But Will They Still do it Tomorrow?

By Toni Alazraki, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa

[After I typed the introduction below, I realized that I am referring to a song that is about 45 years old! But even if you have never heard “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”* I think you will still get the idea.]
Today they’re mine completely. They revise their sentences so sweetly. “But tell me now, and I won’t ask again.” Will they still do it tomorrow?

As I begin my fourth school year as a writing/ESL tutor, this song is playing in my head. My sessions with the students always feel good in the moment; students are always grateful for the help. But when they walk away and are faced with their next writing assignment, how much transfers? Am I giving them tools for self-sufficiency?

With this in mind, I am using a new learning strategy this year. It involves e-mailing each student the following attached chart after our tutoring session.

1. In the first column, I type the sentences that we revised together with the changes in blue. (If we have worked on a paper or an essay, I use the sentences that illustrate predominant patterns. If we have worked on one or two paragraphs, I usually include all of the sentences that were revised.)
2. In the second column, I type in the rules or reasons for the changes.
3. In the third column, students are asked to retype (not paste in) the revised sentences and then write two new sentences for each rule or reason.

Then they send back the chart for review.

1. If all is OK, I tell them so, and ask them to keep the chart for reference.
2. If more revisions are required in what they have typed in the third column, I make the punctuation, words or phrases that need to be changed blue and type in a comment or a question that helps them revise.
3. I ask them to type their revised sentence(s) in the first column and to put their ideas for the rules or reasons for the changes in the second column.

Then they send back to chart for review. The chart keeps going back and forth until all columns have correct information and sentences.When it is time to send a new set of sentences, I use their same copy of the chart, making the previous sentences, rules, etc. green so they can easily scroll to the new set.

I just started this system in September. I intend to monitor the progress and see if the students become more adept at using the rules and reasons we discuss as we go along.

With a little bit of creativity, this system could be adapted to other subjects as well.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to make the system more effective, I would love to see them. E-mail: talazrak@mum.edu

*“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” is the title of a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

Questions or comments? Contact the authors at talazrak@mum.edu.