y Intercept Definition

y Intercept Definition The place on the graph where a line intersects the y axis is known as the y intercept of the line. Because x coordinate of all the points on the y axis is zero, therefore the value of x coordinate for y intercept is also zero. We put the value of x equal to 0 in the equation of a line to find its y intercept. Example 1: Find the y intercept for the line 2y = 6x + 3. Solution: The first step for finding the y intercept of the given line is to put the value of x equal to zero in the equation of the line and solve the equation for y. 2y = 6 (0) + 3 2y = 0 + 3 2y = 3 2y / 2 = 3 / 2 y = 3 / 2 Hence the y intercept of the line given above is (0, 3 / 2). Example 2: What is the y intercept for the equation given below: 2 x2 + 7 x 3 y2 + 6 y = 0 Solution: To find the y intercepts for the given equation, we will put the value of x equal to zero and solve the equation to find the corresponding value of y. 2 (0)2 + 7 (0) 3y2 + 6y = 0 0 + 0 3y2 + 6y = 0 - 3y (y - 2) = 0 - 3y = 0 or y 2 = 0 y = 0 y = 2 So the y intercepts of the given equation are (0, 0) and (0, 2).

The Best Study Habits

The Best Study Habits All students have heard it before. The it is the constant nagging by parents and teachers about study habits. Find a quiet place to study, study at the same time/same place every day, study in an empty room are some of the typical methods that parents or teachers preach. However, they are wrong, absolutely wrong. A group of cognitive psychologists researched how to increase tangible learning through studying and discovered that most of the conventional wisdom about study habits is incorrect, according to an article in The New York Times. The group of cognitive psychologists determined that alternating and mixing up studying is the key to effective studying. Students should alternate the rooms they study in rather than staying in the exact same room every day. This increases memory retention. Also, students should vary the material they study instead of focusing on a single subject. We have known these principles for some time, and its intriguing that schools dont pick them up, or that people dont learn them by trial and error, said Robert A. Bjork, a psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Instead, we walk around with all sorts of unexamined beliefs about what works that are mistaken. The psychologists noted that these findings work for all ages. Also, a personal tutor could help students create and foster a positive studying environment. Psychologists also examined the popular notion that students have personal learning styles. Conventional wisdom says that some students are visual learners while others are auditory learners. There are countless of other similar examples of how students learn differently. Recently, the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest published a report stating that a group of psychologists found absolutely no support for this notion. The contrast between the enormous popularity of the learning-styles approach within education and the lack of credible evidence for its utility is, in our opinion, striking and disturbing, the researchers concluded, according to The New York Times. The New York Times cited a learning experiment from 1978. Psychologists placed college students in two separate rooms while they studied a list of 40 vocabulary words. The first room had no windows and was very cluttered; the other had a nice window view of the colleges courtyard. The students who studied with the window view did far better than the others. Their conclusions were that the brain makes associations between what is being studied and the background sensations at the time. This forces the brain to make multiple associations with the same material, which increases neural activity. The brain then works harder and memory retention then increases. The journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology recently published an online study in which two University of South Florida professors taught a group of fourth graders four equations that all calculate a different dimension of a prism. Half of the class was repeatedly taught one equation over and over again like the number of prism faces when given the number of sides at the base. These students then moved on to the next equation. The other half studied all four equations grouped together. The fourth graders took a test the next day. Those who studied the problems together outscored those who did not 77 percent to 33 percent. When students see a list of problems, all of the same kind, they know the strategy to use before they even read the problem, said Dr. Rohrer, one of the studys creators. Thats like riding a bike with training wheels. With mixed practice, he added, each problem is different from the last one, which means kids must learn how to choose the appropriate procedure just like they had to do on the test.

