Tampa English Tutor

SAT Timing Tip for March 13 Tampa SAT Students

Tampa English Tutor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:27:00 GMT

First of all good luck to all of my students taking the SAT tomorrow. It's been a pleasure helping you prepare for SAT writing and SAT reading comprehension. All of you will do well!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/ / CC BY 2.0

This image of the National Portrait Gallery's Great Hall is the work of DB King.

One small tip to help you time the sections. SAT proctors are usually diligent about giving you reminders of remaining time, but one way to make sure you stay on pace is to wear an analog watch and set the hands to noon at the start of each section.
That way, it's easy to see exactly how much time you have left to finish any SAT section.

Eric Anderson is a Wesley Chapel, Florida-based history, language arts, and SAT reading and writing tutor. He tutors students from grades 6-12 and adults and has worked extensively with students from the Hillsborough IB program. Contact Eric at 813.787.8959.

Neat Writing Video from Publication Coach Daphne Gray-Grant

Tampa English Tutor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:01:00 GMT

Even talented writers have their moments of struggle. I'd like to share a video made by Daphne Gray-Grant with those students who want to learn to write better.

The music was composed by her son. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Learn more about Daphne at PublicationCoach.com.

New Tampa SAT Tutor Gets Good News -- Student Scores 2130

Tampa English Tutor — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:44:00 GMT

I could not be happier for one of my New Tampa SAT Tutoring students. He applied himself to improving his writing and critical reading and it paid off.

Image from Left Hand's Flickr Photostream and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Only.

Based on his PSAT scores, we projected he would score about 1900 on the SAT, but he did much better.

He is a student in the King IB Program.

If your son or daughter is taking the SAT this year and would like some individual help preparing, please contact me at 813.787.8959 or at Tampa tutor at tampa bay dot rr dot com.

Tampa English Tutor Stunned by Advice in Teacher's Book

Tampa English Tutor — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:33:00 GMT

Teaching writing is an amazingly subjective enterprise. I just finished a book about a middle school writing teacher and his students. I read it in hopes of finding some activities that I could do with my younger writing students.

As far as my goal for reading, mission accomplished. The book was well-written and contained a few good activities to teach story writing.

Photo by Nic McPhee. See more of his wonderful photos on Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Only.

Nevertheless, I was horrified by the sections describing the writing conferences and by the advice that the writing teacher reports having given to parents at several points in the story. He admits to steeling a set of student tests and to advising a parent who was considering private school that his son could be just as easily corrupted by classmates at a private school as at a public school. It's hard to imagine someone so insensitive to people that he or she would offer up that bit of unsolicited wisdom.

Some days I feel like I am not a good writing teacher, but I know better than to do that. I guess the dozen people that gave this writing teacher's book five star reviews weren't bothered by either of those details.

I looked at reviews of the book on Amazon, and everyone else seemed to have enjoyed it, but I found myself rolling my eyes and feeling sorry for the kids. I'm not naming names, just venting, I guess.

The book is a good reminder of how many different approaches there are to teaching writing.

Eric Anderson is a writing tutor. He lives in Wesley Chapel, Florida, and tutors students in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. If you have a student who would like help becoming a better writer, call Eric at 813.787.8959.

Tampa Reading Tutor Recommends Seedfolks for 7th or 8th grade readers

Tampa English Tutor — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:37:00 GMT

A few months ago, I read a little of Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman with one of the middle school students I tutor. I enjoyed the excerpt, and I always wanted to finish the book. Yesterday, I finally did.

Seedfolks is the story of 13 inhabitants of an inner-city Cleveland neighborhood and how they are changed by their roles in transforming a rat-infested vacant lot into a lush community garden. Each character tells his or her own story.

This photo taken by Tony the Misfit and licensed under Creative Commons.
See more of his photos in Tony's Flickr photostream.

I thoroughly enjoyed the overlapping stories. I especially enjoyed the "inside baseball" essay that closes the book and offers readers insight into the book's origins and the connections between author and story.

