punctuation errors, it is the student’s responsibility to use the tutor’s feedback to complete the revision and proofreading process.