A Day in the Life at University of Michigan

A Day in the Life at University of Michigan The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Samantha is a Philadelphia tutor specializing in a multitude of subjects such as Statistics tutoring, Physiology tutoring, and Italian tutoring. She studied Biopsychology and Music at University of Michigan where she graduated from in 2012. See what she had to say about her undergraduate experience: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Samantha: The campus at the University of Michigan is extremely diverse. Central Campus (the main part of campus) is relatively urban, with a variety of businesses, stores, and restaurants. North campus (the home of the music, theatre, engineering and art programs) is a more suburban/rural area with rolling hills, small lakes and a plethora of green space. Despite the occasional petty crime, campus is very well monitored and extremely safe. The campus is quite large, however, so while there is no need for a car, bikes and the university bus system are often necessary to travel the entirety of campus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Samantha: The exceedingly large size of the university inherently limits the contact between faculty and students. Despite the often large class sizes, all professors hold office hours and are extremely approachable and are often thrilled to have interpersonal contact with students. Advisors and teaching assistants are not inundated with such large classes, so they are significantly more available than their professor counterparts. Generally, if a student needs help, wants guidance or merely wants to interact with faculty or staff, they are easily able to. However, if students are not proactive, they will likely not cultivate meaningful relationships with the professors. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Samantha: There are a variety of dorm layouts and locations at the University of Michigan. Most dorms are the traditional layout, but some are suite-style. There are dorms throughout central campus and one very large dorm on north campus. Each dorm is situated either directly next to or very near to a dining hall. Each dining hall has a variety of options that can accommodate all dietary restrictions. Michigan, throughout history, has been lauded for its masterful balance of emphasis on strong academics and on cultivating friendships through active socialization opportunities. The dorms are no different they contain quiet study rooms but also organize many social excursions and activities. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Samantha: The University of Michigans success and representation is quite evenly distributed across programs and majors. I graduated with a dual degree in Music (vocal performance) and Neuroscience. Both my areas of study were extremely comprehensive with numerous diverse elective selections to supplement the core curriculum. Additionally, I was thrilled with the instruction in both my majors. Both my professors and graduate student instructors/assistants were not only competent teachers, but also leaders in their field (be it musical performance or research). The university also supported both my areas of study financially. Merit and need-based aid were both readily accessible if earned and sought. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Samantha: I am very outgoing, so I immediately felt comfortable on campus and had many friends. The size of the university is certainly daunting to some, but it also means that the university is abundant in resources and in activities. I found that I could find people extremely easily who had similar interests, clubs that facilitated meeting those with similar interests, and activities aimed at cultivating new friendships. The University of Michigan is the kind of school where a student does not have to actively try to be involved it is expected and significantly easier than the alternative. I have yet to meet a Michigan graduate who did not love their experience social and otherwise. Post-graduation, I have made more of my friends through Michigan alumni networks than anywhere else the spirit for the university and the number of opportunities for involvement and change are so abundant, that it transcends the four years of schooling. Greek life has a presence on campus, but by no means is a necessity to have a thriving social life. I did not participate in Greek life, but I have many friends that did and both of our experiences were extremely rich and neither precludes one from taking advantage of all that Michigan has to offer. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Samantha: I cannot say enough about this. The Career Center played an integral role in my life throughout my junior and senior year. I decided to attend Drexel University for my PhD because of the Career Center and couldnt be happier with my choice. The reputation of the University of Michigan is outstanding, and the alumni network is unparalleled. As a result, most large corporations either actively recruit at Michigan or at least are represented at one of the many job fairs on campus. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Samantha: I am aware of at least 11 libraries on the campus of the University of Michigan. Additionally, there are many rooms at the Michigan League Student Union and all dormitories that offer productive study areas. They all certainly get busy around midterms and finals, but in my four years, I never had any problems finding a place to study. The study areas are also extremely diverse offering group areas, computer labs, meeting rooms, quiet rooms, private individual carrels, media rooms, etc. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Samantha: Ann Arbor is internationally acclaimed. It is a very artsy town and revolves entirely around the university. There are numerous fine dining restaurants and art galleries in addition to the traditional college-town establishments. Furthermore, there are theatres, music venues and many events occurring in the town of Ann Arbor. While the town is filled with possibilities for activities, there are also a great deal of activities occurring on campus. The Music, Theatre Dance school is top in the nation, so there are always concerts, musicals, operas and plays available to students (for free or cheap) around campus. There are also many non-formalized music and arts performances. Additionally, Michigan is famous for its sports! Football Saturdays are a fixture in Michigan tradition, and there are always basketball games, hockey games, and other sports around as well. If you dont want to watch them, you can always play them too. There are many club and intramural teams around cam pus, and if one that you want doesnt exist, you can make it. It all of my years living in Ann Arbor, I only traveled to Detroit a handful of times and almost always for organized events: date parties, Red Wings games, Lions games, Tigers games, the Detroit Jazz Festival, operas at the Detroit Opera House, Detroit Symphony concerts. Detroit has much to offer, but it is never necessary to leave Ann Arbor unless you want to! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Samantha: The student body is huge. It is entirely a personal preference but I was generally quite pleased with the class sizes. I often attended large lectures (upwards of 100-200 students), but they were all divided into small discussion sections that met once a week. As students work their way into the more specialized upper-level courses of their program, the classes generally get smaller and smaller and students have more contact with faculty. For me, it was a good transition from the lower level classes to the more specialized upper level classes but lectures are unavoidable in most programs. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Samantha: My senior year I decided to branch out and take a 400-level (highest undergraduate level) small seminar in political science a topic I had never taken a class in before. The title of the class was The History of Zionism and the Middle East Conflict. The content seemed interesting (despite my lack of previous exposure to any class of this nature) and the readings were extremely applicable to understanding current events. The class, unbeknownst to me at the time, consisted of 10 students and a discussion/debate format. Without a doubt, this class was the most challenging, most interesting and most rewarding class I have ever taken at the University of Michigan. My professor, Dr. Lieberman, taught us by example how to be informed consumers of politics and current events, how to effectively research, and how to self-initiate large-scale writing assignments. This class, although entirely unrelated to my area of study, was a signal to me that I was capable and ready to embark on a PhD program. Many other classes and professors made an extremely large mark on my intellectual endeavours and my personal ones if I had unlimited time and space, I could write a book about my positive experiences at the University of Michigan (and likely only a few small pages about the negative ones). Check out Samanthas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Is The Price of Portuguese Lessons

