Award-Winning 8th Grade English
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Award-Winning 8th Grade English Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Alana
Eighth-grade English bridges the gap between middle school book discussions and the analytical writing high school demands, which means students need to start citing evidence, constructing arguments, and reading more critically. Alana tackles this transition by teaching annotation strategies and the...
Yale University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nina
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...
Columbia University
Masters in biostatistics
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Grad Student, Biostatistics
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Certified Tutor
Michelle
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medici...
Baylor College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, M.D.
Rice University
Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Certified Tutor
Christopher
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tut...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Clara
I am tutoring I tend to ask my students to try to "teach" me concepts they are struggling with, or walk me through a problem that is challenging them, so that any conceptual mistakes or assumptions they are making become clear. In addition, I am a firm believer in never providing the answer to a spe...
Stanford University
Bachelors, Psychology
Certified Tutor
Liz
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Varsity Tutors Experts
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Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Justin
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +48 Subjects
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
Asta
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +74 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.
Ingrid
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the first-generation and low-income student community as the Outreach Chair of the Quest+ Scholars Network, and getting involved with the Society of Women Engineers' outreach committee. I currently hold a work-study position as an administrative clerical aide in the Institute of Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern and was an undergraduate researcher in the John Rogers Lab. As I look forward with aspirations of applying to graduate school, areas of research in biomedical engineering and biotechnology that I am particularly interested in include biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery systems. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning on my own and sharing my experience and knowledge with my peers and other students. I hope to make use of my experiences with academics and learning in high school and so far in my undergraduate career in order to effectively tutor students who may be experiencing the same struggles in learning that I also experienced.
Daniel
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extremely flexible, and anywhere in New York City works for me. I look forward to working with you.
James
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +41 Subjects
I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.
Henry
Calculus Tutor • +41 Subjects
I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
Elena
Calculus Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.
Andrew
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am comfortable tutoring math subjects up to multivariable calculus and differential equations, as well as college physics. Hobbies: books, music, art, reading, writing
Justin
Calculus Tutor • +38 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue engaging in my passions for learning and teaching. While in school, I have spent countless hours coaching high school speech and debate both in person and working online with students across the country. My focus in coaching has been to emphasize philosophy and critical thought to prepare students to think through novel arguments on their own. I am passionate about teaching and tutoring because I love seeing students learn to be intellectually independent and think through problems on their own terms by developing their critical thinking skills. I have devoted my life to education because I am passionate about it, and I try to share some of my passion for learning with the students I work with. I tutor all sorts of Standardized Tests, and I particularly enjoy working on logic-based problems like analogies and math sections. When I am not tutoring or reading for school, I enjoy strategy games (both board games and video games), listening to music, hiking, playing basketball, and just relaxing with friends.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Eighth graders typically face challenges with essay organization, particularly structuring multi-paragraph arguments with clear thesis statements and supporting evidence. Many students also struggle with literary analysis—moving beyond plot summary to discuss theme, symbolism, and author's purpose. Grammar concepts like comma usage, sentence fragments, and pronoun agreement often trip up students who haven't solidified these fundamentals. Additionally, many 8th graders find it difficult to develop their own voice in writing while maintaining formal academic tone, and they may procrastinate on longer writing assignments, leading to rushed, disorganized work.
A tutor can work with you to craft a thesis that takes a specific, defensible position rather than a vague statement of fact. They'll help you brainstorm supporting points, then guide you in finding textual evidence—quotes, examples, or details—that actually prove your argument rather than just relating to the topic. Through personalized feedback on your drafts, a tutor can show you how to integrate evidence smoothly, explain why it matters, and connect each paragraph back to your central thesis. This iterative process helps you understand argumentation as a skill you can apply to any essay, not just a formula to follow.
Tutors often introduce pre-writing techniques like mind mapping, outlining, or freewriting to help students externalize their ideas before drafting. For 8th graders, a simple outline that lists your thesis, three main points, and 1-2 pieces of evidence per point can transform a blank page into a manageable roadmap. When writer's block hits mid-essay, tutors can help you identify whether you're stuck because you lack evidence, your argument isn't clear, or you're overthinking the wording—then address the actual problem. Having a tutor talk through your ideas out loud before you write often unlocks what's stuck in your head.
Literary analysis requires asking "why" and "how" instead of just "what." Instead of "The character was sad," ask why the author showed that sadness, what it reveals about the character's values, or how it connects to the book's larger theme. A tutor can teach you to identify literary devices—metaphor, foreshadowing, characterization—and explain their effect rather than just naming them. They'll help you practice selecting specific quotes that illustrate your point about theme or character, then explain the connection explicitly rather than assuming the reader will make it themselves. This shift from plot to interpretation is a major 8th grade milestone.
Rather than just marking errors, a tutor reads your essay as a reader and points out where your argument gets unclear, where you need more evidence, or where a paragraph doesn't connect to your thesis. They might ask questions like "What do you mean here?" to help you see where you've assumed the reader knows something they don't. With specific, actionable feedback on multiple drafts, you learn to recognize patterns in your own writing—like always burying your main idea in the middle of a paragraph, or forgetting to explain why your evidence matters. This self-awareness transfers to future assignments because you're not just fixing one essay; you're building writing skills.
Grammar and voice aren't opposites—strong writers master grammar so they can break rules intentionally for effect. A tutor helps you understand which rules are non-negotiable in academic writing (like subject-verb agreement and comma splices) versus which offer flexibility for style (like starting sentences with "and" or using short, punchy sentences for emphasis). They can show you how professional writers use grammar strategically, then help you experiment with sentence variety, word choice, and tone in your own work. The goal is to give you control over your writing so you sound like yourself while meeting academic expectations.
MLA citations are a skill, not something to memorize—a tutor can teach you the logic behind the format (author, title, publication info) so you understand why each element matters rather than just following a template. Working through 2-3 real citations together, you'll learn the pattern and where to find information in a book or website. Many tutors create a simple reference sheet you can use while writing, then gradually reduce your reliance on it as the format becomes automatic. Once you've cited 5-10 sources with feedback, it clicks—and you'll be able to handle new source types (like podcasts or databases) using the same logic.
Active reading strategies—like annotating (marking key passages, jotting questions in margins), pausing to predict what happens next, or summarizing each chapter in a sentence—help you engage with the text instead of passively moving through pages. A tutor can teach you to ask questions while reading: "Why did the author include this detail?" "How does this character's action connect to the theme?" "What's the author's tone here?" These habits transform reading from a chore into detective work, making details stick in your memory. When you need to write about or discuss the book later, you'll have notes and a deeper understanding rather than fuzzy recollections of the plot.
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