Minimalist Tutoring Strategies By Jessica Wong

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Minimalist Tutoring StrategiesBy Jessica Wong

• The goal of each tutoring session is learning,
  not a perfect paper
• -Jeff Brooks

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Strategy 1 Having the tutee read aloud. 

• Bypasses awkward moments while you read the
  tutees paper
• Tutee will be involved in his/her paper.
• Allows the tutee to correct his/her own errors,
  and will help make the paper sound good

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Strategy 2  Giving complements

• By giving complements you point out what the
  tutee is doing right.
• Shows the tutee that the paper is a text to be
  analyzed, helps points out strengths and weakness
  in a paper.
• Allows the tutor to break away from the role of
  the editor.

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Strategy 3 Making the Tutees do all the Talking

• How?
• Ask your tutee leading questions when the tutor
  discovers a problem in the paper
• Questions such as what do you mean by this? and
  whats you reasons for putting Q before N? will
  help the tutee find their own errors
• Asking open questions beginning with what, why,
  how, or when will allow the tutee to respond with
  more than just a few words.
• When tutors ask these questions this forces the
  tutees to think
• Tutors should try not to rephrase the question or
  even try to answer the question.

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Strategy 4 Responses to Tutees

• Occurs when tutee says What should I do here?
• The Tutor should respond by
• Saying I dont know or I cant tell you
• Effects
• Prevents the tutee from forcing the tutor into
  the roles of the editor
• Tutees will not be upset by this response and
  will accept this answer

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When Minimalists Strategies Work
The Unresponsive Writer The Antagonistic
Writer The Writer with the Perfect paper
33 effective 67 effective
22 slightly effective 67 effective 11 very effective
33 not effective 34 slightly effective 22 effective 11 n/a

• Though minimalist tutoring strategies are
  effective, tutors need to play all of the roles
• They need to be an ally, coach, editor,
  commentator, and collaborator.
• Makes the tutor more efficient
• Tutees will most likely learn something out of
  their session