I am going to sidetrack from my usually tip giving blog entries and discuss something equally important. What makes a good tutor? Sure it helps if your tutor is an expert (or advanced) in the subject area in which you are needing assistance. That's the whole point of coming to the ARC for tutoring! Yet, even if one is an expert in a specific area, it does not mean he or she is a good tutor. I have witnessed a great deal of tutoring while being a monitor at the ARC and there are some tutor qualities and strategies that really stand out. One helpful strategy is for the tutors to ask students questions as they lead them through the problem they are working on. This way, tutors become aware of what the students already know and can provide them with individualized help. Furthermore, being asked questions makes students think! The other day I heard a math tutor tell a student, "I can't just give you the answer. What would be the point of that?" Clearly, this tutor has the right idea of what tutoring is all about!
It was suggested that I write do series on how to write a research paper. I will add a new step each week. Step 1: Choosing a Topic You cannot begin to write a research paper without a topic. Choosing a topic may seem like a simple task, but it is sometimes a complicated process. As undergraduates, you are typically assigned to write a review of the research in a particular area, such as psychological disorders or genetic diseases. Pick something that interests you! For some, writing papers is a tedious task. Picking an enjoyable topic rather than choosing an easy topic, such as one in which you know a lot of information exists (e.g. a topic the media covers regularly) may make the process more interesting. When you have no idea what topic to choose, talk to your professor/instructor or flip through your book to get an idea. Once you have chosen a general area as your focus (it could be as general as "depression" or "Huntington's disease"), perform a G
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