Allison

Certified Tutor

I recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor's of Science in Forensic Science and two minors in Biology and Chemistry. While completing my degree, I worked at the VCU Writing Center as a Peer Writing Consultant, helping undergraduate students, graduate students, and non-traditional learners with a wide variety of assignments outside of my path of study. I absolutely loved working with so many people on such wildly different projects, which is why I am continuing to tutor people in English and Writing through this platform.

As a Peer Writing Consultant, I worked with personal statements, study abroad applications, scholarship applications, reflection papers, creative writing, research essays, capstone papers, project proposals, PowerPoint presentations, poetry, rhetorical analysis papers, literature reviews, and countless other forms of writing ranging from common to niche. Beyond that, I've also supported students who needed help with reading comprehension and understanding grammar fundamentals. I'm also familiar with tutoring people who have learning differences or neurodivergences (such as ADHD, dyslexia, etc.).

While working at the VCU Writing Center, I often said I helped students with "any type of writing, at any point in the process" -- meaning that you could come to me with a finished draft that just needed a second set of eyes on it, or you could bring the assignment rubric and a blank sheet of paper. Whether you were on either end of those extremes or somewhere in the middle, I would ensure you leave our session with your goals met and a clear understanding of your next steps. I stand by that approach in my tutoring style today, and I can adapt to your needs quickly and easily.

In addition to meeting you wherever you're at, I use a dialogue-focused style of tutoring writing, reading, and other skills centered in understanding and commanding the English language. When I work with someone on their writing, I balance my instructions with questions directed towards you. As a Peer Writing Consultant, I learned to let my peers arrive at answers on their own by asking them open questions like, "What other sub-claims can tie into your main claim? Are there any sub-claims you have written now that don't quite fit? Why do they -- or don't they -- fit with your main claim?" My goal is to help you better understand and hone your unique writing and thinking processes during each of our sessions.

Now, my favorite part about being a Writing Consultant was watching my peers who booked recurring appointments grow into their writing style and confidence as our sessions went on. Every time one of my peers has proudly smiled after reading their work out loud, lit up with energy and inspiration during a brainstorming session, or made that "eureka!" face after a concept finally clicks, I share in their joy -- that is why I do this. I do this because I believe in everything you want to accomplish, and I will help you get there regardless of what you're working on or where you're starting from.