1) The document describes a writing tutor's experience working with students during a busy finals week. It discusses several student sessions, including a student who tried to get the tutor to do his peer evaluations for him, an arrogant student who disagreed with the tutor's feedback, and an international student who struggled with English but had great ideas.
2) It highlights both the challenges, such as students wasting time or not accepting feedback, as well as the rewards, such as helping an international student improve or sharing a funny misunderstanding.
3) At the end of the long day, the tutors reflect on the high volume of students but ultimately agree they have the best jobs.
Morgan Hughley spent 58.5 hours over 7 months writing a novel titled "A Time For Everything" for their senior project. They outlined the story, developed characters, wrote and revised 22 chapters and an epilogue totaling 155 pages. Morgan received feedback from their editor and publishing facilitator. After completing the writing, editing, and revisions, Morgan published the novel on Kindle and had 3 copies printed and bound for the judges of their senior project.
This is a commentary I wrote while President of NCTE in 2008-2009. In it, I explore the importance of writing in one student's life and what happens when we silence a student's voice.
1) The author wrote and illustrated a children's book for a senior project to teach elementary school students about how things are not always what they seem.
2) She worked with her facilitator and an elementary school teacher to have her book illustrated and read to a first grade class.
3) Through the process, the author bonded with the students and realized that while educating children through literature is worthwhile, writing children's books may not be the best career path for her.
1) The passage is a summary of a Marathi discourse given by P.P. Aniruddha Bapu on Ramraksha at New English High School in Bandra.
2) The discourse discusses the meaning of the phrase "Ramah shriman sa nah Prabhu" which translates to "This Ram is my God". It explains that Ram refers to the creator and sustainer of all that exists.
3) Several stories and examples from scriptures like the Sai Satcharita are discussed to illustrate how events are shaped by both our own efforts as well as external circumstances beyond our control. We must find the right path with guidance from our guru.
This collection contains 6 student writings from a writing contest held by the Community English Club for Vietnamese Teachers' Day. The introduction provides context about the contest, including that it aims to improve students' writing skills and is judged by 3 teachers from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. The top 3 winners received prizes. The collection includes the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place writings, which are personal reflections and stories about the positive impact of teachers in the students' lives.
Textual Interventions - Narrative Time and MetafictionEmily Hughes
This document is a narrative written from the perspective of a student waiting at a train station café. Some key details:
1. The student missed her connecting train and is waiting in the dingy station café, drinking terrible coffee while waiting for her next train.
2. She sits down and begins writing in her notebook, noticing details like the stain from her lipstick on her coffee cup.
3. As she writes, she reflects on saying goodbye to her grandfather that morning, knowing he is ill and may not have much time left.
4. The student writes to process her emotions, acknowledging difficult facts like the likelihood that this was the last time seeing her grandfather alive. She hopes to compartment
This document is an e-portfolio by Kristie Sheridan for a class on writing for children. It includes samples of her original poems and short stories for children, as well as feedback from peers on her work. It also provides biographical information about the author and reviews of her writing. The portfolio is divided into three parts: written works, feedback and reflections, and an appendix with additional author details.
This document introduces Ayeesha, a 15-year old student who profoundly impacted the author through her insightful questions about magnetism. The author recounts how Ayeesha challenged him with thought-provoking questions that revealed gaps in his own knowledge, despite his years of experience. He was surprised and impressed to discover that Ayeesha had been reading advanced scientific texts in her spare time. This chance encounter led the author to see flaws in the rote memorization-based system of education and view students as more than just numbers. Ayeesha sparked self-reflection and a desire to improve his teaching approach.
Morgan Hughley spent 58.5 hours over 7 months writing a novel titled "A Time For Everything" for their senior project. They outlined the story, developed characters, wrote and revised 22 chapters and an epilogue totaling 155 pages. Morgan received feedback from their editor and publishing facilitator. After completing the writing, editing, and revisions, Morgan published the novel on Kindle and had 3 copies printed and bound for the judges of their senior project.
