Mike Dash - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

Experience

Since discovering a love for teaching three years ago, I have offered specialist Oxbridge preparation and practice interviews at several leading public schools, and tutored at both A-level and undergraduate level, including offering extra help to current Oxbridge students. Essay planning & writing, and teaching both basic and advanced research techniques, are all specialities.

Recent Keystone Work:

AS/A2 History : A2 History (Started: January 2011)

Essay Writing, AS/A2 History : Open University History degree (Started: February 2011)

AS/A2 History : AS History (Started: April 2011)

GCSE History, IB History: IB History asap (Started: April 2011)

AS/A2 History : A2 History and Oxbridge preparation (Started: June 2011)

GCSE History: GCSE OCR History (Started: August 2011)

AS/A2 History , Oxbridge Preparation: Clare College interview prep on Resignation of Nev. Chamberlain and mishandling of Norway (Started: November 2011)

AS/A2 History : AS History re-sits (AQA) (Started: November 2011)

AS/A2 History : History Pre-U syllabus (Started: December 2011)

AS/A2 History : AS History needed for re-takes (Started: December 2011)

AS/A2 History : History dissertation guidance (Started: December 2011)

Biography

I fell passionately in love with history at school, read the subject for three years at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and went on to complete a PhD at King's College London. Aside from six years in the archives as a postgrad, I've spent eight more reading, researching and writing history in my current career as a full-time author of narrative non-fiction titles such as Batavia's Graveyard, Tulipomania and The First Family. I live and work in Fulham, though my other 'office' is the British Library.

For further details, see www.mikedash.com

I do not claim to teach a wide variety of subjects, but I can say I know history well. At various times I have studied or taught every period from Anglo-Saxon England to the 1970s, which means I have a broader and deeper knowledge of the subject than the majority of historians. I combine that with all the tools required to research and write good history – not to mention an undimmed enthusiasm for my subject.

Age and experience play their part as well; at 46, with a Cambridge degree, a doctorate, and some serious history under my belt, I'm in the perfect position to offer practice interviews conducted by someone with the sort of mindset and gravitas of an Oxbridge don. Realistic preparation is key to success in this demanding and competitive arena, and I have a solid track record of providing exactly that.

Personal Approach

History is by far the most fascinating of subjects - after all, it's the story of us - and I believe success in this field is a direct consequence of engagement. My unusual background – an historian with a PhD who has also spent years as a professional journalist and full-time author – means that I'm uniquely well-qualified to spot the compelling detail, the unusual fact, and use it to open up new vistas and new approaches to history. I believe in teaching every period with all the interesting and dramatic bits left in, but also have the experience and know-how to impart the techniques of analysis, argument and writing that are so critical to the successful historian.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I am self-employed as an author and also write a weekly essay for the Smithsonian's website – it's a great privilege to be tasked with writing on anything I think interesting, and my subjects have ranged from Georg Esler, a would-be assassin of Hitler, to American traders on the Pacific island of Yap in the nineteenth century and Wang Mang, China's 1st century ''socialist emperor.'' I also lecture widely and occasionally consult for and speak on a variety of historical issues for radio and TV – everything from The Today Programme to Richard & Judy and The One Show.

Testimonials

09/01/2012: My son has found Mike's help and advice invaluable (Mother of A Level History student)

21/12/2011: I am very grateful to Mike Dash for his highly inspiring sessions with our son, who has enjoyed and appreciated every moment (Mother of Oxbridge candidate)

17/10/2011: “Fantastic tutor, thank you immensely” (Mother of Oxbridge focused A Level student)

17/10/2011: “It was a great pleasure to meet Mike. Mike is intelligent, with knowledge and experience. He was very articulate in his input” (Mother of Oxbridge focused A2 Economics student)

07/07/2011: We have been absolutely delighted with Mike Dash.

07/07/2011: “The tutoring went very well and we are pleased.” (Oyekemi, mother of A-level student, History)

From clients:

''We are delighted. We really felt you knew your stuff and you went far beyond the call of duty. Our daughter's result was the best we could have hoped for – she has made so much progress in the few months she was seeing you.'' K.A.L., Putney

''Thanks so much. My essays have gone from 2.2 standard to Firsts since I've been seeing you.'' Oxford undergraduate

''I was very pleased with the tuition. His school reports were predicting much poorer results.'' W.G., Notting Hill

From reviewers:

'Dash writes with unabashedly cinematic flair, backed by meticulous research.' New York Times

'Up-close, personal, and full of you-are-there detail... Dash is that rarity: a perfectionist in his research and a writer who perfectly carves out his story with a pen as sharp as a stiletto.' The Globe and Mail (Canada)

'Shows how history, when it is well-written and well researched, leaves today’s trendy servings of fact mulched with fiction for dead.'

The Australian

'Dash writes the best kind of history: detailed, imaginative storytelling founded on vast knowledge.' Minneapolis Star-Tribune

'History doesn't get much more readable.' New York Daily News

'An indefatigable researcher with a prodigious descriptive flair.' Sunday Telegraph

'No history I've read in years places you so deeply inside a piece of the past.' National Geographic Adventure

Passport: Keystone Tutors has a copy of Mike Dash's passport and therefore can confirm that Mike Dash is a UK / EU national or has the appropriate visa to be eligible to work in the UK.