For many students, learning how to plan is the secret to getting better grades. Their grades aren’t where they should be, not because they lack specific skills in math or English, but because they struggle with planning and organization. The result — these students are “smarter” than their grades suggest; it’s a matter of […]
Read MoreDon’t let rusty grammar get in the way of a competitive SAT score! Now that the SAT combines reading with writing in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score (EBRW), grammar matters more than it used to. Students who aren’t strong writers may be at a disadvantage when taking the SAT. At the very least, brushing […]
Read MoreDo you know how to use a semi-colon? How to fix a dangling modifier? Take this quiz to find out if you need a grammar refresher. Answers provided below. 4. Which of the following sentences is correct? a. Their Great Dane was large, didn’t behave well, and smelled badly. b. Their Great Dane was large, […]
Read MoreThis year, give the gift of writing tutoring—a gift that keeps on giving! The value of writing tutoring will outlast even the hottest new tech gadgets or latest smartphones. It’s a long term investment in your child’s future. Strong writing skills not only improve academic performance, but greatly increase college and career opportunities. Give your […]
Read More“Never use a long word when a short one will do.” Good advice from George Orwell (“Politics and the English Language,” 1946) that students might want to keep in mind when writing college application essays. Orwell wasn’t suggesting that writers use simple vocabulary to “dumb down” their prose. He was arguing against what he saw […]
Read MoreSix-pages, full sentences, “narrative” format. These could be the requirements of a middle school writing assignment. But, they’re actually Jeff Bezos’s guidelines for “pitching” plans at Amazon. According to Franklin Foer in “What Jeff Bezos Wants” (The Atlantic, November 2019), Bezos insists that his employees explain their ideas in lengthy narratives, because he knows that […]
Read MoreAlthough not scored, the SSAT Essay matters! Schools receive the essay along with the scored results. And admissions boards read the essay to learn more about the way a student thinks and writes. So, students prepping for the SSAT should always include time to prepare for the essay–by learning about the format and strategies and […]
Read MoreMany parents find the college application process incredibly stressful–“nervewracking,” as one parent put it. Her son, a senior at Lyme-Old Lyme HS, had been laboring over his college essays for several weeks but had resisted her help. Although she had tried giving tactful feedback, this seemed to shut him down further and add tension to […]
Read MoreAs a writing teacher, I talk about vocabulary a lot. After all, words are essential tools for writers. Even more important, words make thinking possible. They give shape to our thoughts, enabling us to identify and clarify what’s in our minds. So, the more words we know, the more “thinking” we can do, and the […]
Read More1) Give yourself plenty of time! Don’t wait until a week before the deadline to begin writing. Crafting a coherent, readable essay takes time and thought. Remember that writing–any kind of writing–is essentially thinking on paper. Your college app essay is no different. The essays you submit to your colleges will reflect the quality of […]
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