If your child needs help improving his or her reading, call New Tampa Reading Tutor Eric Anderson. Eric tutors students in grades 6-12 in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood, and Temple Terrace, Florida. Reach him at 813.787.8959 or at tampa tutor at tampabay dot rr dot com.

Tampa English Tutor Recommends Christopher Mouse for readers in 3rd to 5th grades

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:16:00 GMT

I really enjoy tutoring writing. I'm blessed to be able to do something that I like to do and get paid for it. Today I met one of my favorite students at the Panera on West Kennedy and worked with her on some ways to improve the assignments that she is doing for an online course at USF.

This photo taken by Mohammed Riza. Licensed under Creative Commons.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moriza/ / CC BY 2.0

I also got the chance to read a children's book that I found at the New Tampa Friend's of the Library bookstore. It's Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler by William Wise. I think I will work on creating a writing prompt to go with the book for one of my younger students.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story because it's well written, fun to read, and nicely illustrated. I think it would appeal to 3rd to 5th graders who have strong reading skills. I hope my student will enjoy it as much as I did.

If your son or daughter would like some extra one-on-one help in reading, writing, grammar, or vocabulary, call Tampa English Tutor Eric Anderson. He tutors students in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Temple Terrace, Florida. Reach him at tampatutor at tampabay dot rr dot com or by calling 813.787.8959.

Should you take the SAT or ACT?

Tampa English Tutor — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:25:00 GMT

Most colleges require applicants to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the ACT. Although a few colleges or universities require one or the other, many accept both. So, which one should you take?

Here is a quick break down to help you decide:

Time – Both the SAT and ACT are approximately three hours long. The SAT takes 3 hours and 5 minutes, and the ACT takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete.

Cost – The cost of the SAT is $43. The basic ACT test costs $30, and if you take the optional writing portion, you pay an additional $14.50.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/billselak/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
Photo created by Bill Selak and licensed under creative commons.

Frequency – The SAT is given seven times per year. The ACT is given six times per year.

Structure – The SAT has ten sections: three critical reading, three mathematics, three writing sections (2 sections plus mandatory timed essay) and an experimental section that can be reading or math and is not identified to test takers. The ACT has four sections: English Math, Reading, and Science. The ACT also has an optional fifth writing section that is a timed essay. Test takers may choose to take the ACT with or without the essay.

Scoring – Each of the three sections of the SAT is scored on a 200 to 800 point scale. There is a quarter-point penalty for wrong answers on the SAT. ACT sections are scored from 1 to 36 and averaged to get a composite score. The ACT does not penalize test takers for wrong answers.

SAT Test Content – The SAT covers math up to Geometry and Algebra II. SAT Reading includes short, long, and paired prose passages with comprehension, vocabulary in context, and inference questions. Passages come from fiction, natural sciences, and social sciences. Each of the SAT reading comprehension sections include a section of sentence completion questions that test vocabulary. SAT writing includes a timed essay and questions covering grammar, usage, punctuation, and word choice.

ACT Test Content – The ACT covers math up to trigonometry. ACT science tests basic science knowledge and interpretation of graphs and data. The ACT Reading test includes four passages (Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Science, and Prose Fiction) with 15 questions each. The ACT English test stresses sentence-level grammar, punctuation, and style. The ACT has an optional essay.

Websites: The SAT is given by the College Board. http://www.collegeboard.com. The ACT is given by ACT Corporation http://www.actstudent.org.

Before deciding which test to take, look at the requirements of the colleges you are considering, think about your academic strengths, and talk to your parents. Review the admission policies of your school choices carefully. Try to take a few practice tests of each kind if you are not certain which test is right for you.

Eric Anderson is a Tampa, Florida-based English tutor. He tutors Reading Comprehension and writing for the SAT and Reading and English for the ACT. Contact him at tampatutor at tampabay dot rr dot com or by phone at 813.787.8959.

