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Writing & Essay Coach
Derek R.

5.0 (37 ratings)

70 hours tutoring

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About Derek

Bio

Writing an essay can be frustrating, especially when you understand the material but aren't quite sure how to turn your ideas into a strong paper. That's where I can help.

I have a B.A. in English Literature and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Miami, and I work with both college and high school students across a wide range of subjects. While English and writing are my academic background, I've helped students with papers in history, business, social sciences, literature, and...

Writing an essay can be frustrating, especially when you understand the material but aren't quite sure how to turn your ideas into a strong paper. That's where I can help.

I have a B.A. in English Literature and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Miami, and I work with both college and high school students across a wide range of subjects. While English and writing are my academic background, I've helped students with papers in history, business, social sciences, literature, and other humanities courses.

My favorite part of tutoring is actually working through an essay with a student. We can start with nothing more than an assignment prompt and brainstorm ideas together, figure out what you actually want to argue, build an outline, and then turn that outline into a paper. If you already have a draft, we can go through it together and figure out what's working, what's missing, and where your argument can be stronger.

One thing I focus on heavily is the **"so what?"** behind your writing. A lot of students are good at finding evidence or explaining what happened, but the harder part is explaining *why it matters*. Once you learn how to make that connection, writing stronger body paragraphs and arguments becomes much easier.

I can help with brainstorming, thesis statements, essay organization, research papers, literary and historical analysis, argumentative essays, source integration, paragraph development, revision, grammar, and proofreading. I'm also happy to work from professor or teacher feedback so that we can identify exactly what they're looking for and apply it to your next assignment.

I don't want to simply edit your paper and hand it back to you. I want us to work through it together so that you understand **why** we're making changes and can use the same techniques on your next paper.

Whether you're completely stuck on how to begin, have a rough draft that needs work, or just want another set of eyes before submitting an assignment, send it over and we'll figure it out together.

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Education

University of Miami
English Literature
University of Miami Herbert School of Business
Masters

Additional Languages

Spanish

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Approved Subjects

English

English

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Finance, which gives me a unique ability to support both strong writing and analytical thinking. My background in English allows me to help students with essay structure, clarity, grammar, and literary analysis, including poetry and advanced texts. I focus on making complex material approachable by breaking it down into clear, step-by-step ideas, helping students build both confidence and independent writing skills.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

I hold a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in Finance, giving me a strong background in both academic and professional communication. I help students improve their grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, and overall confidence using English. My finance and business background also allows me to work with students who want to strengthen their Business English, including professional writing, presentations, workplace communication, and industry-specific vocabulary.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Miami and maintained a 4.0 GPA in my English coursework. My academic training focused heavily on analytical writing, argument development, and literary analysis. I help students improve essay structure, clarity, grammar, and persuasive writing. I work with students to organize their ideas clearly, strengthen their arguments, and produce polished essays for school assignments or exams.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and specialize in helping students develop compelling personal statements for college and scholarship applications. I work closely with students to refine their message, highlight meaningful achievements, and structure their story in a clear and impactful way. My approach goes beyond editing. I focus on shaping a cohesive narrative that feels authentic and stands out. I have experience guiding students from initial ideas to polished final essays that effectively communicate their strengths.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I hold a Master's degree in Finance and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Miami, giving me a strong foundation in both quantitative reasoning and clear communication. My graduate coursework emphasized advanced mathematics, including statistics, financial modeling, calculus-based concepts, and analytical problem solving, which I now use to help students build confidence in math. I specialize in explaining challenging concepts in a clear, step-by-step manner, helping students understand the reasoning behind each problem rather than simply memorizing formulas. My background in English also allows me to teach students how to interpret complex word problems, avoid common test-taking mistakes, and communicate their mathematical thinking effectively. Whether you're preparing for the SAT, strengthening your algebra skills, or building a stronger mathematical foundation, I focus on developing both accuracy and confidence through personalized instruction.
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and have a strong background in academic and thesis-level writing. I help students develop clear, focused arguments while improving structure, organization, and logical flow throughout their work. My approach is practical and structured, guiding students through thesis development, evidence integration, and overall clarity. I work closely with students to refine their writing so their ideas are communicated effectively and meet academic standards.
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Miami, where I maintained a 4.0 GPA in my English coursework. My academic background emphasized precise language, vocabulary development, and effective communication. I help students expand their vocabulary while also learning when and how to use advanced words appropriately for different audiences and contexts. My approach focuses not only on memorizing words, but on developing clarity, precision, and confidence in writing and speaking.
Grammar
Proofreading
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Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (37 ratings)
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Reviews

one of the best tutor with personalized approach

Derek is one of the best tutors who did my child more confident and significantly improved his writing skills. Each lesson with Derek was personalized and very valuable for my child and improved his proficiency in writing significantly. Derek created the best plan and met my child’s writing goals.

Yulia, 8 lessons with Derek

Help and passion

There have been many things Derek has taught me in a short amount of time. Mainly, structure and how to organize my writing more clearly. His passion for what he does is apparent in every session we have. He comes prepared with ideas and comments, and the entire session is meaningful.

Adriana, 3 lessons with Derek