Tutor profile: Catherine R.

When do you use the imperfect tense?/¿Cuando debes user el imperfecto?

The imperfect tense is used for actions that happened in the past but are continuous. In English, when you say "they were going," you are using the imperfect. In Spanish you would say, "ellos iban." / El imperfecto es utilisado cuando quiere expresar algo que pasó en el pasado pero continua. Puedo usarlo por un habito que una persona tenía en el pasado o un acción que pasó más que una vez.

How do you write a thesis?

I would first explain what a thesis is and then give the student ways to construct a proper thesis. I would say a thesis is the point you are trying to prove in an essay. A thesis should set up the main points of the essay's argument and how they help prove the point. This should be done in a succinct and elegantly written manner, and it can change throughout the writing process. I would also explain that some professors prefer different formats for a thesis, but I would suggest a variety of methods for introducing the points.

How does this piece of literature reflect the society in which the author lives and why is it still relevant?

The answer would have to be specific to the literature at hand, but I would tell the student to look for the main message of the story, the social critiques involved, and specific details the author mentions that reflect the image the author wants to stick in his readers minds. I would encourage the student to be creative with the second part of the answer, and that there are really no wrong answers if they are thoroughly researched.