This is a commentary I wrote while President of NCTE in 2008-2009. In it, I explore the importance of writing in one student's life and what happens when we silence a student's voice.
1) The author wrote and illustrated a children's book for a senior project to teach elementary school students about how things are not always what they seem.
2) She worked with her facilitator and an elementary school teacher to have her book illustrated and read to a first grade class.
3) Through the process, the author bonded with the students and realized that while educating children through literature is worthwhile, writing children's books may not be the best career path for her.
1) The passage is a summary of a Marathi discourse given by P.P. Aniruddha Bapu on Ramraksha at New English High School in Bandra.
2) The discourse discusses the meaning of the phrase "Ramah shriman sa nah Prabhu" which translates to "This Ram is my God". It explains that Ram refers to the creator and sustainer of all that exists.
3) Several stories and examples from scriptures like the Sai Satcharita are discussed to illustrate how events are shaped by both our own efforts as well as external circumstances beyond our control. We must find the right path with guidance from our guru.
This collection contains 6 student writings from a writing contest held by the Community English Club for Vietnamese Teachers' Day. The introduction provides context about the contest, including that it aims to improve students' writing skills and is judged by 3 teachers from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. The top 3 winners received prizes. The collection includes the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place writings, which are personal reflections and stories about the positive impact of teachers in the students' lives.
Textual Interventions - Narrative Time and MetafictionEmily Hughes
This document is a narrative written from the perspective of a student waiting at a train station café. Some key details:
1. The student missed her connecting train and is waiting in the dingy station café, drinking terrible coffee while waiting for her next train.
2. She sits down and begins writing in her notebook, noticing details like the stain from her lipstick on her coffee cup.
3. As she writes, she reflects on saying goodbye to her grandfather that morning, knowing he is ill and may not have much time left.
4. The student writes to process her emotions, acknowledging difficult facts like the likelihood that this was the last time seeing her grandfather alive. She hopes to compartment
This document is an e-portfolio by Kristie Sheridan for a class on writing for children. It includes samples of her original poems and short stories for children, as well as feedback from peers on her work. It also provides biographical information about the author and reviews of her writing. The portfolio is divided into three parts: written works, feedback and reflections, and an appendix with additional author details.
This document introduces Ayeesha, a 15-year old student who profoundly impacted the author through her insightful questions about magnetism. The author recounts how Ayeesha challenged him with thought-provoking questions that revealed gaps in his own knowledge, despite his years of experience. He was surprised and impressed to discover that Ayeesha had been reading advanced scientific texts in her spare time. This chance encounter led the author to see flaws in the rote memorization-based system of education and view students as more than just numbers. Ayeesha sparked self-reflection and a desire to improve his teaching approach.
The document contains four classical poems about mothers written by different authors. Each poem expresses appreciation and gratitude for the mother's love, guidance and influence. The poems highlight the sacrifices mothers make, teaching life lessons, being a source of comfort and strength, and serving as a role model and hero. The tone is positive and celebrates the important role of mothers.
The narrator is a 17-year-old southern boy who has yet to find a girlfriend. One night, his mother sends him to deliver a package to the MacArthur's home. There, he sees the shadow of a mysterious, beautiful girl moving through the house. For the next few nights, he dreams of her shadow. Determined to find out who she is, he visits the MacArthur's under the pretense of delivering jam. He falls into a pit on the way but is rescued by Nora, a visiting northern girl staying with the MacArthur's. They become close friends over the summer.
This poem is a dedication by Olivia McLeod to her mother. It expresses her gratitude for her mother's love and support. She chose to dedicate her poetry book to her mother, who has loved and cared for her since birth. The poems are her way of showing how thankful she is for her mother and how much she loves her in return.
1 shitty first drafts anne lamott from bird by bird SUKHI5
Lamott argues that most writers do not sit down feeling confident and write elegant first drafts. Rather, writers need to let themselves write "shitty first drafts" to get their ideas out, knowing that no one will see it. This messy first draft allows writers to explore ideas freely and often leads to discovering something great. Lamott shares her own experience of writing terrible first drafts for her food reviews before reworking them into publishable pieces. She emphasizes that almost all good writing starts with terrible first efforts and one needs to start somewhere by getting anything down on paper.