New Tampa ACT Tutor Wishes Students Good Luck on Saturday

Tampa English Tutor — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:56:00 GMT

I've been working with a few students to get them ready for this Saturday's ACT. Although questions on the ACT are easier than those on the SAT, the ACT demands that students work quickly. I have been tutoring one ACT prep student to help him develop strategies to complete the 75 question English section within the 45 minute time limit. We have also been working on ways to improve his speed in the ACT reading section. Today, he completed a practice reading test within the time limit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonvscanon/ / CC BY 2.0

In a recent post, I mentioned number2.com as a resource for SAT students, and this site is also a great place to find practice ACT questions and ACT test tips for procrastinators.

Best of luck to all my Tampa ACT prep students and all New Tampa high school students taking the ACT on February 6th. Upcoming ACT test dates and registration deadlines can be found here.

For students and parents who live in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Carrollwood and would like to get help preparing for the English and reading portions of the ACT, contact Eric Anderson at 813.787.8959. Although he does not tutor the math portion of the SAT or ACT, he can recommend an excellent New Tampa math tutor.

New Tampa SAT Tutor Shares SAT Preparation Resource: Number2.com

Tampa English Tutor — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:23:00 GMT

I was exploring some teacher websites in an effort to find more SAT students and I discovered a gem in the favorite links page of a New Tampa reading teacher. It looks like a wonderful free resource for students who want to track their progress as they prepare for the SAT.

This photograph is the work of seeminglee. Licensed under creative commons.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seeminglee/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

See more of his photos on Flickr.

It's called http://www.number2.com and includes excellent tools for tracking student progress. Those who read this blog know that I recommend College Board's SAT Question of the Day as a great way to sharpen SAT skills.

Right now, I am just starting to use the number2 site, but it looks to be a superb SAT prep resource.

If you are trying to help your son or daughter get ready to take the SAT or ACT and would like to get him or her some one-on-one private SAT tutoring, contact Eric Anderson, New Tampa SAT and ACT tutor at 813 787 8959 or at tampatutor at tampa bay dot rr dot com. I hope that you find number2.com useful.

New Tampa Tutor Says Good Luck to SAT Students

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:36:00 GMT

It's crunch time for those taking the SAT on Saturday. I was tutoring a student in Barnes and Nobles this afternoon and noticed the place was crowded with students doing the last-minute SAT cram.

I know the Spanish guitar has nothing to do with studying for the SAT, but I like the photo...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timjoyfamily/ / CC BY 2.0

It seems like a million years ago when I took the test. I remember it being unbearably cold in the test room at USF. All I can say to those taking it on Saturday is get a good night's rest and bring a jacket.

I have been blessed to study with some talented students. I wish all of them extraordinary success on Saturday's SAT.

Eric Anderson is an English and history tutor in Tampa, Florida. He tutors students from grades 6-12 and adults in reading, writing, grammar, language arts, and in the Reading Comprehension and writing sections of the SAT. Reach Eric at 813.787.8959 or at tampa tutor at tampa bay dot rr dot com. Eric is a freelance web content writer and a graduate of Chamberlain High School and Stetson University.

The Power of Habits: HabitForge as a Tool for Students

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:43:00 GMT

I read something worth sharing in Power Writing, the newsletter of publications coach Daphne Gray-Grant. Her newsletter is wonderful for anyone who wants to learn to write better and faster. (Her book is on my wish list...)

Anyway, she wrote an article about HabitForge, a new site that allows you to describe habits you want to develop and set daily goals. Each day the site sends an e-mail asking whether you met your daily goal. The site is based upon the premise that it takes 21 days to form ahabit. You get the reminders until you answer yes to your goal questionfor 21 consecutive days.

Photo by Wonderlane and licensed under Creative Commons. See more of her photos on Flickr.
Dog lovers will appreciate her blog post about Christian the Dog Thief.

I am giving the HabitForge a try.

Maybe students preparing for the SAT can use it to build good SAT review habits. I would love to hear from students who are trying HabitForge. Is it working for you?

Eric Anderson is an English, history and American Government tutor who lives in Wesley Chapel, FL. He tutors students from grades 6 through 12 and adults. Eric is a graduate of Stetson University. Contact Eric by e-mail at tampa tutor at tampabay dot rr dot com or by calling 813.787.8959.

