Joseph, Yale Graduate & Former Writing Tutor at Yale College

Joseph G.

As a writing tutor at the Yale University Writing Center, I helped Yale students craft and edit essays, term papers, and speeches. After graduating, I began tutoring through Wyzant and have since worked with dozens of students, including high schoolers applying to college, college students working on final essays, college professors looking to develop their public speaking skills, and professionals writing grant applications. Good writing is not about your ability to initially draft something amazing (although a good first draft helps!). Good writing is the result of editing, revising, and fine-tuning your work until you’ve crafted a unique piece. As a teacher, I work with my students to brainstorm initial ideas, edit their work, and then polish the finished product—I will not draft an essay or write a speech on their behalf. Our work together is dynamic and collaborative.

***A bit more about my background and philosophy***

Growing up, I debated all the time—obviously with my parents, but also on my high school's policy debate team. In college, I extended my love of words to creative writing and spoken word poetry. I believe that the best essays for college applications are both argumentative and poetic, persuasive and beautiful; they show the reader who you are through imagery, metaphor, and storytelling, while subtly arguing for your admission. This style of writing is an art and I love helping students find their own voice and fine-tune their ideas.

In addition to my formal tutoring experience, I’ve worked in policy advocacy, media relations, and nonprofit development. With this diverse writing background, I can help my students approach their work – essays, memos, papers, and speaking engagements – from fresh angles, and provide advice that speaks to many different needs.