ENVS 100/L – Ecology and Society – Course Writing Tutors

Two trained undergraduate writing tutors are available to work with students in ENVS 100/L. We encourage you, and on occasion may advise you, to use their help.

This year's tutors are Erin Stephens (estephen<at>ucsc.edu) and Sarah Tedesco (stedesco<at>ucsc.edu). Both are ENVS majors who have successfully completed ENVS 100/L as well as additional upper-division coursework in environmental writing and/or literature. While Erin and Sarah are not professional writing teachers, both are skilled writers and capable, experienced, enthusiastic peer editors. They can help you with a wide range of writing-related challenges-from deciphering assignments and textual passages, to beginning to think through your papers, to responding to peer or TA/instructor comments, to working on logic, organization, transitions, language, and other elements of your drafts.

You may email either Sarah or Erin to set up an appointment any time you would like writing help. Here's the procedure:

1. Plan ahead. The tutors are busy students themselves, and can't be available on a moment's notice. Anticipate up to 24 hours' delay before receiving a response to your email, and realize that it may be an additional two or three days before a tutor is able to meet with you or respond to your draft.

2. Direct your email to both tutors, with "ENVS 100 Tutoring" in the subject line. State succinctly what you would like help with, and by what date/time you need it. List as many possible meeting days/times as you can over the upcoming 2-4 days. Indicate whether you would prefer to meet on campus or in some other location, and whether you are flexible about this. The first tutor to intercept your email will respond, with a copy to the other tutor, so that everyone can coordinate schedules and you can see the first tutor available to help you.

3. While we encourage you to meet with the tutors in person, we recognize that this may not always be possible. Some tutoring issues may be handled partly or wholly via email. If you have specific concerns or questions about an assignment or a draft, you can email your draft to the tutors as an attachment, with your request for help clearly spelled out in the body of the email. One of them will get back to you and let you know how soon they will be able to address your questions.

4. Do NOT send the tutors a draft and simply ask them to "edit" or "check over" or "proofread" it, or to "make sure it's okay" or "tell me what's wrong with it." That's not their job. Be specific and directive in asking for help, and do everything you can to avoid wasting the tutors' time.

5. On the basis of writing issues that arise in your papers, your TA or instructor may advise you to get help from a tutor. This is not a punitive measure--and it does not mean we think your writing is seriously flawed. It means we think you can benefit--as can everyone, including the pros--from one-on-one consultation with someone skilled at helping fellow writers. If you are asked to seek a tutor's help, please follow through by reporting back to your TA or instructor about your tutorial session(s), and/or by cc'ing them on any substantive email exchanges with the tutor.

6. If you have questions, problems, or suggestions concerning the tutoring program, please direct them to Erika Zavaleta (zavaleta<at>ucsc.edu). If you have positive feedback for the tutors, please share it with them and, if you feel like it, with Erika.