Amy Barnes

Member since Sep 2019

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Details

Key area of interest

English

Keywords

Psychology, Academic Writing

My background

I am a writer and an actor, and have done work as a role player for corporate companies and medical students (playing simulated patients, pretending to have all sorts of conditions, which is generally quite amusing). I am out-going, love to go to the theatre (I review productions regularly), and am currently writing a play about various sociological issues (crime and deviance in particular, combined with issues of mental health - another psychology link!) because I find these subjects so relevant to modern society. I am also training to be a magistrate, given my interest in social and legal issues. I am an avid reader, generally of classical texts and man-booker shortlisted books, but have been known to enjoy more popular fiction (Gone Girl, anyone?) in my less snobby moments. I love baking as well, and trying new recipes, and come from Yorkshire, so obviously get out in the Moors walking around like a character out of a Brontë novel whenever I can. I also don't take life too seriously and enjoy a good laugh (because otherwise what's the point?).

Experience

I have tutored GCSE, A-level, Degree and Doctorate-level students on a range of subjects, although my main focus has been Psychology, Sociology, academic writing skills, Business Studies and Research Methods. I have written model essays for exam boards, proofread and edited work to be published, and worked on many dissertations and PhDs with university students.

I have tutored for several years on the following subjects, including essays, dissertations and theses:

Psychology (A-Level to Doctorate level, including Counselling Psychotherapy)
Sociology (A-Level to Doctorate level)
Film & Media (Undergraduate - Postgraduate level)
Marketing and Business (Undergraduate - Postgraduate level)
Academic writing (proofreading, UCAS applications, CVs, and general English grammar, structure, and vocab skills)

I specialise in research methods, particularly qualitative data, including using thematic analysis, grounded theory, discourse analysis and IPA.

For Psychology, I adopt a systematic approach, and generally like to go over the material thoroughly, testing the student throughout, and spend time on previous exam papers and questions, planning essay answers, discussing how theories relate to real-life situations etc. I sometimes mind-map various themes and ideas with the student, and think outside the box as it were, to make sure that the ideas stem from the student's own work and thinking - so that they can remember it more fully and develop it in future (often students have more knowledge, ideas and insight than they realise, it just needs coaxing out of them!). I often tutor on coursework as well as examination preparation.