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I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate
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9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
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Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
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Erika
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
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6+ years
Rhea
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
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6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
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9+ years
Sami
I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer.
Duke University
Bachelor of Science (Economics and Computer Science)
Yale School of Management
Current Undergrad Student, Business Administration and Management
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sharon
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Journalism
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Annie
I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelors, Physiological Sciences
Drexel University College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, MD
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Tony
I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, Engl...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science in Biology
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Frequently Asked Questions
A thesis statement is the central argument of your entire paper, typically appearing in your introduction and guiding all your paragraphs. Topic sentences, by contrast, appear at the beginning of each body paragraph and support your main thesis by introducing the specific point of that paragraph.
Understanding this distinction matters because it helps you stay focused and organized. A strong thesis gives your paper direction, while topic sentences act as signposts that show readers how each paragraph connects back to your main argument. Many students struggle with this hierarchy, which is where personalized tutoring can help—a tutor can review your drafts and show you how to strengthen both your thesis and the paragraphs that support it.
Good organization starts before you write. Create a system for tracking sources—whether that's note cards, a spreadsheet, or a citation manager like Zotero or Mendeley—that includes the source's publication details and your own notes. This makes citing sources later much easier and helps you distinguish between your ideas and borrowed material.
To avoid plagiarism, cite every quote, paraphrase, and idea that isn't common knowledge, even if you're putting it in your own words. Tutors can teach you citation styles like MLA or APA, show you how to integrate quotes smoothly into your writing, and help you develop a research process that keeps plagiarism off your radar from the start.
Writer's block is common, especially with research papers where the stakes feel high. Start by lowering the pressure: write a "discovery draft" where you just get ideas on the page without worrying about quality or structure. Read through your research notes, write one paragraph about what you find most interesting, and build from there. Sometimes a change of scenery or taking a short break helps reset your thinking.
Working with a tutor can be particularly helpful here. They can discuss your topic with you, help you brainstorm angles for your argument, and encourage you to start writing before you feel completely "ready." Having someone to talk through your ideas with often breaks the mental logjam that causes writer's block.
A strong introduction draws readers in, provides necessary context about your topic, and ends with your clear thesis statement. Avoid opening with dictionary definitions or overly broad statements. Instead, start with a compelling fact, question, or observation related to your topic that shows why readers should care.
Your conclusion should reinforce your thesis without simply repeating it. Summarize your main points briefly, explain why your argument matters, and consider broader implications or questions your research raises. Many students struggle with crafting these bookends, especially balancing between too general and too specific. Personalized tutoring provides detailed feedback on your introductions and conclusions, helping you hook readers and leave them with a lasting takeaway.
Strong source integration goes beyond simply dropping quotes into your paper. For each source, ask yourself: What specific point does this support? How does it connect to my thesis? What does it add that other sources don't? Then introduce the source with context, include the quote or paraphrase, and explain its significance in your own analysis. This shows you understand the material and are using it strategically.
Many students struggle with the analysis part—they gather strong sources but don't explain why they matter. A tutor can teach you how to evaluate sources for credibility and relevance, show you how to synthesize multiple sources that address the same point, and provide feedback on your analysis to help you move beyond summary toward genuine argumentation.
A great research writing tutor is patient with the messy process of writing, understands essay structure and argumentation, and—most importantly—gives detailed, constructive feedback on your actual drafts. They ask questions that help you think through your argument rather than simply telling you what to fix. They should understand your assignment requirements and the research process from start to finish.
When you get matched with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, you can expect personalized instruction tailored to your specific challenges, whether that's organizing research, developing a thesis, strengthening arguments, or polishing your writing. Your tutor will work through your papers with you, explain their feedback clearly, and help you develop strategies you can use on future assignments. Many students see significant improvements in their grades and writing confidence within a few sessions.
Effective revision is a multi-step process. Start with big-picture questions: Does my thesis come through clearly? Do all my paragraphs support it? Is my argument logical and well-organized? Once you're satisfied with structure and content, move to sentence-level revisions: Are my topic sentences clear? Do my transitions guide readers? Finally, do a line edit for grammar, punctuation, and word choice.
Many students try to fix everything at once, which is overwhelming. Tutors can teach you a systematic revision process and help you prioritize what matters most. They can review your draft, identify which big-picture issues need attention first, and provide specific strategies for strengthening weak arguments or improving clarity. With personalized guidance, you'll develop revision skills you can apply to every paper you write.
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