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Award-Winning 9th Grade Writing Tutors

Certified Tutor
Eric
I am patient and collaborative. I work with my students to help them come to the answers on their own, and I find creative and fun ways for students to think about the material in a new light.
Princeton University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
Allan
I'm a big Boston Celtics fan and I speak three languages. I can get you the test results you need to succeed because I went through the exams myself and performed well. The first time I took the SAT I actually wasn't satisfied with my score, so I spent 2 months working hard to get my score to where ...
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Biological Sciences

Certified Tutor
Maddy
I'm a recent graduate of Harvard University and a natural teacher, and I'd be thrilled to help you build your skills, gain academic confidence, and get results! My B.A. is in American history and literature with a minor in theater. I spent my college years producing and directing student theater, wr...
Harvard University
B.A. in American History and Literature (minor in Theater)

Certified Tutor
Paula
I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests and have been privileged enough to pursue knowledge in those areas. I even enjoy tucking away "useless...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
Angela
I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in International Relations and minoring in French and English. The studies of English and Literature have been my passion for a long time. I enjoy reading about cultures while familiarizing myself with the world’s diverse peoples. In...
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Madeline
I am currently a graduate student Johns Hopkins University getting my masters in chemical and biomolecular engineering. I have spent a lot of time around children and I have spent a good amount of time teaching as well. I want all students that I tutor to feel comfortable when I am tutoring them and...
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
Hasan
I am a graduate of Brown University, where I earned my B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts, taking courses in a wide array of subjects ranging from contemporary American fiction to ancient Indian classics. My first teaching experience came in college when I had the privilege of creating and teachi...
Brown University
B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts

Certified Tutor
Gabriel
I am studying to get my PhD at the University of Chicago. I have extensive experience teaching and tutoring a variety of ages and subjects (in particular, I have the most experience tutoring for the PSAT, SAT and college admissions essays, as well as math, English literature and Spanish to middle sc...
University of Chicago
PHD, Comparative Human Development
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
I'm comfortable tutoring on a number of subjects, I particularly enjoy teaching English, writing, and critical reading. I like working one on one with students, helping them to think through problems, formulate opinions, and articulate their thoughts. This involves working on vocabulary, grammar, an...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
Sarah
I am a graduate of Oberlin College and Wesleyan University and I am currently a PhD student at Harvard University. I received my BA in English, my BM in Jazz Studies, and my MA in Ethnomusicology. My PhD research is in West African music. I have many years of experience as a tutor, beginning as a wr...
Harvard University
PHD, Ethnomusicology
Oberlin College
Bachelors, English and Jazz studies
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Ariela
12th Grade math Tutor • +41 Subjects
I am good at test taking, is my ability to organize information. It's a skill I use both in my academic life, as well as professionally; as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so that they become comprehensible to someone who may not understand them the first time around. Hobbies: art, books, photography, reading, music, writing
Marjorie
Calculus Tutor • +42 Subjects
I am eager to help students prepare for college applications, including mastering standardized tests, college essays, and study strategies. I am also driven to teach young students to become better overall writers and critical readers as these skills will affect all facets of their educational career. My ultimate goal, however, is to go beyond the material a student is currently struggling with by teaching them how to successfully identify and address areas that need improvement. The ability to teach one's self efficiently and effectively is a skill that will be invaluable throughout their entire lives.
Julie
12th Grade math Tutor • +83 Subjects
I am a rising junior at Princeton University pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy with a certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning. I am highly passionate about education: during the academic year, I serve as a volunteer tutor for the Petey Greene Program, which provides educational assistance to those incarcerated in New Jersey prisons; after graduation, I hope to work toward becoming a high school mathematics teacher. This summer, I am interning part-time at IntegrateNYC4me, a nonprofit that seeks to integrate New York schools. I believe that quality educational opportunities should be accessible to all, and I hope to dedicate my career toward realizing this vision!
Victoria
Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am well schooled in academic writing and reading comprehension; furthermore, I have honed my ability to write pointed, direct essays for both applications and classes. After studying French in high school, I went on to spend over six months in France working on archaeological excavations. As a previous educator for high school students, I am versed in different learning styles and can't wait to work with more. It sounds trite, but it's true--I love teaching, and consider it both a privilege and a real pleasure. I look forward to helping more students achieve their academic goals!
Dakota
12th Grade math Tutor • +126 Subjects
I am a native Texan now living in NYC. I just finished my Master's degree, and I love food, reading, and travel. I've been working and volunteering as a tutor since my high school days, and I am eager to provide advanced-level assistance to you! I'm a friendly, approachable person who maintains a professional but fun learning atmosphere. And, most importantly, we get hard work done! Hobbies: art, books, travel, reading, cooking, music, writing
Julian
5th Grade math Tutor • +68 Subjects
I am well-equipped to help students improve their reading comprehension and essay writing skills. As an avid reader and writing enthusiast, I naturally find great joy in reviewing and editing the work of others. Although writing is incredibly stylistic, it is also remarkably formulaic. With proper preparation, all students are capable of fine-tuning their craft with effective methodologies and strategies all that is needed is the right guidance and support. Hobbies: reading, music, hiking, art, travel, books, writing
Jennifer
Calculus Tutor • +54 Subjects
I'm communicating and working with a pupil that I get a proper indication of how to work best with them. It's crucial to understand every student is different. There are always indications on how to handle/work with each student. For example, with a hostile student I would try to ease off and allow them to talk whilst making the material seem personal and easygoing. With a more outgoing and confident student, I would invite them to be challenged in our studies, as they usually work best with a challenge.
Eric
Calculus Tutor • +43 Subjects
I'm a hiker, a reader, a giant nerd, and full of terrible jokes that will (shockingly) make tutoring fun.
David
Calculus Tutor • +61 Subjects
I am a passionate educator with over eight years of teaching and tutoring experience. I have worked with many different kinds of learners during my career as a public school teacher, and I understand that every student has their own unique way of growing and of mastering skills. I have experience teaching a wide variety of literature and non-fiction texts and am very familiar with the Common Core and its emphasis on research skills. I especially enjoy teaching writing; I myself love to write and I teach students a clear process for approaching challenging essay assignments. Above all, I believe that learning should be meaningful and enjoyable and that any academic task is part of a student's personal journey of discovery.
Michael
Calculus Tutor • +64 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Michigan where I earned my bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology. I chose this major because I am fascinated with how cells in the body interact with each other and the pathways in which they communicate. Originally being pre-med, I applied to medical schools the year after I graduated. Also during this gap year, I taught introductory chemistry lab for science majors at Grand Valley State University. After some self reflection I decided medical school was not the path I wanted to take and decided instead to move to New York City to pursue my other passion of performing on stage. However, due to my background in academia and teaching, I desired to maintain plugged into that world in whatever way I could. That is how I discovered VarsityTutors.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Many 9th graders struggle to move beyond surface-level topic sentences to craft a thesis that actually makes an argument. A tutor can work with you to identify the specific claim you're making, distinguish between what's obvious and what needs proof, and refine your thesis through multiple drafts. They'll help you practice turning vague ideas like "Shakespeare is important" into precise arguments like "Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony in Hamlet reveals how deception corrupts both personal relationships and political power."
9th grade essays require more than just intro-body-conclusion; you need clear topic sentences that connect back to your thesis, evidence that actually supports your point, and analysis that explains why the evidence matters. A tutor can help you map out your essay structure before you write, showing you how each paragraph should build on the previous one and how to avoid the common trap of just summarizing instead of analyzing. They'll also help you revise for logical flow, ensuring your reader can follow your argument from start to finish.
This is one of the biggest shifts in 9th grade writing—teachers want you to analyze how authors create meaning, not just retell what happens. A tutor can teach you to identify literary devices like symbolism, imagery, and characterization, and more importantly, explain their purpose in the text. For example, instead of "The green light symbolizes Gatsby's dreams," you'd write "Fitzgerald uses the green light as a symbol of Gatsby's unattainable dreams, emphasizing how the past haunts him." Your tutor will help you practice connecting textual evidence directly to your argument.
Writer's block in 9th grade often stems from perfectionism or not knowing where to start. A tutor can help you break the writing process into manageable steps—outlining first, writing a rough draft without editing, then revising in focused passes. For revision, instead of trying to fix everything at once, your tutor might have you do one pass for organization, another for evidence, and another for sentence clarity. They can also help you identify which sections need the most work and give you targeted feedback on specific paragraphs rather than overwhelming you with general comments.
9th grade introduces formal citation requirements, and many students find MLA formatting confusing. A tutor can walk you through the mechanics of in-text citations and works cited pages, but more importantly, they'll help you understand the "why"—that citations give credit to authors and allow readers to find your sources. Your tutor can show you how to integrate quotes smoothly into your own writing, when to paraphrase versus quote, and how to analyze sources rather than just dropping them into your essay. They'll also help you recognize plagiarism traps like forgetting to cite paraphrased ideas.
9th grade is where you learn to balance formal academic writing with your own style—it's not about sounding robotic, but about choosing words and sentence structures that fit your argument. A tutor can help you recognize when your writing is too casual ("The dude in the book was really sad") or too stiff ("It is evident that the protagonist experiences emotional distress"), and guide you toward a voice that's both clear and engaging. They'll work with you on varying sentence length, choosing precise verbs, and cutting unnecessary words so your ideas come through clearly.
You can't write a strong literary analysis if you're missing key details or misinterpreting the text. A tutor can help you develop active reading strategies—annotating for themes and character development, asking questions as you read, and rereading challenging sections—so you have strong textual evidence for your essays. They'll also help you distinguish between what the text explicitly states and what you need to infer, which is crucial for 9th grade analysis. With better comprehension, you'll have more specific, accurate examples to support your arguments.
Generic teacher comments like "needs more analysis" or "awkward phrasing" can be frustrating when you don't know how to fix them. A tutor provides specific, actionable feedback—they'll show you exactly which sentence needs analysis, explain what's missing, and work with you to revise it together. This cycle of receiving targeted feedback, revising, and getting follow-up feedback helps you internalize what strong writing looks like. Over time, you'll start recognizing these patterns in your own work and revising more independently, which is the real goal of 9th grade writing instruction.
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