Hi. Welcome. Hi
What are we gonna work on today? Umm, I just wanted to come in to have someone look over my grammar.
Your grammar? Okay. [Papers ruffling] Alright, well, we'll take a look and see what you've got going here.
When is this paper due?
Uhhh, first draft I think is due in two weeks.
Okay, alright. Well, looks like you've got a long time. Uh, it's really great that you're starting out so early.
This is gonna give you plenty of time to make this a really good paper.
Umm, in light of the fact that you're starting so early, it's a little early to start working on details like grammar, and spelling, and things like that.
What we really want to focus on is things more like organization and,
the strength of your argument, and your thesis, and things like that.
So, is there some specific area of the paper that you wanted to work on?
Umm, like I said, grammar. But also if it makes sense, just, if the ideas go together?
Okay, alright. I want it sound smart. Gotcha.
Also my sentences are just too short. I think they're choppy. [Tutor, doubtfully] Umm.
I definitely need to work on writing more complex sentences.
Well, again, that's the sort of thing you can work on later, after you've gotten your ideas on the paper.
Umm, let's see. [Pauses] Tell you what, why don't you just start reading aloud to me
and stop whenever you finish reading what you think is your thesis sentence, okay?
[Student begins to read]. Everyday I meet many people. Most of them are college students in my school, Purdue University.
Everyone is studying hard.
[Stops reading] Umm, but does that sound choppy to you? It just doesn't sound like, advanced.
It's actually, no, it's not, it's not too bad. But again, don't worry about that.
It's really way too early to worry about that.
Later you can worry about making your sentences longer, or whatever you think sounds better.
But right now, let's focus on the ideas and the organization of the paper. So, go on.
[Resumes reading] Still they manage to have contact with old friends via Facebook.
I can walk to middle of students and ask them whether they have Facebook accounts
the chance is they all have Facebook.
Not only students, but also many companies and politicians get benefits from Facebook.
[Stops reading] Umm, is that the thesis?
Well, if your main point is that all companies and politicians find Facebook useful, then, maybe.
Is that the point of your paper? Yeah, because of that, that everyone should get Facebook.
Alright, well that, that's your next sentence. What's your next sentence say?
Umm, that everyone should get Facebook. There you go. There's your thesis.
[Clock ticking]
Alright, so we've gone through the paper. We've found a few places for you, a few things for you to work on.
So you're gonna work on what? You're gonna work on your organization, right? And the conclusion.
You said that the conclusion wasn't finished, so you need to write the conclusion.
And then we can look at your sentence stuff later.
Things like you said, punctuation, grammar, spelling. Things like that.
You can make another appointment. You can come in and talk to us.
You've got lots of time before the paper is due.
So don't worry about those things upfront. We'll look at those things later when the paper is closer to being finished.
Because if you keep rewriting the paper, then all of that time you spent working on that grammar is wasted
because you'll just have to do it again. You see what I mean?
Can I make an appointment with you, because you know my paper?
Sure, if I'm available at a time you're available, I'd love to work with you.
Okay, Alright, thanks very much.