What Is The Price of Portuguese Lessons What Is The Price of Portuguese Tuition? ChaptersTaking Classes with a Portuguese Tutor on SuperprofWhat is the Cost of Portuguese Lessons with a Superprof Tutor?How to Make the Portuguese Tutor Cost LessFluctuating Rates According to the Different CitiesThe Financial Aspect of Learning Portuguese at UniversityLearning a new language presents a number of questions. Obviously the first question is what language to learn, but the resulting questions relate to the level of fluency that you want to reach, and what your overall motivations for learning are. Is it simple linguistic curiosity or a genuine desire to deepen your knowledge in the language?Learning Portuguese is no exception to this. There are lots of tips for how to learn Portuguese on the internet, but aside from being clear about your goals, you will also need to be dedicated, and have a good strategy in place to be successful.So when you have answered these questions, and before searching for language courses, you will need to decide how to reach your goal of impr oving your language skills in order to speak Portuguese.One big factor here will be what you have to put into the process. Like with any foreign language, learning Portuguese requires a double investment of  time and money.The latter is particularly important because you need to be able to afford any method that you choose. Therefore, finding a way to learn Portuguese that fits your budget will be one of your first steps.So if you are you looking to join the more than 220 million native Portuguese speakers, but need a little bit more information about how much it will cost to learn Portuguese as a second language, then you have come to the right place. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Tea cher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTaking Classes with a Portuguese Tutor on SuperprofThanks to a large network of language teachers, the Superprof platform connects learners and tutors for French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Arabic lessons etc.Portuguese is another choice that is available, in both its European and Brazilian forms.So you're now wondering how much, on average, a tutor charges for a language course on Superprof. Are there different rates depending on the language you want to learn?Yes. Overall, the statistics of the platform tend to prove that learning an unusual foreign language such as Lithuanian, Burmese, or Norwegian is more expensive.  The same logic applies to dialects or regional languages such as Basq ue or Castilian.This is probably explained by the lack of qualified teachers in the language, which means that there are fewer teachers around.Courses that are more specific also tend to be more expensive than average. This means that if you want to do a proficiency test, such as one of the CAPLE (Centre for Evaluation of Portuguese as a Foreign Language) exams, or if you want to learn Portuguese for a specific use, such as business Portuguese, then the classes are likely to cost you more.This example of French tutors on Superprof shows the difference in prices. The same is true for our Portuguese tutorsThe most frequently requested languages, such as French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, or Chinese, have lower hourly rates that are more or less similar.One thing to bear in mind is that there are a number of factors that affect the price of Portuguese lessons on Superprof. We will have a look at some of these factors later on, but in the meantime just be aware that the price of classes isn't the same across the world, or even across the same country.What is the Cost of Portuguese Lessons with a Superprof Tutor?We know that choosing the right Portuguese tutor is important when you start your classes, but that equally you need someone who fits your budget.Because there are some differences between the Portuguese of Europe and Brazilian Portuguese (especially in terms of pronunciation, accent, and Portuguese vocabulary), the Superprof platform makes a clear distinction between these two versions of Portuguese, so if you want to learn brazilian portuguese  online or in person then look out for brazilian portuguese  lessons london  or private Brazilian tuition.You will find plenty of tutors teaching European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, and some who can teach both. As we said, prices vary due to a variety of factors but you can expect to pay about £20 in for portuguese lessons london, $25 USD in New York, $30 CAD in Toronto, or $25 AUD in Sydney. And don't worry if you can't find a Portuguese tutor nearby as some of our tutors offer classes via webcam.More and more Portuguese tutors are available on our platform to help to raise your language level!On Superprof, a private Portuguese lesson via webcam can sometimes be slightly cheaper because the tutor doesn't have to travel to meet you.The price difference between different Portuguese teachers is generally explained by their experience and degree of proficiency.  Some can supervise a wide range of students: beginners wishing to learn Portuguese for the first time and nearly bilingual students wanting a true linguistic immersion.Another thing to remember is that native speakers will charge more than people who speak Portuguese fluently as a second language.There is an argument to be made that learning with a native speaker will allow a further examination of the intricacies of grammar, but this is only applicable if you want to completely master Portuguese.Do not forget that a na tive Brazilian tutor will be able to give you the  keys to understanding Brazilian civilization and Brazilian culture as well!In addition to language learning you may be entitled to a real cultural immersion with such a teacher!At the sight of these numbers and in comparison with the other languages most in demand, Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese are on the low end of things in terms of rates. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free! Discover all our tutorsHow to Make the Portuguese Tutor Cost LessFor those who winced at the mention of these prices, you should know that there are many opportunities and ways to lower the cost of a Portuguese course!Classes via WebcamWith this learn portuguese online option you don't need to worry about where you can learn Portuguese. On average, webcam classes are slightly cheaper than in-home classes, and allow you to learn where ever you are in the world.It seems normal that the price would be lowered as the teacher does not have to travel to your home and can enjoy significant schedule flexibility.This usually affects the course's price.A student will also save time, especially one living in a big city. A course via webcam will mean you will avoid a good hour of public transport to reach your tutor when the classes are scheduled outside of your home. Don't forget that time is a rare commodity these days!Group ClassesGroup classes sometimes address more specific topics than ind ividual classes. But they are also a great way to pool individual costs.Because they require meticulous organization, these courses are extremely useful in order to progress in a particular field (the ability to hold an oral conversation in a specific field, mastering the specific vocabulary of a given branch, etc.).They also make for a great learning energy  within the group. Generally, these groups contain around 6 people maximum, which will allow you to benefit from group effects, without necessarily feeling the sometimes negative aspects (you have to rely on yourself much more than in private lessons).Remember that it doesn't matter what type of classes you choose, you will need to study between your Portuguese classes in order to reinforce what you learn and advance at the rate that you want.To become familiar with the Portuguese language, no need to mortgage your house! Just follow these simple tipsFluctuating Rates According to the Different CitiesThe geographical factor also explains the varied rates.On average, a private Portuguese class costs more in bigger towns and cities. This is because the transport costs are higher and it takes longer to reach a lot of destinations, but also because living expenses are higher than in smaller cities.However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the price continues to get cheaper at the same rate as the city size does. If you live somewhere where there is only one Portuguese tutor, they can charge what they want as there is no competition. You can therefore expect prices to be slightly higher in this scenario.The Financial Aspect of Learning Portuguese at UniversityBeaches and fados are a bonus - what more can you ask for during a language exchange?Perfect mastery of Portuguese requires  total immersion in the language  so that every situation you encounter means you will further your Portuguese learning experience. It is also a way of working efficiently and intensively!For those of you who have the opportunity, w hy not go for a semester abroad, or take a one-year language training program in Portugal or Brazil in order to study and deepen your skills?You're probably wondering - how much does it cost?Obviously this depends on how much your university charges for tuition fees, which will largely be regulated by the country that you live in. But from a semester abroad point of view, Lisbon ranks as one of the cheapest capital cities in western Europe.It is estimated that you could get by on about €1,000-1,300, depending on how much you want to tighten the belt and how much you want to indulge on life's little privileges, such as eating out and going to the cinema.In short:The main thing to remember is that the average amount you will spend for a Portuguese or a Brazilian Portuguese course is low compared tothe average cost of learning a foreign language.Many factors explain the price differences. They can be linked to the student, such as what he or she wants to learn. They can also be linke d to the tutor (experience, diplomas and training, methodology or approach).One can't predict the exact amount of a Portuguese course, which depends on geographical location factors. Keep in mind that rates are more expensive in bigger cities than in the smaller ones, and that rates are cheaper on the outskirts of a big city than in the center. Nevertheless, many factors such as taking a course via webcam rather than in person, or a group course rather than a private course will lower your bill.The last method, which is the most engaging and probably the most effective, is to immerse yourself in the language by going to study in Portugal or Brazil. Language learning always requires a real investment of some kind, so dive in!The reasons for learning Portuguese are endless. All you need to do is choose the right method for you and begin your journey that could take you to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, or the old streets of Lisbon.

