Katie Kortepeter, English and French
What essay-writing blunder do you find yourself fixing most often in your own papers, and how do you tackle that blunder?
It’s hard for me to start the writing process if I don’t have my thoughts sorted out yet. Even if I’m not sure that my ideas are coherent, I sometimes need to force myself to just start writing and then heavily edit later.
What piece of writing advice do you find yourself giving most often when tutoring?
Don’t panic, and do visit your professor every once in a while.
Best class taken thus far at Hillsdale and why?
My Speaking and Writing French class has been delightful. The professor is kind and encouraging, I’m learning a lot, and my classmates and I enjoy it so much that we leave Delp every day still speaking French. Also, the comfy swivel chairs are magnifique.
Favorite movie?
“Anne of Green Gables.”
Rebekah Basinger, English
What essay-writing blunder do you find yourself fixing most often in your own papers, and how do you tackle that blunder?
This is a typical blunder, but I always struggle with forming my thesis. It takes a long time for me to come up with a cogent argument. There’s no easy fix for this beyond drafting and revising.
What piece of writing advice do you find yourself giving most often when tutoring?
I’m fairly certain that “topic sentence” is the most common phrase spoken in the Writing Center. The goal is not to edit or proofread papers, but to help students become better writers, which means talking to them about how to approach writing a paper.
What is the best class taken thus far at Hillsdale and why?
The two most transformative classes for me have probably been Restoration and Romantic British Literature with Dr. Eadie (now Murphy) and Calculus with Dr. Gaebler.
What is your favorite movie?
I don’t really have a favorite. I just like movies with interesting plots. Movies that I have really enjoyed range from “Black Hawk Down” to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
