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Award-Winning Literature Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I'm a student at Yale University majoring in both Economics and Global Affairs. Over the past 4 years, I am lucky to have worked with students of all ages and helped them reach their full potential. I offer tutoring services in all subjects, and I'm particularly interested in English, Economics, Go...
Yale University
AB

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Joey
Howdy! My name's Joey, I love all things music and tech as well as hitting the gym. I hold degrees in mechanical and aerosapce engineering as well as scientific computing from the University of Glasgow and University of Pennsylvania. I've been an instructor and TA at both institutions and I greatly ...
University of Pennsylvania
Master's/Graduate
University of Glasgow
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am a driven, positive, affirming tutor who is happy to help students in any way he can. I graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2020, and I obtained my Master's in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2022. In 2016, I received an SAT score of 1550. That year, I also r...
Dartmouth College
AM

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Aaron
I am a recent college graduate with an A.B. in Education Studies from Brown University (Providence, RI). I have worked as a remote tutor for other online platforms throughout 2021. I am most passionate about English, especially literary analysis and essay writing. When I am not tutoring, I enjoy exe...
Brown University
AB

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Etinosa
I graduated with a B.A from Cornell University and majored in biology (premed) with a concentration in genetics. I am currently 2nd year medical student at DUCOM and am passionate about biology, biochemistry and English. I understand the struggle of memorising small details and struggling to underst...
Drexel University
Master's/Graduate
Cornell University
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
After teaching for fifteen years from grade six to college level students there is one truth I have learned. Learning can only occur if the student has a point of reference. As teachers we have the responsibility to evaluate our student's level of knowledge and to increase their level of understan...
Clark Atlanta University
MS
Mercer University
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
For over two years, I've supported students and professional writers alike as a tutor and consultant, and for five years, I've worked on novels as a developmental editor. I graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Professional Writing, and I specialize in ACT Engli...
Boise State University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Hi! I'm a senior at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business looking for a small side hustle. As I know AP season is approaching for high school students, I would love to help as a tutor in preparation for exams, or provide guidance with college applications and essays! I am super passiona...
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Hello, my name is Destiny and I graduated from Howard University. I majored in Psychology with a minor in Biology and Administration of Justice. One of the most important lessons I've learned from school is the value of asking for help. This can be the difference between simply memorizing some facts...
Howard University
BS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Callista
As a passionate tutor with over 2 years of experience, I am dedicated to helping students excel in subjects like AP Calculus, AP English, and ACT preparation. Currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Political Science at Louisiana Tech University, I integrate practical applications into my teachin...
Louisiana Tech University
Bachelor's (in progress)
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Suzy
ACT English Tutor • +19 Subjects
I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a major in International Studies in May 2024, with a cumulative GPA of 3.94. From 2024-2025, I was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Bulgaria. This fall, I completed the LSAT, and I am in the process of applying to law schools. During college, I was an academic tutor for four years, working online one-on-one with middle school and high school students on core subjects including English Language Arts. I specialize in tutoring for reading comprehension, writing, and test preparation. I took fourteen AP classes in high school and scored 5s on the vast majority, including AP US History, AP Literature, and AP Micro and Macro. I scored a 34 on the ACT in 2019, and I scored a 172 on the LSAT this September. I am willing and happy to work with you to meet your goals --- whether you need help with SAT/ACT English and Reading, AP tests, workshopping your overall writing skills, or studying for the LSAT, I will personalize every lesson to your needs.
Maya
ACT Writing Tutor • +38 Subjects
I hold a Master of Arts in Social Science from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor's in Political Science from Grambling State University. Alongside my academic background, I've worked in education as both a program coordinator and a tutor, supporting students from middle school through college. Through my work as a GEAR UP tutor, I supported middle and high school students by helping them strengthen their reading, writing, and study skills while also building confidence in their academic abilities.
Antonia
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +67 Subjects
I'm a Computer Science and Law, Societies, and Justice major at the University of Washington. I've tutored K12 students across a wide range of subjects, including district curriculum, AP courses, and SAT/ACT preparation. I also founded a volunteer tutoring program focused on dual-language support in Mandarin and English. I'm passionate about helping students reach their full potential because I believe education should be accessible to all and that every student has a right to it. My core tutoring areas include English at all levels, math from elementary through SAT, and history. I'm excited to help you succeed in a way that's meaningful for you. I look forward to connecting with you and learning alongside you!