Membranous Organelles Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Membranous Organelles Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of living organism. Cell consists of many cell organelles, which has a definite shape, structure and function.The membrane bound organelles are: Nucleus-it is the brain of the cell living certain dense bodies called nucleoli and a network of thread likestructures called chromatin which contains the DNA.It regulates growth and reproduction of cells, Chromosomes in nucleus are the bearers of hereditarymaterials and Nucleolus in the nucleus stores proteins Mitochondria - They are living, various shapes, and double walled, inner membrane thrown into folds called cristae.They release energy and synthesize respiratory enzymeEndoplasmic reticulum-it is a living, network oftubular membrane. Connected at one end to the nucleus andon the other end to the plasma membrnae. May be smooth or rough. If ribosomes are present on them theyare rough and if it is absent it is smooth.They provide a pathway for distribution of nucleus nuclear material and provide supporting skeletal framework of the cellGolgi apparatus-they are living, consists of tubules, vesicles and vacuoles.They secretes enzymes and hormonesPlastids-living double walled structure with a proteinaceous matrix. Contains DNA. Three types of plastids: 1.chloroplast is the site for photosynthesis. 2. Chromoplast-impart color to flowers and fruits 3. Leucoplast-stores starch, lipids and proteins Lysosomes- living, sac like vesicles with proteinaceous matrix. They synthesize digestive enzymes, provide energy during cell starvation. Peroxisomes- Living membrane bound sac. Seen in kidney and liver cells. Helps in the removal of toxic substances Vacuoles - They are nonliving part, fluid filled spaces enclosed by membrane They stores excess water, mineral, food substances, pigments and waste products.

