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About
Hannah: |
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I specialize in helping developing writers (junior high through college) turn a seemingly dull paper topic into a colorful learning experience. Whether it's sitting with you to go over your half-written English paper, critiquing your college admissions essay or going over your research paper with you on the phone past 9 p.m. the night before it's due, I'm here.
I do this by focusing on the possible connections a student can draw to his or her own experience while also guiding them in using proper form. Although spelling, grammar, punctuation and word economy are key, even more essential is knowing what exactly you're trying to say, recognizing WHY it's important and GROWING from the process of expressing your ideas! Students tend to get hung up on the formalities of what they have been taught in English class or in school.
The truth is, though, that when you get that old familiar 'writer's block,' it's not because you are a crappy writer. It's because the creative spirit in you is screaming to get out and can't find the door. Going to school, we're bombarded by rules that box us in and make us feel like if we don't follow them to the letter, we will fail. I ask that you set these aside for just one moment and think what you would write about if you didn't have to worry about that. Without ditching the formal rules of writing, the trick is to shove them aside for just long enough that your own ideas break through. THEN we set about the work of writing, and doing it well. :)
My story: I grew up in Seattle, went to college briefly in Maine and then returned home in 2001 to finish my degree at the University of Washington. My passions were philosophy, literature, political science and of course writing of all kinds -- research writing, creative writing, and journalism. My experience includes speech-writing and public speaking as well as a stint with a local independent journal as a contributor on topics pertaining to the environment and human rights. I am an activist who happens to believe that writing and activism are one and the same.
Unlike most writers, I do not believe that the best writing happens in 'peer groups' where students share their work and critique each others' writing. Writing is as much an individual pursuit of personal fulfillment as a mode of expression, and therefore can be as deeply personal and meaningful and interesting as you want it to be.
How does this translate? Well, it means that the paper you're writing is more than just any paper. It doesn't matter that your topic is about why you think George Washington's battle tactics led to victory at Saratoga. It's a stepping stone in the journey you're on to become more fully who you really are.
My final word is that my approach to teaching this subject is minimalist; this means I'm not going to waste any time teaching you writing exercises you most likely already know. Reviews of the basics will suffice, or (short of actually writing your entire paper for you!) you can tell me precisely what you're looking to accomplish and we can start from there. It's just going to be me and my pen and maybe your laptop with the blank white page as a canvas awaiting your touch.
Whatever it is you're working on, I hope you will be inspired enough to grab your story in the making, fine-tune your active and inquisitive mind, and come explore with me.
My areas of specialization:
Pinpointing barriers and removing writer's block
Junior High and High School (Report-writing, Essay-writing, critical thinking and general study skills)
College and Scholarship Applications (making your personal statement shine)
ESL Writing
SAT II in Writing
SAT Verbal
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Sunday:
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NA
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Monday: |
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Tuesday: |
NA
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Wednesday: |
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Thursday: |
NA
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Friday: |
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Saturday: |
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Find other tutors in Seattle, WA
government & politics - literature - proofreading - reading - SAT writing - vocabulary - writing
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