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Award-Winning 8th Grade Literature Tutors

Alexa

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Alexa

AB
Alexa's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
8th-12th Grade AP English Literature
8th-12th Grade English
8th-12th Grade AP English

I'm a professional writer, editor, and graduate-level researcher with 10+ years of experience helping students strengthen clarity, flow, argument structure, and self-confidence. I can support your studies as a writing coach, college essay specialist, humanities tutor, ACT, AP, and IB test prep (Hist...

Education

Wake Forest University

AB

Karthikeyan

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Karthikeyan

Bachelor's
Karthikeyan's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
6th-12th Grade AP English Literature
K-12th Grade math
K-12th Grade Science

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical and Biological Sciences with a 3.96 GPA, and I am currently continuing my academic journey through advanced medical and graduate-level coursework. My education has given me a strong foundation not only in the life sciences but also in interdisciplinary f...

Education

Central Washington University

Bachelor's

Abigail

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Abigail

Bachelor's
Abigail's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
6th-12th Grade AP English Literature
K-12th Grade math
K-12th Grade Reading

I'm an enthusiastic educator, who likes to create child based lessons. I have spent over six years dedicated to unlocking potential across all age groups. With eight years of Psychology studies, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice, I bring a structured yet engaging approach to subjects ranging from eleme...

Education

AIU

Bachelor's

Christine

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Christine

MFA
Christine's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
10th-12th Grade AP English Literature
1st-12th Grade Reading
2nd-12th Grade Writing

I am a writer and recent MFA graduate in Creative Writing and Screenwriting from Antioch University, Los Angeles. I received my Honors Undergrad Bachelor of Arts Degree in English at University of Toronto, Canada. I have fiction editorial experience with the online literary journal, "Lunch Ticket,...

Education

Antioch University-Los Angeles

MFA

Dallas

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Dallas

Bachelor
Dallas's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
Public Speaking
English Grammar and Syntax
Phonics

As an online and in-person teacher of 9 years, I have a diverse array of experience working with students of all ages, levels, and nationalities. I believe learning is individual to the learner. As such, I work with students to understand their goals and then tailor my lessons to each student. I a...

Education

Arkansas Tech University

Bachelor

Arkansas Tech University

Associate

Deborah

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Deborah

Doctorate (e.g., PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Deborah's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
9th-12th Grade AP English Literature
8th-12th Grade Reading
10th-11th Grade Writing

I hold a Ph.D in English from Fordham University in NYC and a valid secondary school teaching license. Plus, I have over 30 years of experience teaching and tutoring students: 26 at the university level and four at the high school level. My expertise spans a wide range of subjects, English Language...

Education

Fordham University

Doctorate (e.g., PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

Catherine

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Catherine

Master's/Graduate
Catherine's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
K-8th Grade Reading
K-5th Grade math
1st-5th Grade Writing

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and ESL, as well as a Master's degree in Literacy and additional certifications in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Curriculum & Instruction. I've spent the last several years teaching first and second grade, and I bring a d...

Education

Missouri State University

Master's/Graduate

Illinois State University

Bachelor

Alexis

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Alexis

Bachelor's
Alexis's other Tutor Subjects
8th Grade Literature
1st-12th Grade Writing
1st-9th Grade After School
1st-8th Grade Science

As a passionate educator with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern State University of Louisiana, I bring over 2 years of tutoring experience in subjects such as Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Pharmacology. I have experience working with kindergarten - 8th Grade childre...

Education

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Bachelor's

Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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Jai

Calculus Tutor • +23 Subjects

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'm looking forward to helping you improve your scores towards improving your chances at getting in to your dream school.

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Jeffrey

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I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and coming members of such a great field. I have experience tutoring both Calculus and Physics at Notre Dame, as well as experience as a Student Assistant for Differential Equations and Mechanics. I believe the key to learning is much deeper than learning to solve problems and that seeking knowledge is one of the best means for personal improvement.

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Erika

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I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!