Learning Algebra 1 - Maths Online Tutoring

Learning Algebra 1 - Maths Online Tutoring Learning Algebra 1 includes the subsequent topics like addition and subtraction of algebraic expression, multiplication, and division of polynomials, resolution polynomials, graphing linear and quadratic relations and functions, exponents and irrational numbers, how to solve equations, change expressions and resolution of worldly issues. Students learn to study patterns and relationships, formalizing their data, learning to use symbolic notation. When students create the transition from concrete arithmetic to the symbolic language of algebra one, they develop abstract reasoning skills necessary to surpass in mathematics and science. Example 1: Subtract 7p 2q 5r from the sum of 5p + 2q - 3r + 1 and 3p 4r 3 Solution: 5p + 2q - 3r + 1 3p 4r 3 7p 2q 5r [we need to change the sign of each term of the third expression as it is to be subtracted and then add] _ + + p + 4q 2r 2 Example 2: The sum of the digits of a two digit number is 12. If 18 are added to it, the digits are reversed so the number will be ___ . Solution: Let the unit digit be x The sum of both the digit is 12, the tens digit = 12 x So the number = (12 x ) * 10 + x On reversing the digits, x is at tens; (12 x) at unit. New number = x *10 + (12 x) x *10 + (12 x) = (12 x ) * 10 + x + 18 9x + 12 = - 9x + 138 18x = 126 x = 7 The number is 57.

