How do the rest of you kids charge for something like

this…

[quote]
hey bob,

do you still remerber i am doing the GMAT test?
i have one important thing which need your help.
In the GMAT test, i have to write 2 “analytical writing”, which are “analysis
of an Issue” and “analysis of an Argument”, and each passage including about
300 words to analysis one Issue or Argument.
Moreover, this analytical writing need to write with “STANDARD ENGLISH”, so~
there is a big problem for me~~ >"<

Actually i do know how to explain my idea about the Issue or Argument, but the
big problem for me is I don’t know whether the grammar of my wirting is
correct.
So, i would like to ask for your help~
The test time is 1/24, so from now to January, i prepare to do 4 practice
passages every week, total are about 16 or 20 passages

can you help me to correct my garmmar mistake of the writing?
if you can give me this favor, i will very very appreciate.

(p.s. if you would be free to give me this help, please lend me know how much
do you often charge for this kind work.)

witing for you reply… ^^

Best wishes[/quote]

She is a sweet patooty and I think I should include in my editing an explanation of the corrections I make. Otherwise it won’t help much.

Ask her to demonstrate this to you before taking the job. A lot of ‘grammar’ problems stem from students not having their thoughts in order. You can’t teach her how to approach the task simply by editing her efforts. You’ll have to walk her through the process enough times that she can do it.

And teach her about time management. She’s been studying English for years. She knows that sentences start with capital letters, and how to spell grammar. But she’s not taking the time to check the basics. She needs to get into the habit of doing it right all the time, instead of thinking it’s OK to write this sort of bollocks except when she’s in an exam and doesn’t have any time to look for the errors.

Interesting question. I get asked to do this for IELTS essays all the time. Generally I say ‘no’ because I’m too lazy and because I don’t think my boss would be impressed, but it could be an interesting and lucrative sideline if one could market it well and provide a premium service. Seeds of a plan are sprouting in my lizard brain…

Count me in.

This is a practical, real world, right now question though. How much do I charge. NTD2 per word with the whole thing written thus…

Original - can you help me to correct my garmmar mistake of the writing?

Corrected - Can you help me to better understand grammar and usage so that I will be able to write clearly in the future?

Comments:

  • Capital letters dear.
  • No need to mention mistakes. If it needs correcting it’s a mistake. Succinct is better.
  • You don’t just need somebody to correct mistakes you need someone to help you understand the processes involved in clear, efficient writing.

Etc. etc. line by line. I think it would be better to write less but really well than more and but sloppy.

A student offered me 3000 a month to do unlimited IELTS marking. Was too busy/lazy at the time. She pays someone else the same for the other language she’s learning.

That’s another way of approaching it.

I have a similar question. I have a private student who’s going to the US to study something very similar to what I studied in university. Apparently a whole bunch of them want to learn how to do that stuff in English. I can probably do it, but I’m trying to work out what I should charge. Its specialised stuff, but I don’t want to charge too high. What do you reckon?

I did the math and 2NT per word is really bloody expensive. 1NT is expensive too but I can argue that that will provide the motivation for them to write well. If I don’t correct, I don’t collect…

I sent off my idea and here is the response I got…

[quote]dear bob
i am so happy that you would like to help me~ ^_______________^
thank you very much!!!

First of all, I strongly agree your opinion that I should be getting in the habit of writing and doing this job slowly and carefully. I prepare do this job every day after the test.
But now, unfortunatelly, the test time is very close; for me now, the grade of the test is the most important thing, because there are lot of following things which are waiting for me to finish after this test. >"< So, i though i should do a very effective work to prepare this test. Here is my idea~~

In the last mail I already explain the question type of the Test~
the Analytical Writing is including 2 part:
Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.
(here are more infofmation about these…
mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheE … in2006.htm )
Since the test time is very short, only 30 min each part, and the questions are similar, so I decide to set a sample form.
what is the sample form? It is with the stable sentences which I can use on every passage.
For expmple:
"The main point of the above argument is that S+V__________________________. ",
"However, the argument is not convincing because its assumption that S+V____________ is questionable. ",
"To sum up, because the argument leaves out several key issues, it is not sound or persuasive. If it included the items discussed above instead of __________________ what , the argument would have been more thorough and convincing. "

With these, I can just change the idea and the example about the different ISSUE or ARGUMENT, and though these pratices I can write very fast when I am going to the test. (Actually, all the Chinese students are doing this! ^^" ~beacuse without this, it is impossable for us to think and write more than 300 words in the 30 minutes~)

This is my idea about to prepare the test, how do you think?

