Your first session is about understanding your writing goals and challenges. You'll likely discuss the types of essays you're working on, any specific struggles (like organization or thesis clarity), and what you want to improve most. Your tutor may review a sample essay to assess your current strengths and areas for growth, then create a personalized plan to help you develop as a writer.

A strong thesis is the foundation of any essay, and tutors specialize in helping you craft clear, arguable claims. They'll guide you through brainstorming your main idea, testing whether it's specific enough, and ensuring it actually answers the prompt. Through discussion and revision, you'll learn to write thesis statements that give your essay direction and make your argument compelling.

Organization is one of the most common challenges writers face, and tutors can help you structure your thoughts logically. They'll work with you on outlining, paragraph development, and transitions—showing you how to arrange your ideas so readers can follow your argument easily. With practice and feedback, you'll develop a clearer sense of how to build an essay from introduction through conclusion.

Both matter, but tutors prioritize them differently depending on your needs. Grammar and mechanics are important for clarity and credibility, but style—including word choice, sentence variety, and voice—is what makes your writing engaging and effective. A tutor will help you catch errors while also developing your unique voice and teaching you when to break grammar rules intentionally for impact.

Yes, absolutely. Whether you're working with MLA, APA, Chicago, or another citation style, tutors can guide you through proper formatting for in-text citations, works cited pages, and bibliography entries. They'll also help you understand why citations matter and teach you strategies for organizing your sources so citing them becomes easier throughout the writing process.

Literary analysis essays require both strong writing skills and the ability to support claims with textual evidence. Tutors help you develop sophisticated arguments about literature, teach you how to integrate quotes effectively, and show you how to move beyond plot summary to deeper interpretation. They'll work with you on analyzing themes, character development, and literary devices while strengthening your overall essay structure.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand essay writing and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your specific needs and goals. The matching process considers your writing level, the types of essays you're working on, and your learning style to find a tutor who's the right fit. Once matched, you'll work together on a schedule that fits your life.