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Award-Winning Argumentative Writing Tutors

Gabby

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Gabby

Undergraduate Degree
Gabby's other Tutor Subjects
10th-12th Grade Writing
Evolutionary Biology
ASVAB
SAT Reading

A journalism degree trains you to anticipate counterarguments before they arrive — every story Gabby filed required defending her angle against editors, sources, and competing narratives. That instinct now shapes how she teaches argumentative writing, pushing students to map out objections to their ...

Education

University of Oregon

Undergraduate Degree

Alana

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Alana

Bachelor's
Alana's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade Writing
1st-12th Grade Reading
6th-10th Grade English
6th-8th Grade Chemistry

Counterarguments are where most student essays fall apart — they either ignore the opposition entirely or wave it away in a sentence. Alana's Yale training in the History of Science taught her to trace how competing claims get built and dismantled with evidence, a skill she now brings to teaching st...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor's

Caresse

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Caresse

Doctorate (e.g., PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Caresse's other Tutor Subjects
9th-12th Grade Writing
6th-12th Grade AP English Literature
6th-12th Grade AP English Language
6th-12th Grade AP English

As a passionate educator with a Doctorate in Comparative Literature from Princeton University, I have over 10 years of experience in both tutoring and classroom instruction. My expertise spans AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, Creative Writing, and more. I b...

Education

Princeton University

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

Princeton University

Master's/Graduate

Ruth

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Ruth

PhD
Ruth's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Writing
History
High School Level American History

My teaching philosophy is focused on a single objective - that students learn. I have a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Temple Law School. My GRE score was a 326, and my LSAT score was a 173. I've tutored over 60 students through Varsity Tutors. I'm co...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

PhD

Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary

PhD

Jacqueline

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Jacqueline

Doctorate (PhD)
Jacqueline's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry
Algebra

As a dedicated educator with a PhD in German Studies from Cornell University, I am passionate about nurturing student success through personalized tutoring. With over 7 years of teaching experience, I specialize in a wide array of subjects, including AP courses in Physics, English, and Calculus, as ...

Education

Cornell University

Doctorate (PhD)

Cornell University

Master's/Graduate

Yale University

Bachelor

Matthew

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Matthew

MBA
Matthew's other Tutor Subjects
GRE 5-Week Prep Class
LSAT 5-Week Prep Class
Government
GRE Analytical Writing

I have tutored students for the GMAT, GRE, SAT, ACT and LSAT for more than 15 years. I love it! As I tailor my instructions toward the unique needs of each student, my goal is to improve not only the student's performance but also the student's confidence as test day approaches.

Education

Northwestern University

MBA

Duke University

MBA

Germaine

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Germaine

AB
Germaine's other Tutor Subjects
SAT Reading
ACT Writing
ACT English
ACT Math

Hello! I'm Germaine and I am passionate about supporting and empowering students to achieve their academic goals. Over the last five years, I've had the opportunity to help hundreds of students succeed on various standardized tests, research papers, course finals and more across a range of disciplin...

Education

Princeton University

AB

Patrick

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Patrick

PhD
Patrick's other Tutor Subjects
Elementary School Math
PSAT Writing Skills
TOEFL
SAT Subject Test in United States History

After serving as an intelligence officer in the Air Force for seven years, I completed a doctoral program in American Literature at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since then, I have edited a literary journal, managed a research center, and published several peer-reviewed articles on American autobiography, fictio...

Education

Princeton University

PhD

Lukas

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Lukas

Master's/Graduate
Lukas's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Certified Teacher. Hi! My name is Lukas Brazdeikis and I have a strong background in computer science, physics, math, and designing course material. I will help your student learn as effectively as I can while also showing them the practical value of the knowledge they learn. I recently graduated f...

Education

Duke University

Master's/Graduate

Peter

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Peter

Master's/Graduate
Peter's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
Statistics Graduate Level
Pre-Algebra
Trigonometry

Hi - I'm Peter. I've always had a preference for math and science, which explains my undergrad choice in engineering. I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I received my MBA (Industrial Management) from the Wharton Graduate Division at U. of Pa. M...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Master's/Graduate

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Bachelor

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Frequently Asked Questions

A tutor can guide you through the process of moving from a general topic to a specific, arguable claim—one that takes a position rather than just stating a fact. They'll help you identify the difference between a thesis that's too broad ("Social media affects society") versus one that's specific and debatable ("Social media algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy, which undermines informed civic participation"). Through targeted feedback, tutors can help you refine your thesis so it's narrow enough to support with evidence in your essay, yet substantial enough to sustain a full argument.

A strong argumentative essay acknowledges opposing viewpoints to show you've considered multiple perspectives—this actually strengthens your credibility. A tutor can teach you the difference between dismissing a counterargument and refuting it with evidence. They'll help you structure a counterargument section where you present the opposing view fairly, then systematically dismantle it using your own evidence or logic. This approach demonstrates intellectual honesty while keeping your argument in control, rather than letting the counterargument dominate your essay.

Not all evidence carries equal weight in argumentative writing. A tutor can help you distinguish between anecdotal evidence (a single story), statistical data (numbers that show patterns), expert testimony (credible sources), and logical reasoning—and when each type is most persuasive. They'll guide you in evaluating whether your sources are credible and current, and how to integrate evidence smoothly into your paragraphs so it directly supports your claim rather than sitting as an isolated quote. Strong argumentative writers learn to select evidence strategically based on their audience and the specific claim they're defending.

Logical fallacies—like ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, or false dilemmas—can undermine even well-researched arguments. A tutor can teach you to recognize common fallacies and help you revise sentences where they appear. For example, attacking your opponent's character instead of their argument (ad hominem) weakens your position, as does oversimplifying the opposing view (straw man). Through peer review-style feedback on your drafts, tutors help you catch these errors before submission and strengthen your reasoning so each claim follows logically from your evidence.

Argumentative essays require strategic organization—not just listing reasons, but arranging them in an order that builds momentum and logic. A tutor can help you decide whether to lead with your strongest evidence (to hook readers immediately) or save it for last (to leave a lasting impression). They'll also help you create smooth transitions between paragraphs that show how each new point connects to your thesis and previous arguments, rather than feeling like isolated claims. This creates a cohesive argument where readers can follow your reasoning from introduction through conclusion.

Revision for argumentative writing is different from general proofreading—it's about testing whether your argument actually works. A tutor can help you read your essay as a skeptical reader would: Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence that advances your argument? Is every piece of evidence actually relevant, or does it just support a tangent? Are there places where you've made claims without sufficient support? Tutors provide targeted feedback on strengthening weak arguments, cutting unnecessary tangents, and ensuring your evidence is doing the persuasive work you intend, rather than just being present.

The tone of a persuasive op-ed differs significantly from an academic argumentative essay or a formal debate brief. A tutor can help you understand how your audience and context shape your voice—whether you're writing for peers, teachers, or the general public. They'll guide you in balancing conviction with credibility: sounding confident in your position without being dismissive or overly emotional. This includes choosing precise, formal language for academic arguments while avoiding jargon that alienates readers, and knowing when passionate language is persuasive versus when it undermines your ethos as a reasonable, thoughtful writer.

Many student writers include relevant evidence but fail to explain how it connects to their claim—leaving readers to make the logical leap themselves. A tutor can teach you to explicitly analyze your evidence by answering: What does this prove? How does it address my specific claim? What assumption does the reader need to accept for this evidence to work? This is where argumentative writing becomes sophisticated: the analysis and explanation of evidence matters as much as the evidence itself. Tutors help you develop this analytical voice so readers understand exactly why each piece of evidence strengthens your position.

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