Because of this, the stable sentences are account for 100~ 150 words of the 300 words of every passage.
So, I would like very 不好意思的(pu hw e s de) to ask you, can I pay 150~200 dollars for each passage after the fifth passage? ^^"

(here is a sample passage which the Graduate Management Admission Council supply. This one is perfect score (6). If you are interesting , maybe you can chech it out. )

waiting for your apply~~ ^^

Yours…[/quote]

And here is the sample passage…

[quote]THIS IS THE『 ANALYSIS OF AN ARGUMENT 』SAMPLE QUESTION:

『The following appeared as part of an article in a daily newspaper:
“The computerized on-board warning system that will be installed in commercial airliners will virtually solve the problem of midair plane collisions. One plane’s warning system can receive signals from another’s transponder—a radio set that signals a plane’s course – n order to determine the like likelihood of a collision and recommend evasive action.” 』
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

SAMPLE PAPER 6

The argument that this warning system will virtually solve the problem of midair plane collisions omits some important concerns that must be addressed to substantiate the argument. The statement that follows the description of what this warning system will do simply describes the system and how it operates. This alone dose not constitute a logical argument in favor of the warning system, and it certainly does not provide support or proof of the main argument.

Most conspicuously, the argument dose not address the cause of the problem of midair plane collisions, the use of the system by pilots and flight specialists, or who is involved in the midair plane collisions. First, the argument assumes that the cause of the problem is that the planes’ courses, the likelihood of collisions, and actions to avoid collisions are unknown or inaccurate. In a weak attempt to support its claim, the argument describes a system that makes all of these things accurately known. But if the cause of the problem of midair plane collisions is that pilots are not paying attention to their computer systems or flight operations, the warning system will not solve the collision problem. Second, the argument never addresses the interface between individuals and the system and how this will affect the warning system’s objective of obliterating the problem of collisions. If the pilot or flight specialist does not conform to what the warning system suggests, midair collisions will not be avoided. Finally, if planes other than commercial airliners are involved in the collisions, the problem of these collisions cannot be solved by a warning system that will not be installed on non-commercial airliners. The argument also does not address what would happen in the event that the warning system collapses, fails or does not work properly.

Because the argument leaves out several key issues, it is not sound or persuasive. If it included the items discussed above instead of solely explaining what the system supposedly does, the argument would have been more thorough and convincing.[/quote]

Erp. :whistle: This wasn’t in the brochure was it? I mean really who signed up for this. And what is an MBA anyway, and how do I use one? And so on and so forth, continuing on into infinity…

NT$8,000 per hour bob. Not a penny less. That’s what I quote them. Never lost a student yet.

By God you’d earn it though wouldn’t you? Crikey, that’s dull stuff. Is it actually considered an education in the business world? Imagine what it is like for the poor foriegn students trying to negotiate that stuff. Shudder…

The education is in training on how to become a dull, boring business drone for the rest of your natural. Looks pretty good to me. What makes it even more ludicrous is the fact that you can buy MBAs online that are probably every bit as good, if the above is anything to go by. :wink:

What they actually “need” in order to become engaged, logical, inspired people is a chance to interact in a forum like this with a bunch of different personality types. They need a range of issues to choose from. This stuff about being tested on your ability to analyze situations or arguments you have no interests in is sick.

Ah well, I’ll probably just suck it up and correct the grammar.

What they actually “need” in order to become engaged, logical, inspired people is a chance to interact in a forum like this with a bunch of different personality types. [/quote]
And IrishStu telling them they smell, of course.

[quote=“bob”]Ah well, I’ll probably just suck it up and correct the grammar.

[quote]
And take their money. That’s what THEY’RE doing it for, after all. The ONLY reason.[/quote][/quote]

What they actually “need” in order to become engaged, logical, inspired people is a chance to interact in a forum like this with a bunch of different personality types. [/quote]
And IrishStu telling them they smell, of course.

[quote=“bob”]Ah well, I’ll probably just suck it up and correct the grammar.

[quote]
And take their money. That’s what THEY’RE doing it for, after all. The ONLY reason.[/quote][/quote][/quote]

I’m not entirely sure about that. This is an old student of mine. I can remember her showing up for class with the rest of the gang and shouting “Let’s watch a movie!” And we certainly did that. I put those guys through the wringer with “He left right? brain film studio and language school” productions and every other thing you can think of. They “studied” Henry Fool, I Shot Andy Warhol… whatever I felt like watching myself basically. These days the approach is a lot more organized but these kids stuck with me while I was figuring out how to do it so I really can’t complain too much now.

Sorry, bit of a retard with the ol quote function here… :blush: