I would help them find one aspect of it that they can appreciate. For example, it is hard to get engaged in an essay if one does not like the subject. I would discuss the topic with the student, and we would come up with a new perspective they could write the essay from. What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material? I always ask questions. Simply saying "You understand?" is not always enough. I ask them to demonstrate if they know how to do it, and if they are struggling, we go back through the material.