Adrian Sotelo '19

Adrian Sotelo '19 published an article in the tutoring journal The Dangling Modifier, a journal where undergraduate writing tutors exchange insights from around the world.  

How did you hear about The Dangling Modifier?

I am a Writing Tutor for the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Red Room. I heard about The Dangling Modifier through John Haslem, the Director of the CTL. From there I looked into the online magazine and decided to write a short piece.

Could you summarize your article?

My article, titled "Tutoring Advanced Learners," is about an experience I had during a writing session with an international student. I was having trouble addressing his writing concerns because his skills were already at a high level. I wanted to figure out why he was so prepared to write the way that he was, so I interviewed him and got an answer. Before coming to Knox, he had about eight years of intense English training, which prepared him tremendously. I think that my piece hints at a gap in the literature today because not a lot of scholars are writing about how to address already advanced learners. I made some good realizations about the way I tutor and how I can improve every time.

How did you choose Knox?

A scholarship program from home drafted a list of colleges that would fit me and Knox was close to the top. I researched a few small schools and I decided that Knox would offer me the best experience.

Describe a time you knew you made a difference.

The memory that comes to mind is when I tutored a group of CTL 101 students for their final paper. They were all stressed since they wanted to make sure to satisfy all the requirements for what was considered a complete paper. Above all else, they were concerned with meeting the length requirement.

I told them not to think of their paper as five blank pages to fill because then they complicate the whole process. Instead, I said to think about their paper as "breaking news." So instead of trying to talk to the professor through their paper, they were simply writing their ideas as if they were telling a news story to a friend. Talking with a friend should be a lot more simple, free of rules and formalities.

After they had turned in their papers, a few of them said that it really helped to think of their writing in that way and that they had an easier time writing. It didn't work for all of them, though. I threw this idea their way and it stuck with some of them, so that made me happy. I felt like I truly helped those students by thinking outside the box.