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Rhea

AP Statistics Tutor • +49 Subjects

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various subjects as well as tutoring private clients in Standardized Test preparation. Given that I graduated high school recently, I have taken several Standardized Tests and high school subjects myself, so I have a comprehensive understanding of not only how to tutor these subjects and exams, but also what it is like to take them. While I have a wide range of interests and am able to tutor various subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring in Standardized Test preparation (including ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams), Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Spanish. I truly believe that students should have the opportunity to learn in the way that works best for them, and I love being able to help them succeed by creating a comfortable tutoring environment in which we can best assess their particular needs and use strategies specific to them. My passion for learning drives everything that I do, and tutoring is the platform that I use to try to spread that passion to others. In my free time, you can find me playing badminton, listening to music, or baking something (hopefully) delicious.

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Earnest

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Sami

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects

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Charles

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects

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Frequently Asked Questions

Many 8th graders find it challenging to move beyond plot summary and develop deeper analysis of literary elements like symbolism, tone, and character motivation. They often struggle to support interpretations with specific textual evidence and understand how authors use devices like foreshadowing or imagery to create meaning. A tutor can help students learn to ask analytical questions about texts—like "Why did the author choose this word?" or "What does this symbol represent?"—and build the habit of citing specific passages to back up their claims rather than making general statements about a book.

8th grade essays often suffer from weak thesis statements that are too vague or simply restate the prompt. Tutors work with students to craft specific, arguable thesis statements that preview their main points, then help them organize body paragraphs so each one supports a single aspect of that thesis. Through guided practice and personalized feedback, students learn the difference between a topic sentence and a thesis, how to structure evidence and analysis in each paragraph, and how to revise for clarity and coherence—skills that directly strengthen their writing across all assignments.

Close reading means carefully examining specific words, phrases, and sentences to understand how an author creates meaning—noticing things like word choice, repetition, or sentence structure that casual reading often misses. In 8th grade, students are expected to move from just understanding what happens in a story to analyzing how and why it happens. Tutors teach close reading strategies like annotating text, asking questions about word choice, and tracking patterns across a passage, which helps students find the specific evidence they need to support their literary analysis rather than relying on vague generalizations.

Many 8th graders describe characters as simply "good" or "bad" without exploring the complexity of motivation, internal conflict, or how characters change. Tutors help students ask deeper questions: What does this character want? What obstacles stand in their way? How do their choices reveal their values? By analyzing specific scenes where characters make decisions and examining dialogue and internal thoughts, students learn to see characters as complex people with believable motivations. This approach also helps them understand how character development drives plot and theme, making their literary analysis more sophisticated and insightful.

Writer's block often stems from trying to write a perfect essay on the first attempt. Tutors break the writing process into manageable steps: brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, drafting without worrying about perfection, and then revising for clarity and evidence. They teach students to separate drafting from editing—getting ideas down first, then improving organization and adding textual support in revision. With personalized feedback on their actual writing, students see exactly where their analysis needs strengthening or where they've summarized instead of analyzed, making revision feel purposeful rather than overwhelming.

8th graders often think grammar rules and writing voice are separate concerns, but they're connected—strong voice comes from making deliberate word choices and sentence structures. Tutors help students understand that varying sentence length, choosing precise verbs, and using active voice (when appropriate) all contribute to clearer, more engaging writing. Rather than focusing only on correcting errors, personalized instruction helps students see grammar as a tool for expressing their ideas more effectively. This approach keeps students from writing stiffly to "follow the rules" while still building the conventions skills they need for academic writing.

Theme is abstract, so many 8th graders either miss it entirely or confuse it with the plot. Tutors teach students to look for patterns—repeated ideas, symbols, or conflicts—that point to what the author is exploring. For example, in a story about a character overcoming fear, the tutor might ask: "What does the character learn?" "What message is the author sending?" "How do other characters or events support this idea?" By connecting specific scenes and character choices to larger ideas, students develop the analytical thinking needed to move beyond surface-level plot summary and understand what a text means, not just what happens in it.

Many 8th graders treat citations as a box to check rather than understanding why they matter—acknowledging sources and supporting claims with evidence. Tutors teach the mechanics of MLA format (in-text citations, Works Cited entries) while also showing students how to integrate quotes naturally into their writing. This means teaching them to introduce quotes with context, choose the most relevant passages, and explain how the evidence supports their point—not just dropping in a quote and moving on. With guided practice and feedback on their actual essays, students learn that proper citation isn't busywork; it's how writers build credibility and show their thinking process.

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