The document is a collection of poems and commentary by Matt Wagoner. It includes 14 original poems by Wagoner on themes of loss, isolation, and finding purpose. Between poems, Wagoner provides context for his writing process and what inspired each poem. He also discusses favorite poems by other authors like Poe, Dickinson, Silverstein, and Frost that have impacted him. The compilation gives insight into Wagoner's personal experiences, mental state, and how poetry has provided an outlet for processing grief and life changes.
This document contains 17 poems selected by a student for their poetry dedication project about mothers. The student provides a brief analysis and explanation for why they chose each poem. They note themes of love, comfort, and the constant presence of mothers. The poems explore the relationships between mothers and children from different perspectives and tones. Overall, the selections demonstrate how mothers care for their families and the lasting impact they have.
This poem is dedicated to the author's mother. It expresses gratitude for all that mothers do, from caring for their children to making sacrifices and putting their children's needs first. The author learned many life lessons from their mother, such as bringing food and comfort to others who are grieving. The poem conveys that while motherhood is difficult, the joy it brings makes all the challenges worthwhile.
The WNY Young Writer's Studio 2015 InstallationAngela Stockman
The WNY Young Writer's Studio is a community of writers and teachers of writing in Kenmore, New York. These slides make our thinking, learning, and work visible to those who are interested in taking a peek at it.
This document contains several poems dedicated to the author's mother, including summaries of and commentary on published poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Raymond A. Foss, Ivan Donn Carswell, Carl Sandburg, and Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. It also includes three original poems by the author, Rachael Sessoms, reflecting on themes of wonder, missing surroundings, and self-identity.
The document is a prologue to a novel about six call center employees who experience an unusual night at work when they receive a phone call that seems to be from God. A writer on a train meets a woman who proposes the story as the subject for his next book, but only if he commits to writing it. Intrigued by the mysterious premise of "a phone call from God", he reluctantly agrees in order to hear the full story she begins telling for the rest of their train ride.
This document is a reflection by an English lecturer on their teaching experiences at a college. They feel like an entertainer to disengaged students but still finds teaching rewarding when students appreciate their efforts. The lecturer enjoys reading novels by Indian authors like RK Narayan in their spare time instead of newspapers, as their father had insisted on. They have influenced a colleague to also enjoy RK Narayan's works.
This resume summarizes the qualifications and experience of C. Mani. He has a B.Sc. in Chemistry from St. Joseph's College, an M.Sc. from Pondicherry Central University, an M.Phil from Bharathidasan University, and a Ph.D from Bharathidasan University. He has over 22 years of experience in teaching and research, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at St. Joseph's College. His areas of expertise include organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and natural products chemistry. He has published several papers in international journals and presented at various national and international conferences.
Thailand implemented a program in the early 2000s to address widespread tooth decay among adults and children by creating dental nurses to staff rural health centers. These nurses ran outreach programs for prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. A core part of Thai oral health programs was promoting tooth brushing in schools with fluoridated toothpaste. This decreased tooth decay in children and increased oral health awareness. Untreated dental diseases are among the most common worldwide and incidence is increasing in low and middle income countries without prevention programs. Prevention, like Thailand's programs, is more viable for these countries than treatment which exceeds most health budgets. WHO is working with countries to develop prevention policies so fewer people develop oral diseases.
This document provides standings information for the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC) divisions. It lists each team's win-loss record, points for and against, and their divisional and conference standings. The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons lead their respective NFC divisions with 2-0 records so far this season. In the AFC, the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos are atop their divisions at 2-0.
tertulia literaria que pretende fortalecer las competencias lectoras, utilizando el audio como una estrategia pedagógica para motivar e invitar a los estudiantes a la lectura comprensiva, producción escrita y a la expresión oral.
The document discusses factors that affect pricing decisions for products. It identifies key considerations such as market objectives and positioning, product characteristics, market characteristics, product life cycle, distribution channels, costs, competition, demand, and external economic factors. Effective pricing requires understanding how these various elements interact and influence pricing strategies over the different stages of a product's life cycle. The document provides examples and guidelines for organizations to establish prices that meet business objectives while accounting for costs and market conditions.
The document is a lesson plan that contains spelling words as the main topic. It likely includes a list of words for students to study and learn how to correctly spell. In just 3 sentences or less, the high-level summary is that this document involves a spelling lesson with vocabulary words for students to practice.
The document contains four classical poems about mothers written by different authors. Each poem expresses appreciation and gratitude for the mother's love, guidance and influence. The poems highlight the sacrifices mothers make, teaching life lessons, being a source of comfort and strength, and serving as a role model and hero. The tone is positive and celebrates the important role of mothers.
The narrator is a 17-year-old southern boy who has yet to find a girlfriend. One night, his mother sends him to deliver a package to the MacArthur's home. There, he sees the shadow of a mysterious, beautiful girl moving through the house. For the next few nights, he dreams of her shadow. Determined to find out who she is, he visits the MacArthur's under the pretense of delivering jam. He falls into a pit on the way but is rescued by Nora, a visiting northern girl staying with the MacArthur's. They become close friends over the summer.
This poem is a dedication by Olivia McLeod to her mother. It expresses her gratitude for her mother's love and support. She chose to dedicate her poetry book to her mother, who has loved and cared for her since birth. The poems are her way of showing how thankful she is for her mother and how much she loves her in return.
1 shitty first drafts anne lamott from bird by bird SUKHI5
Lamott argues that most writers do not sit down feeling confident and write elegant first drafts. Rather, writers need to let themselves write "shitty first drafts" to get their ideas out, knowing that no one will see it. This messy first draft allows writers to explore ideas freely and often leads to discovering something great. Lamott shares her own experience of writing terrible first drafts for her food reviews before reworking them into publishable pieces. She emphasizes that almost all good writing starts with terrible first efforts and one needs to start somewhere by getting anything down on paper.
The document is a collection of poems and commentary by Matt Wagoner. It includes 14 original poems by Wagoner on themes of loss, isolation, and finding purpose. Between poems, Wagoner provides context for his writing process and what inspired each poem. He also discusses favorite poems by other authors like Poe, Dickinson, Silverstein, and Frost that have impacted him. The compilation gives insight into Wagoner's personal experiences, mental state, and how poetry has provided an outlet for processing grief and life changes.
This document contains 17 poems selected by a student for their poetry dedication project about mothers. The student provides a brief analysis and explanation for why they chose each poem. They note themes of love, comfort, and the constant presence of mothers. The poems explore the relationships between mothers and children from different perspectives and tones. Overall, the selections demonstrate how mothers care for their families and the lasting impact they have.
This poem is dedicated to the author's mother. It expresses gratitude for all that mothers do, from caring for their children to making sacrifices and putting their children's needs first. The author learned many life lessons from their mother, such as bringing food and comfort to others who are grieving. The poem conveys that while motherhood is difficult, the joy it brings makes all the challenges worthwhile.
The WNY Young Writer's Studio 2015 InstallationAngela Stockman
The WNY Young Writer's Studio is a community of writers and teachers of writing in Kenmore, New York. These slides make our thinking, learning, and work visible to those who are interested in taking a peek at it.
This document contains several poems dedicated to the author's mother, including summaries of and commentary on published poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Raymond A. Foss, Ivan Donn Carswell, Carl Sandburg, and Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. It also includes three original poems by the author, Rachael Sessoms, reflecting on themes of wonder, missing surroundings, and self-identity.
The document is a prologue to a novel about six call center employees who experience an unusual night at work when they receive a phone call that seems to be from God. A writer on a train meets a woman who proposes the story as the subject for his next book, but only if he commits to writing it. Intrigued by the mysterious premise of "a phone call from God", he reluctantly agrees in order to hear the full story she begins telling for the rest of their train ride.
