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Experienced, Passionate, Enthusiastic Writing and SAT Tutor
Alan K.

5.0 (181 ratings)

893 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Alan
Response time: 1 minute

About Alan

Bio

After almost seven years of tutoring on Wyzant with hundreds of students and nearly 900 teaching hours, I now dedicate myself exclusively to writing and SAT instruction. I have found that I am effective in working with students in writing, not only because of my legal training, but also because I have actively pursued refining my writing skills during my 35+ years as an attorney. Similarly, my continued work with students on the English portions of the SAT has enabled me to identify...

After almost seven years of tutoring on Wyzant with hundreds of students and nearly 900 teaching hours, I now dedicate myself exclusively to writing and SAT instruction. I have found that I am effective in working with students in writing, not only because of my legal training, but also because I have actively pursued refining my writing skills during my 35+ years as an attorney. Similarly, my continued work with students on the English portions of the SAT has enabled me to identify fundamental strategies to significantly increase scores through sharing key insights regarding the test’s structure and an understanding of the most efficient techniques to answer the various categories of questions.

My relationship is with each student as an individual with specific needs and interests. I have an informal tutoring style and collaborate with my students at least as much as using formal instruction. Whenever possible, I focus on students’ areas of knowledge and interests and incorporate abundant examples.

I often continue lessons beyond one hour to reinforce comprehension
or to complete a task to facilitate maximum understanding.

WRITING:
I teach all levels of writing skills and work with students on a variety of specific topics based upon their particular objectives. I also work with each student to enhance their skillset based upon their current performance. Please see specific skills taught under separate "Writing" subject description.

SAT READING AND WRITING:
I teach both key test-taking strategies to increase test scores and essential skills related to the most common types of SAT Reading questions and SAT Writing questions. Please see specific skills under separate "SAT Reading" and "SAT Writing" subject descriptions.

My credentials also include:

- Attorney since 1989
- Doctoral degree in psychology (GPA 4.00).
- Master of Science in Education (GPA 3.98)
- BA (GPA 3.94, honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, Pi Sigma Alpha).

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Education

SUNY Stonybrook
political science
CUNY @ Queens College
MEd
Hofstra University School of Law
J.D.

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $75
  • Rate details: The group rate is $25 for each additional student.
  • Lesson cancellation: 6 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 10/21/2018

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

SAT Reading

SAT Reading

I continue to successfully help students significantly improve their SAT Reading scores through the following strategies, including: • How to answer the 13 basic types of Reading questions • How to maximize test scores by answering significantly more questions correctly within the allotted time through insight on how sections are designed. • Understanding that the Test does not ask for the "correct" answer, but rather the "best" answer. This may mean choosing the best of four strong choices, or the best of four weaker choices • Methods to efficiently answer questions which include tables and data • How to break down complex questions into variables for better and more rapid comprehension • How and when to narrow down response choices • Briefly reviewing what questions specifically ask for prior to reading a passage to obtain information to narrow focus • When to skip unnecessary verbiage and when to read for detail • How to allocate time efficiently Students and I will analyze each question with which the student has experienced difficulty or for which they or their parents have uncertainties. I work with students to help them clearly understand each question through detailed explanations and examples until I am satisfied that the student has complete mastery of the material. Likewise, if parents are able to provide a convenient email address (I typically exceed Wyzant’s character limit for lesson reviews), I provide detailed reviews of each lesson, including which questions we have examined, the questions with which students have experienced difficulties, my detailed explanations of the logic behind the correct answers to those questions, and examples of simpler situations employing the same logic, as appropriate (samples of redacted actual question analyses shared with students and parents will be emailed upon request). My lesson reviews also contain general evaluations of student strengths, areas requiring additional focus and support, as well as material to be incorporated in the following lesso
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

I continue to successfully teach SAT Writing strategies, including: • How to answer the five basic types of Writing questions, which are comprised of: • Questions requiring logical text completion with word or phrase (these questions assess comprehension) • Questions requiring text completion using Standard English (these questions assess vocabulary skills) • Questions requiring a word or phrase providing the most logical transition of text • Questions requiring definitions • Questions requiring understanding the function of underlined sentence in a passage I also advise students about these additional strategies: • How to maximize test scores by answering significantly more questions correctly within the allotted time through insight on how sections are designed. • Understanding that the Test does not ask for the "correct" answer, but rather the "best" answer. This may mean choosing the best of four strong choices, or the best of four weaker choices • How and when to narrow down response choices • Briefly reviewing what questions specifically ask for prior to reading a passage to obtain information to narrow focus • How to allocate time efficiently Students and I will analyze each question with which the student has experienced difficulty or for which they or their parents have uncertainties. I work with students to help them clearly understand each question through detailed explanations and examples until I am satisfied that the student has complete mastery of the material. Likewise, if parents are able to provide a convenient email address (I typically exceed Wyzant’s character limit for lesson reviews), I provide detailed reviews of each lesson, including which questions we have examined, the questions with which students have experienced difficulties, my detailed explanations of the logic behind the correct answers to those questions, and examples of simpler situations employing the same logic, as appropriate (samples of redacted actual question analyses shared with
Writing

Writing

I have successfully worked with students for hundreds of hours helping them to substantially improve their basic and advanced writing skills related to expository and persuasive essays, formal research papers, and creative writing. I also teach specific skills, including: • Vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure • Outlining and organization, including logical progression of ideas and scope • Paragraph structure, including topic sentences, controlling ideas, and supporting sentences • Sentence and paragraph transitions, flow, and unity • Introductions, hooks, leads, and thesis statements, conclusion structure and content, and the integration of each in essays • Research skills, including efficiently searching scholarly sources and databases, research scope, utilizing sources to create outlines, and incorporation of the information obtained into a formal essay. Our work may also encompass: • Persuasive writing techniques, claims, warrants, and evidence in arguments, and specific types of flawed reasoning • Issue analysis and response
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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (181 ratings)
5 star
(180)
4 star
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3 star
(1)
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Reviews

Analytical writing tutor

Alan is a great tutor. He has taught me the basics of analytical writing as well as helping me to properly write a structured essay. He teaches me vocabulary, English language rules, helps me improve by correcting my practice essays, and it is a huge advantage to have his guidance whenever applying for schools and possibly more. For example, with his help, I have great chances of entering a school I applied to. After every class, I leave with a lot of new knowledge and I keep on improving every class. The time spent is productive and he is always ready and prepared for whatever we are doing.

Luis, 28 lessons with Alan

Good Tutor

Alan gets right into the lesson and is very helpful. My son loves working with him! Very nice and professional. Will definitely continue lessons for my son.

Joanna, 31 lessons with Alan

Good Tutor

Alan gets right into the lesson and is very helpful. My son loves working with him! Very nice and professional. Will definitely continue lessons for my son.

Joanna, 31 lessons with Alan

Good Tutor

Alan gets right into the lesson and is very helpful. My son loves working with him! Very nice and professional. Will definitely continue lessons for my son.

Joanna, 31 lessons with Alan

Good Tutor

Alan gets right into the lesson and is very helpful. My son loves working with him! Very nice and professional. Will definitely continue lessons for my son.

Joanna, 31 lessons with Alan

Dedicated to help you succeed

This was my first time using Wyzant to get tutored and I was blown away by Alan. He was so generous and took the time to go through my personal statement. Not only did he enhance my paper, he went above and beyond to help me brainstorm and understand what I wanted to write about. What Alan does is truly an amazing service! Don’t hesitate and schedule an appointment with him!

Trist, 1 lesson with Alan

Experienced and talented

What I like in Alan is his experience. He will tell you what he thinks about your essay in an honest manner. He definitely made my personal statement essay clearer by deleting unnecessary ideas, and incorporating ideas that I needed first of all. Alan listens; he makes sure that you are satisfied completely. From now on, Alan is my tutor who will be helping me out with essays.

Oleg, 3 lessons with Alan

Knowledgeable and very Patience

Alan has being proofreading my papers for corrections, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. He’s being great and has stayed past the time twice without charging me. He’s very helpful and Patience

Juliana, 12 lessons with Alan

Alan was simply awesome!

We really liked how Alan could connect with our son, teach him well, bring his confidence up, as well as being empathetic when my son felt tired. Thanks, Alan!!

Manish, 15 lessons with Alan

Amazing tutor

Alan was a very professional and knowledgeable tutor. He helped me with many aspects of my college English essay that I was struggling with and I would recommend him to anyone!

Robin, 1 lesson with Alan
Hourly Rate: $75
Response time: 1 minute
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