Donya
Neuroscience Tutor • +33 Subjects
As a recent graduate with a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, I am passionate about fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for my students. Although I have experience in tutoring, I strive to connect with students through personalized teaching methods that cater to their unique learning styles. I specialize in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, and I am dedicated to helping students not only understand complex concepts but also develop a genuine interest in science. My goal is to inspire curiosity and build confidence, ensuring that each student feels empowered to achieve their academic goals.
Isaac
AP Statistics Tutor • +32 Subjects
Hi everyone! I'm Isaac Ahn from Rochester, MN, and I am currently studying at Harvard University to earn a degree in Applied Math. I remember how challenging it was for me preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, PSAT, and over a dozen AP tests, and so I am inspired to now help guide other students through the same process. I love working with students to inspire confidence in overcoming the challenge of each test and earning a high score!
Valerie
AP English Literature and Composition Tutor • +13 Subjects
I have a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, where I majored in Communication through Annenberg and minored in Consumer Psychology through Wharton. Since graduating in 2019, I have amassed experience in both business and creative communication. From 2019 to 2024, I focused on public relations in highly regulated spaces, small business marketing, and analytics. Throughout my career, my communications work has resulted in local (e.g., Philadelphia Business Journal), trade (e.g., American Banker), and national (e.g., Wall Street Journal), coverage for my clients. I am also a singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In 2023, I released my independently produced debut record, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF YOU (WTCOY). In 2024, I followed it up with WTCOY: The Visual Odyssey, a short film that brought my music to life and has been recognized in film festivals like the Miami Independent Cinematic Fest, the International Indie Film & Screenplay Festival, and the Women's Bioscope. While I enjoy tutoring a variety of subjects, I focus on English, Literature, and Writing. I believe that all people should be strong written communicators no matter their discipline, especially in the artificial intelligence era. Written communication promotes critical thinking and empowers individuals to express themselves clearly. I prioritize helping students find their unique voice (no matter the genre they are writing), because I believe that this is what ultimately cultivates a love of writing.
Lauren
PSAT Writing Skills Tutor • +41 Subjects
I graduated from Augustana University with my Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Religion/Philosophy in 2019. I then completed my Masters in Humanities from the University of Chicago in 2020 and Masters in English Literature from University of St. Thomas in 2025. I was an English, Social Studies, and Spanish I was an English/History Instructor at a 1:1 school for middle school and high school students with learning differences. I was previously a college advisor for a nonprofit organization that assists college students from low-income backgrounds. I love encouraging students to develop their own writing and feel confident in their written communication skills! I am also eager to expand my teaching skills into more English Literature to share my passion for and knowledge the power of reading. My ultimate goal is to become an English Literature professor and I'm so grateful to grow as an educator with Varsity Tutors! I look forward to meeting and working with you!
Norah
Biology Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a Yale undergraduate student majoring in American Studies! I am interested in education, specifically the subjects history and social studies, because I believe it is very important to have a holistic understanding of the world and communities we live in. I am interested in reading and writing.
Sophia
Public Speaking Tutor • +42 Subjects
At a time when so many tutors use AI to create lesson plans, conduct research, and even grade students' work, I want to reiterate my committment to not using AI in our work together. Hi! I'm Sophia, a writer, editor, tutor, and voice teacher. I graduated Vanderbilt University with my Bachelor's in History, a second major in Voice, a concentration in Musicology, and a minor in Italian. I'm currently pursuing my Master's. I have extensive experience with academic writing and am also an award-winning creative writer. If you need help editing an essay, college personal statement, or writing of any kind, I'm here! I tutor middle school through collegiate humanities (think ELA and History), as well as Voice and musical academics (Musicology, Music Theory, Solfege, Conducting, etc.) for students of all ages.
Chamberlyn
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +56 Subjects
"Make your life a masterpiece, imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do." -Brian Tracy B.S. in Cognitive Studies and Child Development & Education at Vanderbilt University; M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As an educator, I am honored to have the opportunity to share my knowledge in order to contribute to the success of others! I firmly believe in a holistic style of education one that places an emphasis on the student as opposed to the content. From personal experience, I am aware that every person learns differently from one another and ground my style of teaching in what best suits my students. To me, it is important to empower all students and encourage their desire to learn; after all, exams and grades are only temporary, but knowledge lasts forever! I wholeheartedly enjoy teaching all subjects that fall within the realm of my expertise, but I am especially passionate about biology, chemistry, mathematics, writing, and most of all teaching how to learn!