Wesley Chapel, FL Language Arts Tutor's Tips for Writing a Good Book Report

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:49:00 GMT

Although I love to read, I have never liked writing book reports. If you’ve been assigned one, try these tips for writing a good book report.

Tip #1: Read the book. Don’t try to fudge by reading only the book jacket and summary on the web. If your assigned book is dull, read it out loud, or have your parent read parts of it to you. Start on the assignment early so that you have plenty of time to finish the book and write, revise, and proofread your book report.

Tip #2: List the characters. Write down your impressions of them. Be sure to pay attention to the point of view of the story. Is the story narrated from the point of view of one of the characters? Is it told by an all-knowing narrator?

Tip #3: Set the scene. As the author describes the places where the story is set, make notes and think about why the author chooses certain settings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rusho/ / CC BY 2.0

Tip #4: Summarize each chapter as you read. Keep track of the key events of each chapter. Keep it short.

Tip #5: Review the format for the book report supplied by your teacher. Make certain that your report is written in the correct format. Plan your work so that you can show your teacher a rough draft before the book report is due and get some advice on ways to improve your report.

Tip #6: Put it all together. Once you have your notes completed, you are ready to write the book report. Book report formats vary, but many include a summary, the main characters, the setting and an evaluation of the book.

Eric Anderson is a freelance web copywriter. He lives in Wesley Chapel, FL and tutors students in grades 6-12 and adults in English, Language Arts, essay writing, grammar, and SAT reading comprehension and SAT writing. To reach Eric, call 813.787.8959 or email him at tampatutor at tampabay dot r r dot com.

The Whole Truth: Writing Advice for Students from Writing Coach Roy Sorrels

Tampa English Tutor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:19:00 GMT

One of the e-newsletters that I read comes from writing coach Roy Sorrels. This week his newsletter had some great advice. He has been kind enough to let me share his article here:

The Whole Truth

***The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but….” If you’ve ever testified in a courtroom you’ve spoken those words, a solemn promise to tell the truth.

The problem with much of what we write is that we do indeed tell the truth, but often we don’t tell the whole truth.

Here’s what I mean: When I was teaching one of my face-to-face memoir classes, an elderly woman wrote about her wedding day. She wrote about how happy she was, how much in love she was, what a fine fellow her new husband (who was still her husband after almost 50 years) was.

And it was all, I believed, the truth.

But I suspected that it wasn’t the whole story. And I told her (gently) that I thought the whole story, the “whole truth,” would make a much more compelling piece of memoir.

The next week she brought the piece back, revised. Now it included the fact that the wedding was in the middle of the Great Depression. She was out of work, her new husband was out of work. She had holes in her shoes. Her wedding dress was borrowed and a color she hated. She’d eaten the last frankfurter in the fridge for breakfast. And she was pregnant. Yes, she loved her new husband, but she was also angry at him for his part in getting her into this pickle. And, of course, she was angry at herself. She even admitted being angry at God.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stawarz/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
This photo created by Andrew Stawarz.

Usually, we tend to write the truth in draft #1. Then, if we’re determined to make what we’re writing as good as it can possibly be, we start as we revise trying to tell the whole truth. And, as we do, our writing becomes more interesting, more compelling, more dramatic, and often funnier.

*** Working with people who are writing about their own lives is, for me, one of the most interesting and rewarding parts of being a writing coach.

They are often in a process of self-discovery that can be very valuable for them. And they are often creating a gift for their children and grand children that, in my opinion, is the most important gift they can give.

If you are interested in learning more about Roy or any of his online writing workshops, visit him at www.RoySorrels.com.

Tampa Tutor PSAT Student Makes 99th Percentile

Tampa English Tutor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:52:00 GMT

I needed some good news today and I got some. One of my very best students got his PSAT scores. Due to his hard work and extraordinary discipline, he achieved a PSAT score in the 99th percentile. I am so proud of him for his dedication to excellence.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abnelgonzalez/ / CC BY 2.0

Tampa Language Arts Tutors Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:02:00 GMT

If you are a high school student, you probably have to write regularly. From homework to term papers to college application essays, you get your share of writing assignments. Even good writers sometimes have difficulty writing. At times you may feel as if you have nothing to write about a particular topic.

