Tutor profile: Mary F.
Questions
Subject: Writing
I'm following the writing process I learned in a composition class last semester, which included free-writing and outlining, but now it doesn't seem to be working for a short research paper in history. What should I do?
The first thing is to meet with a tutor who makes sure you understand the requirements of the assignment. Next, she'll review the research writing process and explain how research and drafting a thesis are interrelated. She'll also make sure that you are maximizing your learning style as you write your paper. If you are a strong linear thinker, outlining can be a great help before drafting. If you are a non-linear thinker or more intuitive than linear, a scratch outline may work better for you. In the latter case, a formal post-draft outline can be an excellent tool for reviewing the organization of your paper.
Subject: Literature
What does my instructor mean when she talks about "conflict" in a short story?
There's almost always a conflict in short story because short stories mirror human life and experience. There are four basic kinds of conflict: the conflict that can occur within the self; the conflicts that arise between man and God or the gods; conflicts between one human and another; and finally the conflict between a person and society. Review your story and see which conflict is the best match to the overall narrative.
Subject: English
I'm struggling with punctuation and the explanations in grammar handbooks are too complicated for me. How can I learn this stuff?
Think about punctuation as road signs.
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