Tutoring - how to improve student's expression?

[Vermilliona]

Hey everyone,

Wasn't really sure where to post this, but I figured expression = English boards? I tutor Global Politics, and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to improve a student's expression in essays and long answer questions. I've been giving them feedback on how to construct sentences and etc, as well as provided some examples of my own essays, but I feel like there's more that I should do (just not sure what). It's kind of a situation where their school hasn't built up their writing foundation very well, and now I can't tell them to read more and note down vocab or etc, since they don't have time for that in Year 12 - but how else to help them improve? Any advice would be much appreciated, I really want to help them get this under control so we can work on other areas and get their mark up. Thanks in advance!

[cute]

I'm only talking from personal experience, I've never tutored. Giving me ideal responses, and specific feedback on my own to look at by myself is a good start, then pushing the feedback until you refine their skills to the point they need to be at. Most of the time, it's an issue as simple as their inability to correctly manipulate the syntax to engage your reader, and it can be fixed once you specifically identify the problem.
I think I just rambled a bit, but hopefully it's okay

[HossRyams]

Well I just tutor VCE English, but I've found that all my students struggle with expression (and it was my main problem during VCE English too). Personally, I suggest:

• Reading the work of 'better' writers - so yeah, what you're doing, or find articles from fully sick foreign policy columnists
• Practice, practice, practice. Then get them to leave some written work overnight or whatever, then get them to come back to it - does it still make sense?
• Give them feedback so they know which particular expressions sound awkward etc.
• Positively reinforce well expressed statements
• Let them know that clarity is key and let them know what the examiners want to see. In GP, I suppose cold and clinical writing is the way to go. Let them know to drop the flowery language etc. and to focus on being concise, factual and analytical blah blah

Hope that helps somewhat haha

[literally lauren]

What exactly are they struggling with? If you're unsure, ask them whether it's that they don't know what to write, or they don't know how to write it.
 
If it's something like run-on sentences, then maybe impose a general rule for now, like no sentence can be over 3/4 lines long (depending on handwriting)
Another one I've found good is to prevent fragmented sentences, tell them not to begin a sentence with a verb. Esp. in L.A. I find the tendency is to continue ideas between separate sentences like: "The author uses__ to make us feel __. Suggesting that we should reconsider our views about__." Changing it to 'This suggests' is an instant fix, pretty much.

If it's really clunky, you might have to revisit some basic grammar rules. Don't make this too remedial, as it can hurt their self-esteem a bit, but explaining different sentence types or word forms will make a lot of difference in the long run.

Or if it's just general expression, it might be a vocab issue. Not having the language to deal with concepts can make it really difficult for students. I don't know much about global politics but I'm assuming there's quite a bit of coursework to cover, you know, globally. So perhaps it's actually a problem with the content, and your students just don't know how to approach a question?

When it comes to correcting their work, divide it equally (If they're up to it.) You correct every few sentences, but leave a few for your student (up to you whether you underline these or just leave it for them to find.) See if they can a) determine what's wrong and b) work out how to fix it. This should help work out what the problem is; if they don't notice there's a problem and the sentence makes complete sense to them, you'll need to explain the grammar, but if it's just a matter of fixing what they know sounds iffy, then that should be easier.

[Vermilliona]

Thanks everyone, you've all been very helpful! I think the issue of vocabulary and fragmented sentences is probably key here, so I'll try doing what you've all suggested. Danke again.