Reply to How do you feel about students hiring private writing tutors?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If it helps them with the process, organizing thoughts, fine. It's not going to make them surpass a child who is naturally an extraordinary writer so don't get upset about it.[/quote]

And what if it does?  Would you be opposed to it then?[/quote]

There is no such thing as a "naturally extraordinary writer." Writers learn to write by reading and writing on a regular basis. It's learned. Rince, repeat. Writing is probably the skill that is most easily learned from experience; unfortunately, there are not many shortcuts for learning how to use language well.

I think a tutor who helps a student to problems in writing and provides individualized feedback can help a great deal. In fact, its lack of such consistent practice and feedback that makes so many students poor at writing. Combined with regular reading, its a great idea.

Of course, this instruction should never include writing essays for students. That goes without saying.

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Disagree there are children who are born with a gift for writing, you cannot teach that. You can micmic and inspire great form but there is an indefinable ability and you cannot "fake it 'til you make it."[/quote]

I'll concede the possibility of innate ability. But if there is a discipline in which it is possible to overstate the milage raw appetite gives you, it is here. Almost everyone who writes well does so from practice - and by editing, editing, editing - and from hearing and using language. That special, unique voice some acquire is usually springs from these roots. As such, "poor writers" can certainly benefit from additional instruction (and plain old practice). And few writers are so exceptional that they won't benefit from instruction, exposure, workshopping, etc. Certainly this is true of all grade and high school students.

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