Can you read and comment on my draft? Am I on the right track? How do I get started writing my assignment? All common psychology student questions about my online tutoring services. You can submit your draft for feedback here
The benefits to you as a student developing their academic voice writing skills, are numerous...but I'll restrict myself to the top 5 ~:-)
📝 Strengthen your links between lecture topics, research methods, and real-world relevance
Expand your critical thinking skills via journal article/readings discussions
📣 Amplify your statistical literacy capacity as a future psychologist
🤩 Deepen your appreciation for critical self-reflection practices in the workplace
⌨️ Enhance your academic voice (writing skills) and evidence-based argument ⛓️ Develop your collegial networking skills and competencies
🎓 Enrich your self-efficacy as a prepared graduate of the psychological sciences
Can I watch you edit my draft? is another frequent question from psychology student clients. We use Zoom share screen, and the student gets to see the in-the-moment iterative process that occurs when I review a draft assignment.
It's messy ~:-)
I liken draft revision to 'moving furniture around', stuff is put everywhere for a short time, placed elsewhere and perhaps moved back by the end of the process. However, by engaging with the material in this way, together, the student and I are able to unpack, reorder, and sculpt their draft to a streamlined answer of the topic question.
My feedback on a draft assignment usually consists of saying things like, "Too wordy, rather reorder your sentence like this...." Or "This sentence contradicts the previous one". Also, "This is unclear, do you mean [a] or [b]".
Often I make suggestions as to where to put a citation or a statistic (e.g., a %), or where to put an example. As well, I provide question prompts to encourage the student to illustrate their critical thinking skills more explicitly.
I comment and move-some-things-about, in a similar way when I am reviewing a student's assignment draft via an emailed copy.
Testimonials from students who have averaged 5-7 drafts per 1150 words:
"You're amazing! Thank you so much. It's so much better : )"
~ M.R. 3rd year Naturopathy, VIC
"Thank you so much and you are a rockstar!!! ~ T. C., PhD candidate Social Work, QLD
"Thank you for taking the time to edit ... I really appreciate all your support you have given me this week!!" ~ B. C., 2nd year Nursing, SA
"Thanks so much. You are very kind and patient reassuring me. Don’t know what I would do without you!!! Thanks (needed your magic wand on this one)." ~ C. J., 3rd year Psychology, VIC In case you missed it, You can submit your draft for feedback here
Light & Life~
Charmayne (B.Psyc.Hons; Grad. Cert. Tert. Teaching)
Reference Winstone, N.E. (2022). Characterising feedback cultures in higher education: an analysis of strategy documents from 134 UK universities. Higher Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00818-8
