Award-Winning Writing Tutors
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Award-Winning Writing Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Certified Tutor
Strong writing starts with having something specific to say and a clear reason for saying it — the mechanics follow from there. Jessica earned her writing certification through Penn's selective Critical Writing program as a freshman, then spent years tutoring peers on everything from argumentative e...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate

Certified Tutor
Erika
Getting ideas onto the page is often the hardest part, and Erika treats outlining and drafting as real skills worth practicing — not just steps to rush through before "the real writing" starts. Her policy school training required writing concise, evidence-driven arguments under tight deadlines, a di...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sharon
Sharon approaches writing as a craft with learnable moves: how to build a thesis that actually argues something, how to transition between ideas without losing a reader, how to revise a draft into something sharp. Her background spans policy writing at the University of Chicago and graduate-level jo...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Journalism
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Tiffany
Clear writing starts with clear thinking, and Tiffany treats every writing session as a chance to untangle what a student actually wants to say before worrying about how to say it. Her training in legal writing — where precision and structure aren't optional — gives her a practical framework for tea...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor in Business Administration, Accounting
University of Chicago
Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

Certified Tutor
13+ years
MaryAnn
As a published author, MaryAnn knows that strong writing starts with a clear argument and a willingness to revise — not with a perfect first draft. She teaches the mechanics of thesis development, paragraph transitions, and evidence integration, whether the assignment is a five-paragraph essay or a ...
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology

Certified Tutor
Molly
Good writing instruction doesn't start with red ink on a finished draft — it starts with how a student organizes their thinking before they type a word. Molly teaches outlining, thesis development, and paragraph architecture from elementary through adult professional writing, drawing on her own expe...
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
Andrew
The hardest part of writing isn't grammar — it's figuring out what you actually want to say and then organizing it so a reader follows. Andrew tackles that problem head-on, walking students through outlining, crafting clear thesis statements, and building body paragraphs that develop a single idea w...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and Theater and Performance Studies

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Justin
Strong writing starts with understanding that a first draft is a thinking tool, not a finished product. Justin's PhD in English and ten years of teaching composition have given him a systematic approach to the entire writing process — from generating a workable thesis to structuring body paragraphs ...
University of South Carolina
Bachelor in Arts, English
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Doctor of Philosophy, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Benjamin
Benjamin treats writing as an exercise in structured thinking: before worrying about word choice or style, he tackles the architecture of an argument — what's the claim, what's the evidence, and does each paragraph earn its place? His economics and finance training at Notre Dame drilled this kind of...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

Certified Tutor
Allan
Most students know what they want to say but struggle to organize it on the page. Allan tackles this by teaching outlining and paragraph architecture before worrying about polished prose — getting the skeleton right so revision becomes straightforward. He adapts his approach depending on whether a s...
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Biological Sciences
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Frequently Asked Questions
Writing tutors provide personalized feedback on every stage of your writing—from brainstorming and thesis development to drafting and revision. They help you strengthen your arguments, organize ideas logically, and develop your unique voice. With one-on-one instruction, you'll learn strategies for tackling different essay types, whether it's persuasive, analytical, or creative writing.
Writer's block is common, and tutors can help you work through it using proven strategies like freewriting, outlining, and breaking essays into manageable sections. They'll help you identify whether you're stuck on organization, ideas, or just getting started—then provide targeted techniques to get your writing flowing. Many students find that talking through their ideas with a tutor helps clarify their thinking and overcome the initial hurdle.
Both matter, but they serve different purposes. Grammar is the foundation that makes your writing clear and professional, while style is what makes your voice distinctive and engaging. A writing tutor helps you master both by teaching grammar rules in context and showing you how to apply them while developing your authentic voice. You'll learn that strong writing combines technical correctness with compelling expression.
Absolutely. Citation formatting can be confusing, but tutors break down the specific requirements for MLA, APA, Chicago, and other styles. They'll teach you not just the rules, but why citations matter for academic integrity and how to apply them consistently throughout your paper. You'll learn to format everything from in-text citations to works cited pages correctly.
Literary analysis tutors teach you how to move beyond plot summary to examine themes, symbolism, characterization, and author's purpose. They help you develop strong thesis statements about literature and support them with textual evidence. Through guided discussion and practice, you'll learn to read critically and write analytical essays that demonstrate deep understanding of texts.
Revision is more than just fixing typos—it's about rethinking your ideas, reorganizing for clarity, and strengthening your arguments. Tutors teach you a systematic revision process: reviewing for big-picture issues first (thesis, organization, evidence), then tackling sentence-level concerns like word choice and grammar. You'll learn to read your work with fresh eyes and make intentional changes that improve your writing significantly.
Your first session is about understanding your writing goals and challenges. A tutor will likely ask about current assignments, past writing feedback, and areas where you want to improve. You might bring a piece of writing to discuss, or work through a writing exercise together. This helps the tutor understand your strengths and create a personalized plan to help you grow as a writer.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert writing tutors who understand the Des Moines area and work with students at all levels—from middle school through college. You can specify your needs, whether you're preparing for standardized writing tests, working on specific essay assignments, or developing overall writing skills. The matching process ensures you get a tutor whose expertise aligns with your goals.
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