Sophie TS #3- Fahad

For my second tutoring session with Fahad, I asked him if he had any specific topics he would like to cover. His request was for some help with essay introduction paragraphs, so I found a few outlines and resources I could share with him that would be useful.

http://www.sbcc.edu/clrc/files/wl/downloads/StructureofaGeneralExpositoryEssay.pdf
I used this one, as well as one other that I can't find again, focusing on the introduction sections. While they're both geared towards expository essays, I made sure to explain how a similar setup could also be used for other types of essays. I explained the importance of an intriguing first sentence, so that the reader is interested in reading the rest of the essay. I also explained the importance of a thesis statement, at the end of the introduction paragraph, which explains exactly what the essay is about and sets up the main points for the rest of the essay.

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/intros.html
This was another resource I found as well, that I didn't get a chance to use during our tutoring session. Hopefully I'll be able to use it next time, but it seems really useful as an interactive way to practice different types of introductions.

Eventually we did end up talking about the format of the rest of an essay too, beyond just the introduction paragraph. We talked about different types of essays, and how they might be structured differently. For example, the body paragraphs of an advantage/disadvantage essay might be organized differently than an informative essay on the history of pasta. I explained the importance of transitions and fluidity in writing, something Fahad said he had some trouble with. I used myself as an example- I remember writing essays when I was younger and having teachers always tell me to explain things more, and to create better transitions. I learned to change my thinking, and to think about my essay's audience not as just my teacher, but as someone who has basically no knowledge of the topic. So even if I thought something was obvious or self-explanatory, to explain it anyways. He seemed to really appreciate this example, as he's been getting similar feedback on his papers.

At the end of our session, Fahad and I decided that he would write a short practice essay at some point during the next week, and bring it to our next session for me to look at. I promised to find some good, level-appropriate examples of essays and introduction paragraphs too!