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Bohol, Philippines
I teach creative writing that focuses on short stories, novels, poetry, screenwriting, and comic book formats. I am an experienced kindergarten tutor and a former Associate Editor ... Read more
Professional Writing - small lectures, open discussion, writing technique, skill-building exercises, open-genre writing, writing theory, editing of the writing, and submission proc... Read more
Indian River State College
Florida State University
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Advanced writing students will focus on different forms of writing, including short stories, novels, poetry, screenwriting, and comic books, depending on the format they are currently studying. Writing theory, literary devices, and writing styles will be taught. Students will have their work workshopped, edited, and rewritten. They will learn the concepts that make writing effective for the reader and develop the ability to write within literary theories and genres, making their work influential to a specific audience or for publication. Lastly, they will learn how to publish and have their work professionally printed. For non-creative writing, the focus will be on crafting a strong thesis—making a point, supporting it, and restating it effectively. Students will learn how to research supporting documents and understand the required format for different types of writing. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the differences among scientific papers, articles, and essays, with a focus on each. Finally, students will learn how to link supporting documentation with proper citations. They will be taught how to engage, influence, and write effectively for a specific audience.
Written exercises must be combined with private lessons that cater to the student's individual needs. At this level of learning, I find that flashcards, games, and other engaging forms of learning work best. These activities can be done in the student's free time as well as during tutoring.
I always have my students read with a dictionary and look up the words they don't understand. They also use a highlighter to mark key areas they want to reference later. I believe reading is best done in short bursts, with intriguing discussions in between. Understanding a short passage and the literary devices used within it is always better than endless reading. I view excessive reading as mere busywork to keep students occupied, rather than an effective way to keep them engaged and thinking. I believe more can be accomplished by reading a short seven-page story by Flannery O'Connor than an entire novel. Gaining an understanding of the writing theory, style, and literary devices within a short story—while having proper time to analyze and reflect on them—is much more useful to the student.
I use open discussion after they self-read and write a short response to the work (generally how they feel about, which is open to their own interpretation). This opens them up to thinking about their own interpretations in a different way. Teaching the theory behind the writing is of great importance.
I always keep a journal with me (especially for younger students) that tells me where they are and what needs more focus. It also shows me what pace they are learning at and what techniques are working and not working. Speaking loudly and clearly is important. Speech needs to be worked on week to week, with gradual improvement.
I use the same version taught in college communication classes. This involves writing specifically for public speaking, and then practicing the speech using speaking techniques—first in front of family and then publicly, or to myself and the tutor.
Yes, for instance, a semicolon is an easy way to say "and" when writing, but it is only used properly when all other ways to join a sentence together are insufficient. Understanding this and using it properly will greatly increase the student's writing ability. I would provide examples from my own work and show how this is achieved.
Keeping it simple is best. There are many websites that offer free tools, and helping them find the right one can have a great impact. Understanding which area they are struggling in is important. Sometimes it is pronunciation, and other times spelling or sentence structure. Preparing proper workshops and activities in the correct area is important. Understanding the student's learning speed is key.
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By actively working with them to advance their current projects, I can provide accurate guidelines on the exam content. Memorization techniques are important for recall during testing. Outlines for assignments can be provided to keep the student on track and help them understand what to focus on, giving them a clear set of instructions to follow.
My tutoring sessions involve group conversations that engage students to think about the lessons in a variety of ways.
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As a student who studied entrepreneurship, I understand how to write a business plan to obtain funding or propose an idea to banks and companies.
Writing theory is an area I cover. It allows students to understand broader concepts within literature and make their writing suitable for a specific genre, form, or publication within the writing community.
Teaching students how to publish and submit their work for review is an important step for me. Colleges rarely teach this and often leave writers confused about how to advance their work. As a successfully published writer in multiple fields, I have the tools needed to help students advance their work professionally.
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