The world of academia is changing, and in a good way. Many universities have adopted the teaching-to-learn model, where students are now expected to actively participate in their own education. Students can engage in class discussions about the theories and concepts covered in the course, ask questions about the subject matter, and even present their own research papers. This model works well for traditional classroom settings, but online tutoring allows for more flexibility. Nowadays, students can study from the comfort of their homes while collaborating with a professional tutor.
Many undergraduate students find themselves struggling with creative writing assignments. Whether you’re teaching a Creative Writing for Pleasure class or an online business course that requires students to write a business plan, it’s likely that you’ll encounter some students who are unable to complete assigned tasks due to poor writing skills. Teaching Creative Writing is tricky, because you don’t want to dumb down the assignments or the curriculum, but you also don’t want to overwhelm students with too much material and structure.
Here’s what you can do to help your struggling students complete their creative writing assignments successfully:
Offer Subject-Specific Help
If possible, take a look at the individual backgrounds and strengths of your students. Some students may be better suited for certain types of creative writing assignments, while others may have difficulties with certain themes or genres. Try to match the writing assignment with the individual strengths and weaknesses of each student. You might want to consider asking the student’s TA or course instructor for some help with selecting a suitable topic. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can consult the course syllabus to find out the topics covered in the course and then choose a theme or topic that you think your students will find interesting and relevant.
Choosing a suitable topic for your creative writing assignments is critical, because you don’t want to set your students up for failure by selecting something that is beyond their ability level. Some students may also feel intimidated or uncomfortable presenting material on an unfamiliar topic. Try to choose a topic that your students will enjoy and that will expose them to new ideas and perspectives. Most importantly, make sure that the topic is relevant to their career goals and interests.
Set Specific Writing Goals And Deadlines
Setting specific writing goals and deadlines is an excellent way to ensure that your students finish their creative writing assignments on time. It’s important to set clear goals for your students, and the earlier you set them, the better. The most effective way to do this is by using a progressive, step-by-step approach. The first step should be something simple, such as paraphrasing or summarizing a piece of reading material. After that, you can ask your students to create a first draft of their business plan, or to expand on a brief presentation they gave in class. Setting intermediate goals should be easy enough for your students, but difficult enough to ensure that they work hard to meet the deadline. This is why you should set a specific date for the final draft. If you leave this to the last minute, your students may rush through the assignment and produce something sub-standard.
Ensure Regular Class And Office Hours
Teaching writing is a task that can be completed online, but it’s still beneficial for students to have in-person encounters with their tutors on a regular basis. This can help promote one-on-one interactions and create a more welcoming learning environment. Similarly, having regular classes where you can discuss the material in greater detail as well as provide any additional tips or pointers is beneficial for the students. You might even want to hold office hours in a coffee shop or a local library so that underclassmen don’t feel intimidated by the studying atmosphere.
Be Selective With The Source Material
It’s important to be selective when choosing the source material for your creative writing assignments. You don’t want to simply recycle materials that you’ve previously covered in class, but instead look for fresh, insightful sources that will expose your students to new ideas. It might be beneficial to your students if you choose articles that are a few years old so that they’ve had the opportunity to evolve and change with the times. This will also add a layer of depth and meaning to their work. You might want to assign a classic essay from the Great British Library as a writing exercise, and then have your students summarize a controversial modern essayist. These types of assignments will help develop their critical thinking skills, and show them that just because something is popular it doesn’t mean that it’s well-written.
Be Creative With The Disapproval Process
We all have different writing processes. Some of us prefer to write long, rambling dissertations, while others like to churn out short, pithy one-liners. What’s important is that you find a way to encourage creative writing in your students, even if it’s something as simple as giving them constructive feedback. The more you can do to help your students express their creative side, the more they’ll appreciate your tutorship. For example, if you’ve assigned a creative writing exercise and your students have produced something creative, tell them what you liked about their piece and how it could be improved. If you’re giving feedback on a business plan, but you feel that the information is presented in a overly theoretical manner, you could challenge your student to restructure the plan and add more practical examples. This kind of feedback can help develop their confidence, and ensure that they continue to improve as writers.
Be A Role Model
The best way to encourage your students to succeed is by demonstrating your own competence as a teacher. Students will look up to you and respect your opinions because you’re an authoritative figure in the field. This creates a positive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and new information. Your students will also respect you because you’ve been through the same situation and were able to successfully complete the course. If your students see you struggling with the same assignments that they’re facing, it can make them feel insecure about their own abilities. This is why it’s important to seek help from your university if you’re finding that your students aren’t meeting the learning objectives of the course. It’s also worth considering whether or not you want to continue teaching the course. If you’ve been there, you know how stressful and time-consuming tutoring can be, and how much it costs in terms of both time and money. If there’s another teacher more suited to the task, or if the course isn’t going to serve you well in the long run, then it might be time to move on to something different. On the other hand, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to continue pushing yourself, then there are many courses out there that you could take to help you with your Creative Writing. Just make sure that you’re happy with the decision, because you’ll be spending a lot of time studying and often have short deadlines. It’s worth noting that many graduate programs require a certain number of courses in Creative Writing, so even if you never intend to become a teacher, it’s still worth considering what type of teaching position would be suitable for you.