This document is a reflection by an English lecturer on their teaching experiences at a college. They feel like an entertainer to disengaged students but still finds teaching rewarding when students appreciate their efforts. The lecturer enjoys reading novels by Indian authors like RK Narayan in their spare time instead of newspapers, as their father had insisted on. They have influenced a colleague to also enjoy RK Narayan's works.
This resume summarizes the qualifications and experience of C. Mani. He has a B.Sc. in Chemistry from St. Joseph's College, an M.Sc. from Pondicherry Central University, an M.Phil from Bharathidasan University, and a Ph.D from Bharathidasan University. He has over 22 years of experience in teaching and research, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at St. Joseph's College. His areas of expertise include organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and natural products chemistry. He has published several papers in international journals and presented at various national and international conferences.
Thailand implemented a program in the early 2000s to address widespread tooth decay among adults and children by creating dental nurses to staff rural health centers. These nurses ran outreach programs for prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. A core part of Thai oral health programs was promoting tooth brushing in schools with fluoridated toothpaste. This decreased tooth decay in children and increased oral health awareness. Untreated dental diseases are among the most common worldwide and incidence is increasing in low and middle income countries without prevention programs. Prevention, like Thailand's programs, is more viable for these countries than treatment which exceeds most health budgets. WHO is working with countries to develop prevention policies so fewer people develop oral diseases.
This document provides standings information for the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC) divisions. It lists each team's win-loss record, points for and against, and their divisional and conference standings. The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons lead their respective NFC divisions with 2-0 records so far this season. In the AFC, the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos are atop their divisions at 2-0.
tertulia literaria que pretende fortalecer las competencias lectoras, utilizando el audio como una estrategia pedagógica para motivar e invitar a los estudiantes a la lectura comprensiva, producción escrita y a la expresión oral.
The document discusses factors that affect pricing decisions for products. It identifies key considerations such as market objectives and positioning, product characteristics, market characteristics, product life cycle, distribution channels, costs, competition, demand, and external economic factors. Effective pricing requires understanding how these various elements interact and influence pricing strategies over the different stages of a product's life cycle. The document provides examples and guidelines for organizations to establish prices that meet business objectives while accounting for costs and market conditions.
The document is a lesson plan that contains spelling words as the main topic. It likely includes a list of words for students to study and learn how to correctly spell. In just 3 sentences or less, the high-level summary is that this document involves a spelling lesson with vocabulary words for students to practice.
This short document promotes creating presentations using Haiku Deck, a tool for making slideshows. It encourages the reader to get started making their own Haiku Deck presentation and sharing it on SlideShare. In just one sentence, it pitches the idea of using Haiku Deck to easily create engaging slideshows.
This document discusses the legal issues surrounding the extraterritorial use of drones to combat terrorist threats. It examines whether such use is permitted under international law frameworks of jus ad bellum and international humanitarian law. Key points discussed include:
- Drones fall under either the laws of armed conflict or international human rights law, depending on whether their use is part of an armed conflict.
- For armed conflicts, international humanitarian law provides the framework. For self-defense or law enforcement outside armed conflicts, international human rights law and the domestic laws of involved states apply.
- Under the UN Charter, states can only use force abroad with Security Council authorization or in self-defense following an armed attack. Interpreting self-defense
The document announces several upcoming events and deadlines for the Leo Club, including a parent night and collecting dues. It also lists several college representatives that will be visiting the school and provides information about signing up for ACT prep classes. Other notices include an upcoming meeting for girls interested in canoe paddling, opportunities for musical students to perform community service, part-time positions available with the YMCA after school program, and a reminder for students to check the lost and found for missing items.
graphic branding and logo design - previous jobsemerson uy
Racing equipment is gear used for auto racing. This includes helmets, gloves, suits, and shoes designed specifically for safety and performance on the track. Proper racing equipment is crucial for driver protection at high speeds.