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Many students struggle to move beyond plot summary and develop meaningful interpretations of texts. Common challenges include identifying and analyzing literary devices (metaphor, symbolism, tone, imagery), understanding how these devices support a work's themes, and supporting interpretations with specific textual evidence. Students often write what they think the teacher wants to hear rather than developing their own analytical voice. A Literature tutor helps students learn to ask critical questions about a text—why did the author use this word choice? What does this symbol represent?—and then build arguments grounded in close reading.
A strong thesis in Literature goes beyond stating a fact about a text; it makes an arguable claim about meaning, significance, or craft. Tutors work with students to move from vague observations ("Symbolism is important in this novel") to specific, debatable arguments ("The recurring motif of water represents the protagonist's internal struggle between freedom and responsibility"). The tutor guides you to test your thesis against the text, ask whether it's specific enough to sustain an essay, and refine it through revision. This personalized feedback on your emerging ideas—before you've written the full essay—saves time and prevents you from heading down weak argumentative paths.
Close reading is the practice of carefully examining specific passages—word choice, syntax, imagery, tone—to uncover layers of meaning in a text. Rather than reading passively for plot, close readers ask: What is the author doing here? How does this sentence work? What does the language reveal about character or theme? Many students skim texts or rely on SparkNotes summaries, missing the rich details that make strong literary analysis possible. Tutors teach close reading strategies like annotating for patterns, tracking shifts in tone, and noticing what an author emphasizes or omits—skills that transform how students engage with literature and write about it.
Weak essays often drop quotes into paragraphs without explanation, leaving readers confused about relevance. Strong integration means introducing the quote (with context about who speaks, when, or why), including the quote itself, and then analyzing what it reveals—explaining the connection between the evidence and your argument. For example, rather than just citing a quote about a character's fear, you'd explain how the specific word choice or imagery conveys that fear and supports your larger point about the character's development. Tutors provide real-time feedback on your drafts, showing you how to frame quotes with signal phrases, choose the most telling passages, and follow quotes with analysis that proves their significance to your thesis.
Developing a distinctive analytical voice means moving beyond formulaic five-paragraph essay structures and writing with confidence in your interpretations. Many students default to passive constructions ("It can be argued that...") or overly formal language that obscures their thinking. Strong literary analysis uses precise, active language and lets your reasoning shine through. Tutors help you recognize the difference between grammatical correctness (which matters) and stylistic choices that reflect how you think. Through revision conversations, you'll learn which sentences are doing real analytical work, where you can be more concise or more specific, and how to sound like a thoughtful reader rather than a student trying to sound "academic."
Revision in Literature writing happens in layers. First, check that your thesis is clear and specific, and that every paragraph supports it—this is argument-level revision. Next, examine your evidence: Are your quotes the strongest possible examples? Do you analyze them deeply enough? Then refine your analysis and voice: Are you explaining *why* the evidence matters, or just *what* it says? Finally, address sentence-level issues like clarity and word choice. Many students revise only for grammar, missing opportunities to strengthen their arguments. Tutors guide you through this systematic revision process, asking questions that help you identify weak spots in reasoning, surface-level analysis, or underdeveloped ideas—and then work with you to deepen your thinking before you polish for grammar.
Each genre has distinct features that require different analytical approaches. Poetry demands close attention to form—line breaks, meter, rhyme scheme, stanza structure—and how these formal choices create meaning. Drama requires analyzing dialogue, stage directions, and dramatic irony to understand character and conflict. Novels offer more space for character development, narrative perspective, and thematic complexity across hundreds of pages. Students often apply the same analytical toolkit to all genres and miss what makes each one unique. Tutors help you develop genre-specific reading strategies: learning to hear the music of a poem, recognizing how a playwright uses silence and movement, or tracking how a novelist's narrative voice shapes your understanding of events.
Literature essays typically use MLA (Modern Language Association) format, though some teachers may request APA or Chicago style. MLA emphasizes in-text citations with author and page number, plus a Works Cited page—this format keeps focus on the text itself rather than publication date. Correct citation matters because it gives credit to sources, allows readers to find the passages you reference, and demonstrates you've engaged with the actual text rather than summaries. Beyond formatting rules, citation reflects your credibility as a reader and writer. Tutors ensure you understand the logic behind citation (why we cite, not just how), help you format correctly for your assignment, and teach you to integrate citations smoothly into your prose so they support rather than interrupt your analysis.
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