video assignment

5. Quick fixes:

Quick fixes are a tricky subject for consultants. On one hand, many students come in needing help with grammar, punctuation, and spelling. On the other, many just want a consultant to rewrite their paper for them.

I think that it is generally not ok to do any sort of quick fix that involves writing a phrase for the client. This is their paper, not mine, and they have to articulate their own ideas. That doesn't mean that I shouldn't point out awkward sentences or suggest saying something different. It means I don't write it for them, and that I should try to get them to recognize awkwardness by themselves so that they can deal with the problem on their own.

Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are a bit different. Again, the goal of the consultant should be to get the client to find the mistakes on their own, but their really isn't any way to do this but to fix the problem. The key is to explain why the problem should be fixed, and to encourage the client to make corrections as he/she reads through the paper. I generally give grammar corrections, etc. if the client specifically asks for them, especially if they are an international student that is still learning the ropes. I always explain why there is a correction needed, and to relate recurring problems back to each other, in order to get the client to be able to make these corrections on their own.

The danger with quick fixes is writing for a student, not helping them be clear in their own words.