Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Answers
1. I’m an ESL student. Should I read only “Tips for ESL Students”?
No. You should read everything. The information in the ESL section was gathered from all the other categories to make it easier for ESL students to find the answers to questions that come up frequently in the English Tutoring Lab. The category is meant as a convenience, and, of course, won’t cover all the issues that might come up.
2.What is the purpose of the table of contents?
The table of contents acts as a site index to give users an overview of all the materials available on the site.
3. I know I need help with my writing. What is the fastest way to get to the writing page?
Use your browser to bookmark the page. Then you can go directly to that page.
4. I get to the study skills menu page, and I know the category I want. It takes too long to scroll down and read all the explanations. How can I get to the handouts more quickly?
The categories for study skills are listed at the top of the page. Once you know the category, such as “Test Preparation Strategies,” click on the category, and you will be taken to that section on the study skills menu page.
5. I know exactly which handout I want. What is the quickest way to find it?
Click on the “List of Handouts” box. The handouts are listed alphabetically. Click on the one you want and you will be taken to that handout.
6. I don’t understand the order of your categories, like under “Study Skills” and “Writing”. It’s not alphabetical. Why did you do it that way?
The order of the categories are arranged roughly in the order needed by students. For example, in the study skills section “Test Preparation Strategies” comes before “Test-Taking Strategies”. The idea is that students need to know how to study for a test before taking the test. “Improving Your Listening Skills” comes before “Notetaking”. The idea is that students need to improve their listening skills before they can become good notetakers. In the writing section, we arranged the order roughly according to the steps in the writing process. In this case, “Editing the essay” comes after “Developing the essay” This idea of arranging the categories according to the order needed by students doesn’t hold for all the categories, but it is generally how we tried to organize them.
7. Some of your handouts appear in more than one section. Why did you do that?
We did this so that you won’t have to do as much browsing to find what you want. For example the category “Writing Essay Tests” appears in the “Improve your Writing” section and in the “Improve your Study Skills” section. You may want to obtain information in how to improve writing your essay exams and not know where to find it. You only have to guess once instead of twice to find the information you need.
8. You have so many categories for your sections on study skills and writing, and sometimes very few handouts in the category. Why is that?
This site is a work in progress. We expect that the handouts in categories will grow, and that we will make new categories to meet student needs.
9. When should I use the “Table of Contents,” when should I the “List of Handouts,” and when should I just give up and follow the links (which takes much longer)?
The type of navigation you should use depends on your familiarity with the site. If you are new to the site, follow the links to the various sub pages to get explanations of the handouts and what they contain. If you are somewhat familiar with the site, use the “Table of Contents” to be linked quickly to your desired section. If you very familiar with the site and you know the exact name of the handout, then use the “List of Handouts” for the quickest access.
10. Sometimes your handouts repeat information. Why does that happen?
Some handouts give information in a quick format; others provide similar information but in more detail. The handout that is right for you depends on how much information you need to understand a topic.
11. I’m looking for some information, and you don’t have it. What do I do now?
First, let us know that you couldn’t find information on a particular topic. The quickest way is to e-mail us. E-mail comment buttons are at the bottom of every page. Second, make an appointment at the English Tutoring Lab (LC 105) ex. 2446 to get an explanation of your issue.
12. I’ve read the handouts and don’t understand them. What do I do now?
Print the handout, then make an appointment at the English Tutoring Lab (LC 105) ex. 2446 to talk to someone face-to-face. Drop-in hours are usually available.
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