The document proposes a Car Alert System (CAS) that would allow Enterprise rental car customers to search for and be notified of available vehicle classes at nearby locations. The CAS would use GPS coordinates to determine the closest stores with desired vehicles and allow users to set alerts to be notified when vehicles become available. It would also include messaging features to facilitate trades between locations. The benefits would be more efficient searches and alerts to find available vehicles, while potential drawbacks include stores unwilling to trade vehicles or only accepting trades for other in-demand classes.
Andre S.
ENG 111
Personal Expressive Essay 1
Silent Strength
While working late one afternoon, I heard the weather report forecasting continuous
thunderstorms throughout the evening. Hoping to escape the downpour and chaotic commute, I concluded
my affairs and hurriedly exited the building where I worked. The warm humidity and the fragrance of rain
momentarily engulfed me as I walked outside. Ominous clouds pregnant with moisture curtained the sky
as rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning illuminated the stratosphere. The low lying wind steadily
increased in velocity; the promises of a ferocious Norfolk summer storm were on display.
I raced to my car and accelerated to Interstate 64, praying for favorable road conditions, but a sea
of red lights beckoned, welcoming me into unmoving traffic. The motorists’ frustration heightened as we
inched forward—crawling at a snail’s pace. A sense of foreboding and alarm suffused the air at the
inevitability of the impending deluge. As thoughts of warmth and comfort pervaded my consciousness, a
resounding clap made me jump. The clouds unfolded giving birth to torrential rains which descended
mercilessly in blankets of white, impairing visibility as the wiper blades uselessly attempted the chore of
removing water from the windshield. So I, along with the others who could, moved to the shoulder of the
road.
Sitting there waiting for the waters to abate, listening to the pounding pulse of the rain awakened
an unpleasant childhood memory—seeing my mother cry for the first time. As a seven year old boy,
numerous details escaped my observation because of my preoccupation with playing games and watching
television. I vividly recalled my stupefaction at this peculiarity.
When we were kids, inclement weather prevented us from venturing outside. To alleviate our
boredom, my sisters and I started a rousing game of Uno—adding our own rules—starting arguments and
fights. The sniffles and voices coming from the next room caught our attention. Mother and father were
standing in the kitchen, speaking in hushed tones. We peeked in and saw mom hanging her head while
dad stood rigidly, arms by his side. They attempted to keep their voices lowered, but the intensity of their
disagreement caused fitful outbursts. Clearly they were embroiled in a dispute evidenced by the harsh
words and gestures. The exchange escalated and father declared the argument futile, walking away. He
emerged to tell us goodbye individually, then collectively, and left. Staring out the window, silently
sobbing as tears rolled down her soft cheeks, mother helplessly watched his retreat. I walked over to her,
tugged on her skirt and asked the obvious questions: “Is something wrong? Why was dad leaving and
where did he go?” She straightened her spine, wiped her face and offered promises saying soothingly,
everything would be fine.
However, it was not fine. In the weeks that followed dad.
The document summarizes a student's senior project where they wrote and illustrated a children's book. Some key details:
1) The student chose to write a children's book to teach kids an important life lesson. With help from their facilitator Mr. Sapere, they decided on the theme that "not everything is as it appears" and created characters to exemplify this theme.
2) They worked with a local elementary class, reading drafts and having the students illustrate the final book. This helped bond with the students and get feedback.
3) Through the project, the student realized writing children's books may not be the best career path for them but they still wish to influence and educate
1) The author has a problem with rewriting everything they write multiple times due to lack of confidence and indecisiveness. They spend far too much time revising documents like school assignments, worksheets, emails and lesson plans for their students.
2) Despite writing being central to their career as an English teacher, graduate student and lover of literature, the author still struggles to feel their writing is good enough. They are never satisfied with their initial words and will often rewrite whole pages multiple times or delete them entirely.
3) The author believes this issue stems from a deep-seated lack of confidence in themselves and their abilities, not just as a writer but as a person overall. They have trouble believing
This document provides guidance on using a "show don't tell" approach to writing narratives. It explains that showing actions instead of directly stating details engages readers by allowing them to infer qualities of characters. Examples are given of telling vs showing sentences, with showing sentences providing richer descriptions through specific actions and details. The document also discusses avoiding sentences that seem to dictate how readers should feel and provides tips for revealing characters through what they say, think, do, and how others react to them.
