Academic Writing

The first 5-10 minutes of your session are crucial for establishing rapport and setting realistic goals. Here's how to consider three key factors when planning your session:

📝 Writer's Stated Needs

• Begin by asking "What would you like to work on today?"
• Look at the assignment requirements together
• Review any instructor feedback if available
• Listen carefully to the writer's concerns - they often know where they need the most help

Pro Tip: If a writer says "Just check my grammar," gently probe to see if there are larger concerns that should be addressed first.

⏰ Assignment Due Date

• Always ask when the assignment is due
• For same-day assignments, focus on immediate improvements
• For future assignments, consider deeper revisions
• Discuss scheduling follow-up sessions if needed

Remember: Be realistic about what can be accomplished based on the deadline. A paper due in 2 hours needs different support than one due in 2 weeks.

⌛ Time Constraints of the 30-Minute Session

• Be upfront about the 30-minute limit
• Prioritize 1-2 main concerns to address thoroughly
• Save 5 minutes at the end for wrap-up and next steps
• Consider suggesting a follow-up appointment for additional concerns

Setting Clear Expectations: "We have 30 minutes today. Based on your concerns and due date, let's focus on [specific aspect] first. If we have time, we can look at [secondary concern]."

Higher order concerns focus on the "big picture" elements of writing. Address these issues first, especially if the writer has time before the final draft is due.

📋 Thesis and Focus

• Clear main idea
  Help writers identify their main argument or purpose. Ask: "What's the one thing you want your reader to understand?"
• Answers "How?" or "Why?"
  Guide writers beyond simple "what" statements to develop analytical depth
• Appropriate scope for assignment
  Check that the thesis matches assignment requirements and can be supported within the page limit

Questions to Ask:
"Can you point to where your main argument appears?"
"How does this thesis answer the assignment prompt?"
"What evidence will you use to support this claim?"

🔄 Development and Organization

• Logical progression of ideas
  Help writers create a clear path from one idea to the next
• Sufficient evidence/analysis
  Guide writers in supporting claims with specific examples and thorough analysis
• Strong transitions
  Help connect ideas both within and between paragraphs

Try This: Ask writers to explain their organization out loud. Often, they'll identify gaps or logical breaks themselves.

👥 Audience and Purpose

• Meets assignment requirements
  Review the prompt together to ensure all components are addressed
• Appropriate level of detail
  Help writers determine what their audience needs to know
• Clear academic voice
  Guide writers in maintaining appropriate tone and style

Remember: Unless specified otherwise, writers should assume their audience is their professor and classmates - knowledgeable about the subject but needing to understand the writer's specific perspective.

Time Management Tip! ⏰
When time is limited, focus on the highest-priority concern. It's better to address one higher-order issue thoroughly than to touch briefly on many issues.

Lower order concerns focus on sentence-level improvements. Address these issues after higher order concerns are resolved, or when the assignment is due very soon and major revisions aren't possible.

📝 Sentence Structure

• Clear, complete sentences
  Help writers identify and fix fragments and run-ons
• Variety in sentence length
  Guide writers in combining short, choppy sentences or breaking up long ones
• Proper punctuation
  Focus on patterns of error rather than correcting every mistake

Reading Aloud Tip: Encourage writers to read their work aloud. This helps them hear awkward constructions and identify where natural pauses should be punctuated.

💭 Word Choice

• Appropriate academic language
  Help writers balance formal and informal language
• Precise vocabulary
  Replace vague terms ("things," "stuff") with specific language
• Avoiding clichés
  Guide writers toward original expression

Remember: Simple, clear language is often more effective than unnecessarily complex vocabulary. Help writers focus on precision rather than complexity.

⚙️ Grammar and Mechanics

• Spelling
  Remind writers to use spell check but also review carefully for correct word usage
• Citation format
  Point writers to citation resources and help them understand basic patterns
• Document formatting
  Review assignment requirements for margins, spacing, headers, etc.

Teaching Moment: When addressing errors, explain the rule or pattern once and encourage writers to find similar issues themselves.

Pattern Recognition 🔍
Instead of correcting every error, help writers identify patterns of error and learn to spot them independently. This builds long-term writing skills rather than just fixing one paper.

Use this checklist to keep your sessions on track and ensure you're covering key elements of an effective tutorial.

🌟 Starting Strong (First 5-10 minutes)

• □ Welcome the writer and introduce yourself
• □ Ask about the assignment requirements
• □ Review the due date
• □ Discuss writer's concerns
• □ Set clear priorities for the session

💪 Working Time (Middle 15-20 minutes)

• □ Address higher-order concerns first (if time allows)
  • □ Thesis and main ideas
  • □ Organization and development
  • □ Support and evidence
• □ Move to lower-order concerns
  • □ Sentence structure
  • □ Word choice
  • □ Grammar and mechanics

🎯 Wrapping Up (Final 5 minutes)

• □ Review what you covered
• □ Identify specific next steps
• □ Share relevant Writing Guides
• □ Discuss follow-up appointment if needed
• □ Complete Client Report Form

💡 Remember!
Each session is unique. Use this checklist as a flexible guide rather than a rigid formula. Adapt your approach based on:

• The writer's needs
• Assignment deadline
• Time available
• Writer's experience level

The Academic Commons provides Writing Guides for common writing concerns. These short, task-oriented guides are perfect for sharing with writers during or after sessions. You'll find specific guides for:

• Grammar and Punctuation
• Citation Styles (APA, MLA, Chicago)
• Academic Writing Conventions
• Document Formatting

Share these guides to help writers develop independence with lower-order concerns!

Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs). Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/hocs_and_locs.html

Ryan, L., & Zimmerelli, L. (2016). Chapter 2: Inside the Tutoring Session. In The Bedford guide for writing tutors (6th ed., pp. 17-32). Bedford/St. Martin's.