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by Matt Kollmeyer, Writing Center Tutor
Setting the Session Agenda
[The tutor introduces himself to the client]
Tutor: So, what are we working with today?
Client: It’s a compare and contrast paper for my Government class. We’re supposed
to compare and contrast the structure of
American representative democracy to an
example of European parliamentary government.
I picked Britain. It’s due a week from
today.
Tutor: Any area in particular you want to
concentrate on today?
Client: Structure and organization, I guess.
Tutor: What gives you the sense that those
areas could use some improvement?
Client: Well, when I read it, I know what I
was trying to say, but it seems kind of jumbled
up in places. My teacher said I need to
work on organization.
Tutor: Okay. Why don’t you read the first
two pages out loud, and if I hear something
I’d like to go back to I’ll make a note of it.
You do the same.
Working with Structure as the Focus of the Session
Tutor: All right. You’ve got some solid points here, and I think we
can strengthen their presentation. Did you have a pattern in mind,
an overall structure for the paper, when you started out?
[The client explains how he intended to structure his comparison and
contrast]
Tutor: And you do that quite well. Sometimes, though, as you said,
your points get a little lost in the overall flow of the paper. Overall
flow is a bit vague. Basically, there are a couple of ways to organize a
paper like yours, to make it flow. One way is often called block style,
and the other is often called point-by-point. Block style treats one
subject completely before addressing the other; whereas point-by-point
structures the paper around individual points of comparison
and/or contrast. Does that make sense?
[The client seems unsure and asks for an example of what the tutor
means]
Tutor: Using your paper as an example, let’s begin with block style.
In your paper, what are the two things you compare and contrast?
Client: The British and American forms of government.
Tutor: So, in block style, the first part of the paper, after the thesis,
would deal entirely with the British form of government. And the
second half would focus on the American system, contrasting it to
the points you made about the British system.
Client: How does that differ from point-by-point?
Tutor: Let’s use your paper as an example again. In what ways do
you compare the two systems of government, and in what ways do
you contrast them?
Client: The comparison is that they’re both representative forms of
government, and the contrasts are that they hold elections differently
and how the majority interacts with the minority party.
Tutor: To simplify, we’ll call them points one, two, and three. Writing
your paper in point-by-point style would mean dealing with:
first—point one as it relates to both the British and American forms
of government; second—point two as it relates to both forms of
government; and third—point three as it relates to both forms of
government.
Client: So I’d only have three body paragraphs?
Tutor: Not necessarily. Each point might take several paragraphs to develop. Take a look at your paper again. What style do you think
you used?
[The client looks over his paper again]
Client: I started out with block style but forgot to contrast the same
points when I got to the American form. I can see how that might
confuse my readers.
Closing the Session
Tutor: Which style do you think you might use on your next draft?
Client: I’ll probably fix my block style.
Tutor: I think that’s a good idea. And if you’re not happy with it,
you can always write another draft in point-by-point style. Before
the session ends, do you have any more questions?
Client: Should I mention my points in my opening paragraph, in
my thesis statement? Or should I just write that I’m going to compare
and contrast American government with British government?
Tutor: Ideally, a thesis statement gets your reader interested in what
you’ve written. If you’re too vague, you risk losing his interest, but
you also want to avoid being too specific. So, you can preview your
individual points of comparison and contrast, but don’t begin supporting
them at that point. That should come later, in the body of
your paper.
[The client and tutor review and wrap up the session] |