A story about a girl who was said to be socially inept. She loves to isolate herself. But not until when she met someone who changes her point of views about the life itself.
The document describes a skydiving experience. The author recalls being attached to an instructor for a tandem skydive from 12,500 feet. During the free fall, they experienced adrenaline and feelings of freedom. After 55 seconds, the instructor deployed the parachute at 5,000 feet. Under the parachute, the instructor performed a trick where they spun the parachute to make a rainbow shadow on a cloud. After 15 minutes under the parachute, they landed. The author was left wanting to experience skydiving again.
1. Jenna Christophersen
November 2012
UC Davis Nonfiction Creative Writing Class
Sharing the Mighty Pen
Printed in dark, bold letters, this warning sign greets me from the other end of the hall as
I round the corner. I wade toward the writing room through a river of sprawling legs, open
binders, loose papers, and glowing MacBooks. It‟s finals week, and students, some supported by
tall cups of coffee and some barely keeping their eyes open, line the hallway, waiting with
essays, personal statements, and journal entries. A few watch as I pick my way through the
obstacle course, occasionally even moving a backpack or book so I can get by. I lift the wait-list
warning sign and count the names on the sign-in sheet underneath. Twenty-five. I take a deep
breath and thank the Lord for my co-workers, two diligently working with students and one
arriving just behind me. She and I exchange glances, and I smile and shake my head ever so
slightly to say what we‟re both thinking: “If only some of these people had come in earlier…”
The first name is familiar to me. Marcus is one of what I call our “day residents.” He
comes in early, works with a tutor, and the moment the first session ends he signs up for another
one. He knows the drill and doesn‟t waste a second as he barrels in the door, dropping his
backpack behind the chair and scrawling his information on my sign-in sheet before I can say
much more than “hi.” By mere force of frequent exposure, the paper he has been working on has
become the personal project of each and every one of the tutors. His sentences are fragmented at
best, hopelessly garbled at worst, and take a good deal of patience and brainpower to unravel. I
mentally prepare as I settle into my chair, asking if “we‟re still working on the obesity paper.”
“Actually, I have these,” he responds, building a stack of papers on top of the desk. “We
have to do peer evaluations,” he continues, sliding the stack over to me. I flip the corners with
my thumb to see how many pages he has. “And I just don‟t know what to write. So if you could
help me, you know, know what to write, I just don‟t know where to start. I don‟t know what‟s
good or bad, you know.” He rambles on in a highly suspicious way. I look at what he has placed
before me, then raise my eyebrows at him.
“Marcus,” I say sternly. “Have you read these peer essays?” He looks down with a guilty
smile, putting his elbows on the desk, and admits he has not. “Marcus, I will not read these
papers,” I say, looking him square in the face. “You did not write them. I cannot do the work for
you. You must read them yourself. Come up with some critiques and then bring those to me. I‟ll
be happy to read your evaluations and help you strengthen them, but I will not read something
you didn‟t write!” I shake my head at him – he knows better – but I can‟t help smiling at his
deviousness.
“Okay,” he says, his naughty grin still on his face. “Let‟s work on this, then.” The obesity
paper replaces the stack before me.
“Okay,” I agree with a chuckle.
***
My next student‟s eight-page paper is due at two o‟clock; it is nearly one-fifteen.
Attention:
Due to the high demand for
writing tutoring services today,
expect to wait 30 minutes to 2
hours for a tutor.
2. Jenna Christophersen
November 2012
UC Davis Nonfiction Creative Writing Class
“Okay,” I say to him, “we have a thirty-minute session together. What can I help you
with?” As we begin working, I discover this fact: my tutee doesn‟t really want help. He discounts
any problems I see as mere details.
