In college you will write a lot more than you ever did in your K-12 years. The writing that is expected at the collegiate level is different from what is expected in the K-12 setting. A lot of ENG 101 professors will point it out on the first paper and will call those papers "The Red Death" or "The Wake Up Call". I am sure there are other names for it, but woefully a lot of college students struggle with writing those first few papers.
I always thought I was a strong writer, but was placed in ENG 090 my freshman year. I am glad I was even though the monetary cost hit me in that first semester. As I went through college, my writing grew stronger and I gained more confidence. The same with the masters courses and the doctoral courses, but writing the dissertation that was a different level of academic writing that I struggled with.
I will offer some tips from someone who has written on all three levels. I am not meaning to denounce or demean. I will also say that some of these tips are from my experiences and what I have observed just from college students in general.
1. Read the Rubric
A lot of professors will post the paper rubrics in their syllabus, a class website, or hand it out to you. It is not something you look at and put it out of your mind. Your professors are looking for specific things in your writing. Stay on topic with your paper. Poor grammar and writing mistakes will hurt you (trust me this is even true on the doctoral levels)!
2. Read the Syllabus
All professors give a due date for their papers. This is so they or their TA's can read the papers, provide feedback, and return them to you. If you turn in a late paper, points will be deducted based upon the directives given in the syllabus. If the professor allows it, ask for an extension. The sooner you ask for an extension and provide adequate reasoning, you are more likely to receive it. However, some professors may not grant extensions at all, due dates are final. Do not wait till the last minute to ask for the extension.
3. Utilize the Writing Center
Most colleges have an onsite writing or learning center. Submit your paper ahead of time or go to ask from help from a tutor. The people who work in the writing centers are more likely retired professors, tutors, English Majors, or people with experience that can offer editing and advice to completing your papers.
4. Manage your Time
If you are taking a full load of classes, plan out your time to write your paper. Deadlines are quick to approach and if you have an exam or test coming up, you want to plan accordingly. Again, writing papers in college is a different level from high school. You can write a paper in two hours, but the quality will not be there (especially if you are not that strong!). Also, do not pull the all-nighters especially if you drive to campus and have an 8am class. Your physical, mental, and social health will thank you.
As someone on the ASD Spectrum (undiagnosed at the time), I would always write a paper then I would completely delete the paper. Then rewrite the paper and then delete again. Something in my brain told me my papers were not that good enough even with the citations put in. I ran up on the clock even after three or four rewrites. Having self-confidence and managing your time wisely is key to paper success.
5. Use MLA/APA and Formatting Guides
Depending on your university you will be using APA/MLA or Chicago-Style. It depends on the university and the department. My community college and graduate schools used APA and though I was somewhat proficient in APA, that changed when I went to UNC Pembroke and they were using MLA in my pedagogy and history courses. Currently, APA which is what I am more familiar with, is on the Seventh Edition. I am not sure what MLA is on or Chicago Style, but become proficient in one of those formats.
A great tool for free is the Purdue Online Writing Lab this service has a lot of tools for formatting papers. Also, the pocket guides to MLA/APA and used copies of the current edition manuals are great tools to have at your disposal.
6. Do not Plagiarize
I will not stress this enough. Plagiarism is rampant in K-12 schools and having taught 11th graders, I know this all too well. It is easy in our digital age to copy, paste, and submit. If you submit a paper without citing an author, copying and pasting a work it is Plagiarism. There are severe academic consequences for academic dishonesty. This includes expulsion from the school and black listed by the university to other universities around the school. In addition, most professors have plagiarism checking software in place. Some universities have a limit on what percentage a paper can be plagiarized. GCU has it set at 14 percent for graduate students. Do not copy word for word! Use citations and use the writing center to check your paper. This will save you a major headache.
-More to Come!
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