Surface Area of Cube Tutors

Surface Area of Cube Tutors A cube is a closed solid geometric figure which has 3 dimensions, and hence it is known as a 3-dimensional geometric shape. A cube consists of 6 faces and every side of a cube is equal to each other. Therefore a cube is said to have all congruent faces and sides and each face is a square. The total surface area of a cube can be calculated by finding the area of each square face and adding all the areas together. Example 1: What is the total surface area of the cube if the side of the cube is 4m? Given the side length of the cube, s = 4m Since its a 3-dimensional geometric shape, it has 6 surfaces where each surface is a square of equal sides. Hence area of each surface = (side length)2 Area of each surface = (4m)2 = 16m2 There are 6 surfaces in a cube, hence = 6 * s2 = 6 * 16m2 = 96m2 Hence the total surface area of the cube = 96m2 Example 2: What is the total surface area of the cube if the side of the cube is 10m? Given the side length of the cube, s = 10m A cube has 6 surfaces and each surface is a square of equal sides. Hence area of each surface = (side length)2 Area of each surface = (10m)2 = 100m2 There are 6 surfaces in a cube, hence = 6 * s2 = 6 * 100m2 = 600m2 Hence the total surface area of the cube = 600m2

About the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker

About the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker Nicholas Walker, creator of the Virtual Writing Tutor For a list of Virtual Writing Tutor features with video tutorials on how to use them, see here. This article is about the motivation to build and use the Virtual Writing Tutor for pedagogical purposes. Until recently, I had been correcting student errors by hand, returning assignments a week or two later. Like other teachers, it always struck me that 7-14 days was a long time for learners to wait for corrections, but with the large number of students I had in my classes, it was the fastest I could get the job done. Even then, I was concerned that my slow method of error correction was constraining the amount of writing practice my learners were getting in my courses. To explain, if it takes two weeks to correct students writing and students expect corrective feedback on every writing task they do (or they wont do it), then the most a teacher can assign is one writing assignment every two weeks. Nevertheless, students language development benefits from writing more often. Of course, I tried using MS Word and other automatic error correctors, but they were not particularly useful at catching  second language errors in my students writing. I then turned to Moodle and developed an extensive  auto-linking glossary  of errors, but the glossary filter put a heavy load on Bokomarus  Moodle server  and slowed everything down. So, in the spring of 2012 while my college students were out on  strike, I launched the Virtual Writing Tutor and set the following goals for myself: To increase the quantity of corrective feedback available to our students To improve its quality To improve its timeliness To increase its frequency To enhance ESL writing pedagogy Increasing the Quantity of Feedback: Catching More Errors Most automatic grammar checkers miss the kinds of errors that second language learners make. They seem more focused on  the kinds of errors that writers in their first language make  instead. I want to remedy that by catching transfer errors, tense errors and  collocation errors. While human teachers can potentially catch all of these errors when they correct assignments by hand,  no teacher has either the time  or space in the margins to correct every error in a college-length writing assignment or explain at length the nature of each error. The VirtualWritngTutor can provide more detailed feedback on as many errors I program it to detect. Improving the Quality of Feedback: Details, Links, and Resources Skeptics of automatic grammar checkers sometimes interpret the occasional false alarm, bad feedback, or  missed error  as a sign that the quality of automatic feedback can never be as good as the feedback a human teacher can give. I am working on these individual problems, and I believe that I can overcome them with time. Indeed, members can help me by reporting issues with the system using the  Report button  on this website. In the meantime, there are other aspects to feedback quality that sceptics should not overlook. Hand-correction usually involves a combination of underlining, terse metalinguistic correction codes and the occasional explicit correction. The Virtual Writing Tutor does all that, too. It locates an error, provides a metalinguistic explanation of the error (not just a correction code) and suggests one or more ways to correct the error. However, the Virtual Writing Tutor goes one step further and displays a clickable link to relevant online remedial practice activities and resources. In this way, the Virtual Writing Tutor can generate a kind of instant curriculum, tailor-made for each learner and based on the learners immediate learning needs. That in itself goes well beyond current hand-coding practices. So, all things considered, the Virtual Writing Tutor has the potential to give better feedback. Example text Try it for yourself. Click the text below to see what the Virtual Writing Tutor can do. I make a lot of mistake that negatively effect my writing. Thats not good. I want always to make the good choice of verbs. I want also to improve my pronunciation. My English-speaking friends talk about to help, but they never do. I work in a big store on the south