“I‟m a chemistry and English double-major,” he informs me, “so I know it‟s solid, I just
want someone to look it over.” In my mind, this translates to: “Just tell me I‟m wonderful.”
I hand him my pen and use my finger to point to the next sentence, asking him, “Okay,
here you say „he‟ to refer to the author. Here I think „he‟ is referring to the character. And in
these two places I‟m not sure who „he‟ is talking about. Can you clarify?”
“It‟s talking about the reader.”
“Okay, can you just say, „the reader,‟ then?”
He looks at me with a severe expression of superiority. “That‟s dangerously informal.”
I am taken somewhat aback. “Well – actually, it‟s not. That is a common practice widely
accepted in the academic field. I‟ve never had a professor tell me not to say „the reader.‟”
He continues to insist on the “dangerous informality” of this technique, so I decide to
move on. “Over here, you say „the affect,‟ but you mean the noun „effect,‟ with an „e.‟”
“But ultimately, the decision is up to me, not you.”
I blink.
“I‟m the author, so I can say what I want to say.”
I try to keep the defensive edge out of my voice as I tell him, “Yes, that‟s true, you get
the ultimate choice.” He looks smug, and I shrug my shoulders. “Sure, I‟m just giving you my
opinion,” I say, even though the difference between “effect” and “affect” is hardly a matter of
opinion. I feel my time is being wasted, but he is entitled to his full half hour, as I‟m sure he
would be the first to remind me. I glance at the clock and wonder how long the next twenty
minutes will seem.
***
Finally freed from Mr. Arrogance, I go to the list and place my initials beside the next
name, one of Japanese origin which I apologetically stumble over as I call it out. I notice she‟s an
international student, and that she signed in three hours ago. Many students leave after an hour or
so, but this young woman, admirably, has waited all this time.
As I read her introduction to a review of Rob Reiner‟s movie The Bucket List, I ask
clarifying questions to help me decode the collage of Japanese sentence structure and English
words. Her answers come so softly and haltingly that it‟s difficult to have even the vaguest idea
of what she‟s trying to say. In fact, the long pauses between each word tempt me to wonder if
she‟s trying to say anything at all. But as we work further, I realize she does have a message and
plenty of great ideas. I keep my voice calm and low, my words clear and even, and offer her
encouraging smiles as the words come, slow as the drip from a rusty faucet. Gradually, her
words flow a little more easily, in more of a trickle than a drip. I can work with a trickle.
I skim the sentences, reading out loud and explaining errors as we go along. Suddenly, a
sentence causes me to do a double-take. I bite my lip, but half a laugh escapes me. I quickly
cover it up with a cough and try to swallow the rest of it. My tutee looks at me quizzically. I
cough again, then point to the line on the page, praying the humor doesn‟t get the better of me.
“Do you know what the phrase, „kick the bucket‟ means in the English language?” I ask.
She shakes her head, but says, “To hang out?”
“Well, actually it means „to die.‟ So, here, you probably don‟t want to say, „They spend
the rest of the movie kicking the bucket together.‟”
3. Jenna Christophersen
November 2012
UC Davis Nonfiction Creative Writing Class
She stares at the paper for a second, and then starts laughing, a hand covering her mouth
as her shoulders shake. I take this as permission to let my own laughter loose, feeling grateful for
the release. It takes us upwards of a minute to recover enough solemnity to rework the sentence
without laughing again.
Half an hour disappears too quickly, but having discussed some of her common pitfalls, I
think she will be able to take care of most of the rest herself.
“Your content is great, and I think if you just clean up some of these tense errors and
make the other changes we discussed, you should be fine,” I tell her.
“Thank you,” she laughs, shouldering her backpack with an air of relief, “It help me very
much.”
***
By the end of the day, my head is heavy with the shrapnel of a dozen essays lodged into
my brain. The other tutors and I gather our belongings, nattering about the overwhelming volume
of students, the strange encounters of the day, the frustrating moments, the funny unintended
meanings of certain sentences.
I look over at one co-worker and say, “You know, we have the best job.”
She nods without a hesitation. “Oh yes. We do.”