You have writer’s block.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/re_birf/ / CC BY 2.0

Here are a few tips to help you overcome writer's block.

Don’t procrastinate. Procrastination can make writer’s block worse, but it can also cause it. The pressure of a deadline can be paralyzing. Try to get a draft done well before it’s due.

Don’t worry about the details. The most important part of writing is to simply write. Avoid focusing on spelling, grammar, and punctuation as you get your ideas down on paper. Fix those details during editing.

Write about what you know. If you are facing a creative writing assignment, write about something you know about. Ann Lamott, a novelist who writes about writing in her book Bird by Bird, suggests writing about experiences in the school cafeteria. It sounds strange, but her point is that when you write about a personal experience, you can sometimes get the momentum to overcome your writer’s block.

Read or go to the movies. If you are really at a loss for writing material, reading will be an immense help. Read about your topic; read something that has nothing to do with your topic. Reading opens the mind and invites new ideas. Isaac Asimov’s answer to writer’s block was a trip to the movies. Sometimes the best thing to do to get the words flowing is to let the world tell you a story.

Do a body check. While this may sound like part of the new TSA screening procedure, it’s not. When I’m tired, I find writing harder. Check yourself and make sure that you are eating well and sleeping enough. Create the conditions that will let you do your best writing.

If you are stuck and need help writing an AP History DBQ or essay for English, call Tampa Language Arts tutor Eric Anderson’s tutoring hotline at 813.787.8959 or reach Eric by email at tampa tutor at tampa bay dot rr dot com.

The Benefits of Reading Fiction

Tampa English Tutor — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:22:00 GMT

Daphne Gray-Grant, the author of 8.5 Steps to Writing Faster, Better, tweeted about a recent article on the benefits of reading fiction from the New Scientist. The article describes experiments done at the University of Toronto that provide some evidence of increased empathy by fiction readers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96683394@N00/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Makes sense. Identifying with a fictional character requires the ability to see the world from his or her point of view. I thought the design of the research was interesting. So was the conclusion that empathy may also come from identifying with characters in movies and video games. I can't see playing Grand Theft Auto helping a kid develop empathy, but it's probably because I'm old.

Nevertheless, I'm glad to find evidence that reading fiction is good for you. (If you are looking for a good young adult novel to read with your 7th or 8th grader, try Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.)

Eric Anderson is a English Tutor in Tampa, Florida. Naturally, he thinks reading is good for you. If your son or daughter needs help with English, history, essay writing, English grammar, or reading, call Eric at 813.787.8959.

Tampa English Tutor Asks Does More Time Online Mean We are Less Literate?

Tampa English Tutor — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Yesterday I tutored a new student in English and American history at the Barnes and Noble in Carrollwood.

One of the assignments he and I worked on was summarizing an article about a NEA study showing a decline in reading. Although the data was old, it showed that the reading of novels, non-fiction books, and poetry declined for most age groups of Americans between 1984 and 2000.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/ / CC BY 2.0

We talked some about why fewer Americans are reading. He suggested that people were spending more time online.

Are we becoming less literate, or have we just moved our reading online?

Without a doubt, Americans are spending more time online.

A recent study by Harris Interactive reveals that adult Americans are spending an average of 13 hours per week online. (Hat tip to Jeff Sexton on Twitter for the link to this Tech Crunch article on increasing Internet use.)

What do you think?

Eric Anderson is an English and history tutor. He works with students from grades 6-12 and adults. He tutors in Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Carrollwood, and the surrounding communities. Contact Eric at 813.787.8959.

New Tampa Tutor Offers Help for Struggling Students (And Their Parents)

Tampa English Tutor — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:40:00 GMT

Here are some thoughts about how to help your child succeed academically if he or she is struggling:

Make time for a parent teacher conference: Many times, your child’s teacher will be able to guide you in understanding why your child is struggling.