shore of Montreal where there are a lot of immigrants people. Im speaking every day to a men that works there. I think practicing with immigrants is equally as effective. So far, I have work there since 2 weeks and my English is getting more better. Also, I have learned already a lot about retail, but I will like to have a better job. I am waiting still for my first paycheck. They dont have paid me yet. When I will get paid, I will pay my parking tickets. Nevertheless if my English would be more better, I would definitely get a better paying job. I often wonder how many opportunities I would had had if I paid more attention to my nice English teacher in high school. Improving the Timeliness of Feedback With large class-sizes during the busy midterm period, the timeliness of the corrective feedback on writing we give our students tends to suffer. Teachers struggle to get corrections back to their students by the next class, but sometimes students have to wait two weeks. When assignments are returned, students exclaim, It was so long ago that I have forgotten what I was trying to say here. With the Virtual Writing Tutor, feedback is instant. What could be more timely than that? Improving the Frequency of Feedback The Virtual Writing Tutor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instead of receiving corrective feedback on only one draft of an essay or narrative composition, learners can now get feedback on every draft throughout the writing process. The system will never get annoyed or tired. Learners can write a paragraph, check it, write another check it, and so on. The Virtual Writing Tutor makes it possible for learners to get feedback as often as they want it. Another point worth considering is that teachers can now give more writing assignments than ever before. Whereas teachers might have been reluctant to add to their own workload by assigning additional writing tasks to their students, with the availability of the Virtual Writing Tutor they can ask for error-free texts every class and the burden of error correction will never increase. In this way, students will get feedback on errors as often as the teacher wants or thinks is necessary. Improving Writing Pedagogy In many colleges around the world, writing is taught as a collaborative exchange between student and teacher. The teacher assigns a writing task, the student produces one draft, the teacher provides corrective feedback on it, then the student redrafts the text and submits it for evaluation. Sometimes a student can feel somewhat mystified and betrayed if, after trying to respond to all the teachers correction codes, the student then receives a low score on the essay since the teacher was in effect a collaborator on the final draft. A better way to teach writing might be for teachers to ask students to consult the Virtual Writing Tutor throughout the drafting process as just one of a variety of revision strategies. Other revision strategies might include the use of self-assessment checklists, peer-review tasks, and participation in teacher-student writing conferences. In this way, the teacher can evaluate the use of a range of revision strategies and not the students success at responding to corrective feedback received on one draft of one essay from one source. During peer-assessment activities classmates might find it useful to submit a students writing to the Virtual Writing Tutor to see if the revision strategy was used and which suggestions were ignored. In this way, a teacher can put the following question on a peer-assessment grid:  Has the writer eliminated all major errors from his or her writing?  Such a question teaches all learners in the class to be judicious consumers of corrective feedback for life. Power Tools for Teachers Just as learners will have to become judicious consumers of automated corrective feedback, teachers will have to reassess their old approach to hand-coding errors. There is nothing about the Virtual Writing Tutor that prevents teachers from continuing their practice of giving hand-coded feedback. However, like a master builder with a new power saw, ESL teachers will have to reflect carefully on when to pull this new power tool out of the toolbox and when to do things the old-fashioned way. Heres why: 1.     The VWT is fast, really fast. 2.     It provides error correction upon demand 24/7. 3.     It can provide feedback on multiple drafts of text, not just the first and last draft. 4.     It can explain at length the nature of the error, something human teachers dont have time or space in the margins for. 5.     It displays links to specific resources and remedial activities to help learners eliminate errors from future writing. 6.     It is available to students and non-students alike, supporting lifelong learning. 7.     It is completely free for teachers and their students to use. However 8.     It provides unfocused feedback, correcting every error it finds without regard to the learners readiness. 9.     It generates false alarms, suggesting unnecessary corrections or providing explanations that dont always make sense. 10.  It still misses lots of errors. Get InvolvedStay in Touch Of course, the Virtual Writing Tutor is  a work in progress. If you are an ESL teacher and would like to help me make the VWT better, please Suggest a New Error or Report a False Alarm using the email utility provided or by leaving a message on my  Facebook wall or by posting a comment on my  blog. I would love to hear from you, and your feedback will help me provide the ESL world with better corrective feedback. Please follow and like us: