Nick H.

Tutor, Ott Memorial Writing Center

Tutoring Expertise and Passion 

My name is Nick H. The pronouns I prefer to use are he/him/his. I am studying chemistry. This is my fourth (senior year) at Marquette. The writers I like are Ralph Ellison and Cornel West and my favorite genre(s) to write is/are creative writing. As a tutor I like to work on research-based projects.

 

Citation Experience 

MLA and APA

Multilingual Expertise

English and Spanish 

Statement of Tutoring Philosophy

Writing is not a process one can describe in a series of steps. It requires an intuitive understanding of communication and articulation, paired with a reasonable expression of creativity. As a peer tutor, I strive to get this point across. Any student with a set of polished communication skills can easily become a good writer, if not a great writer. The ability to effectively communicate is a skill that stretches beyond writing and academic rhetoric. Communication and communication through writing extend to real-world situations (whether we like it or not). My belief in the importance of writing is central to my tutoring philosophy. No matter what skill level a writer has, there is always room for improvement, and the only way to improve is to recognize the importance of writing across all spheres of academic life and life in general.

Before beginning any writing conference, I always ask if there are any major concerns that the writer might have. Often these concerns range from punctuation and grammar to conceptual and content issues. Regardless of what they are, I ensure the writer that these concerns will be addressed first and foremost. I have found that this method has been extremely beneficial because it accomplishes several tasks. The first of which is that it establishes a dialogue and rapport with the writer. This allows me to relate to the writer and make them feel comfortable in the writing center. Additionally, it allows me to gauge the writer’s confidence in their work and position in the writing process. I have found that this line of progression allows the writer to more effectively identify areas of concern, and allows me as a tutor to familiarize myself with the focus of the conference and the writer’s mindset.

When providing feedback, I have found that positive and encouraging comments help inspire the writer to approach their work with the confidence necessary to make the appropriate improvements. Further, attention to generally positive body language and facial expression is imperative in any conference, as the writer must know that my comments are sincere and my attention is fixated on their work. Once this level of trust is established, constructive criticism is delivered and received in a much neater fashion.

Ultimately, it is the writer who leads the discourse of the conference. As a peer-tutor, my goal is not to instruct, but to provoke discussion. From this discussion, it is my hope that the writer draws their own conclusions about their work and make the changes that they see fit. This exact chain of events embodies the underlying philosophy of my tutoring goals. Reading over a paper and marking it until it is bloody with red pen is not the goal of a peer tutor. Sincere encouragement and instilled confidence are the tools needed to achieve success in writing. 

Goals 

  • Seek out other tutors for help me consistently better myself as a tutor.

  • Inspire STEM majors/students from STEM disciplines to come to the writing center for projects other than papers.

  • Keep writers engaged in their work, not just focused on writing what is “good.”