Talk with your child about possible solutions: What does your child say about why he or she isn’t doing well? Ask open ended questions and let your student be part of developing the action plan.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/freewine/ / CC BY 2.0

Put tutoring in the proper perspective: Some students are reluctant to get tutoring because they think that getting a tutor is an admission of failure. I like to ask students if they think top athletes have coaches to help them reach peak performance and then ask if they think any less of these athletes for doing everything possible to succeed. Sometimes asking these questions can help a student see tutoring as part of a program for academic success.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvar/ / CC BY 2.0

Set measurable benchmarks for the tutoring program. If I am tutoring SAT, I ask students to take a diagnostic SAT and provide scores before we start tutoring. By having a baseline, we can set a realistic goal for improvement and develop a tutoring program designed to produce that level of performance. Some parents hire me to bring their child’s grade back up to an A or a B. Whatever benchmark you set, spell it out in the beginning with your child and the tutor you hire.

Monitor progress toward the tutoring program’s goals: Most schools have online access to student performance. Although these systems are not always an accurate reflection of performance because teachers vary in how quickly the enter grades into the system, you should still be monitoring performance to see if tutoring is improving your child’s performance.

If you child needs help in English, Language Arts, reading or writing, contact Tampa English and history Tutor Eric Anderson at 813.787.8959. Eric tutors students in grades 6-12 and adults in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, New Tampa, and the surrounding area.

Tampa English Tutor’s Helpful Hints for Making PowerPoint Presentations

Tampa English Tutor — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:58:00 GMT

If you have been assigned a PowerPoint presentation, here are a few tips.

Tip #1: Don’t Read to Me

Few things are worse than a presentation in which the speaker reads his or her slides to the audience. Put key points on the slides and elaborate on them as you give your presentation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/ / CC BY 2.0
Image created by Eye of Einstein.

Tip #2: Don’t Get Too Fancy

Don’t let the PowerPoint overshadow your presentation. In other words, you can add lots of special effects if you are a proficient PowerPoint user. Before you do, ask yourself how much they contribute to getting your message across.

Tip #3: Choose a Readable Font

Although some fonts look great on a PC, they are not easy for an audience to read on a screen. Stick with a simple font. If you can make a dry run using the equipment that you will present with, you should. Ask a classmate to stand in the back row and assess how well your slides work.

Tip #4: Don’t Pick a Background Color that Blends with the Text

Dark grey letters on a black background isn’t such a good idea. In addition to using elements that contrast, you need to think about your audience and how they will experience the presentation. Even if you are doing a presentation about Christmas, don't do a red background and green letters.

Tip #5: Use Pictures and Visual Aids

If you are presenting information that is easier to grasp as a table or bar graph or chart, you should present it that way. Free photo sites, such as Flickr, allow you to find Creative Commons licensed photos by keyword. By choosing Attribution Only images and using proper attribution, you can avoid any problems that may arise from using other people’s photos without permission.

Tip #6: Practice for Perfection

Practicing the PowerPoint presentation will help you find errors, fix unreadable elements, and solve any technical difficulties that may occur. Of course, you should pruf red yur slids. Typos are hard to miss when they are projected on a 10’ screen.

Eric Anderson is a private English Tutor serving New Tampa, Carrollwood, Temple Terrace and the USF area. He tutors English and history for students from 6th grade to college. Reach Eric at 813.787.8959 or at tampatutor at tampa bay dot rr dot com.

A Gentle Reminder to Web Writers from Gerry McGovern

Tampa English Tutor — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:38:00 GMT

This does not have much to do with tutoring, but I think writers ought to heed Gerry's advice:

In an age when time is the most valuable resource of all, it is vital to lead with the need, to answer the question as quickly and concisely as possible.

Your laptop keeps crashing. It's driving you insane. You've waited for ages on the phone for support and have given up. In desperation, you send an email. Here's the reply you get:

Dear customer,
Thank you for your feedback. We are continuously working to improve customer satisfaction. Your feedback supports us in doing just that.

Read the rest at GerryMcGovern.com.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnusdigity/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Eric Anderson is a language arts and history tutor in Wesley Chapel, FL. If your son or daughter needs help to write better or to master English, Language Arts, or history, call Eric at 813.787.8959.