Falling behind in your freshman composition writing class? There’s still time to get caught up. Keep reading for helpful tips from Machias, ME tutor and English teacher Matt M...
If you are a college student taking a composition writing class, you know that the ability to craft a persuasive argument and express yourself effectively in written form is essential for success in school and beyond.
But how do you ensure that your writing is up to par? Here are some tips to help you ace your next composition writing class.
What is a Composition Writing Class?
A writing and composition class is a course that helps students to improve their writing skills:
- In the class, students will learn how to write different types of essays, including expository, persuasive, and narrative.
- In addition, they will also learn about grammar, punctuation, and other aspects of writing.
- The goal of the class is to help students become better writers so that they can communicate their thoughts and ideas more effectively.
- Composition writing classes are offered at many schools and colleges, and they can be taken online or in person.
- If you want to improve your writing skills, a composition writing class may be a good option for you.
Sure, you’ll learn all the nuts and bolts of how to become a good writer in your composition writing class – but chances are, you will also learn how to love writing. Don’t believe us? Just check out the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrQ2aVdAouA
What Do You Do in a Composition Class?
In a composition class, students learn how to write different types of essays.
The most common type of essay is the five-paragraph essay, which has an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Composition classes also teach students how to use different style guides, such as MLA and APA. In addition, students learn about grammar and punctuation rules.
Composition classes often require students to read different texts and analyze them. Students may also be required to write research papers in a composition class. Overall, composition classes help students improve their writing skills.
How to Nail Your Composition Writing Class
I have taught English composition and literature for over a decade at the college level. During that time, I’ve taught at six different universities, four domestic and two abroad. Hundreds of students have passed through my English classrooms. While nothing can ensure an A, there are many easy things students can do to improve their grades. Here is a list of what I would consider the top five.
1) Go to your professor’s office hours.
There are many reasons for this. First, you can show your professor drafts of your essays and ask for feedback before your essay is due. Oftentimes, instructors wish more of their students came to their office hours. Second, this is also a good way to build a relationship with your professor and can come in handy when you are looking for a letter of recommendation. Further, meeting with your professor to go over your work allows them to get to know you as an individual, which will make them more sympathetic toward you when it comes time to grade your papers.
2) Make a friend in your class.
Early on in the semester or quarter, make a point of getting to know the person who sits in front of you, beside you, and behind you. Try to exchange emails and phone numbers with at least one other student. See if that student is willing to trade work with you. Read over each other’s essays and help each other find mistakes. Also, your buddy is someone you can turn to for “small” or “stupid” questions that you may not want to ask your professor, like when a homework assignment is due or what you missed because you were late to a class.
3) Write what you know.
Oftentimes students want to write about “big” topics for their composition writing because they feel that there will be more research on controversial topics. The problem with picking a “big” issue, like euthanasia, global warming, or abortion is that you will have nothing interesting to say about it. Millions of people have been writing about these issues for decades. So instead, pick a topic or issue that is close to your life and experience. Your university’s library database will have information on any topic you can imagine, and if the library database doesn’t have information on a topic, the internet does. Keep in mind that if you think your topic is boring, your professor will too.
4) Look for what you can add to your research.
This goes along with the last point. If you pick a topic you are familiar with, you will be more likely to give a unique perspective on the issue. A successful essay doesn’t just repeat what experts have to say about an issue. A good writer enters into conversation with their sources. Look at your sources and see if there is anything they are overlooking. Read through your sources and see if there is a new context that you can bring to the source, and use your sources to ask new questions. For example, let’s say you chose to write about video games. Much of the research done about how video games affect the brain focuses on individuals. But many video games today are not played individually; they are played in teams. How might that change the conclusions? What are some new questions you can raise based on this fact? How does your experience playing video games line up with the researcher’s findings? Doing this kind of thinking will lead to an engaging essay.
5) Read for fun.
Make an effort to read for pleasure. Make sure that you are reading actual paper books too. There have been a number of studies done on the benefits of reading physical books over reading online, especially in terms of comprehension. There are other benefits to reading as well. Reading is like lifting weights. The more you do it, the stronger you will get. If you make an effort to “lift” heavier books, your reading abilities will get stronger. With practice, you will read denser material faster and remember more of it. Also, you will start to notice writing strategies that you like in other people’s work. Try to mimic these strategies in your own writing (this is something successful writers have done since the beginning of time).
6) Outline First
Before you dive into the actual writing process, take some time to outline your points so that you can organize your thoughts in an effective manner. This will also help keep track of any research material and quotes that you may want to include in your paper.
7) Get Feedback Early On
Don’t wait until the last minute before submitting a paper for review—get feedback from classmates or professors early on in order to make sure that your ideas are clear and concise before moving forward with the rest of the assignment. This will save you time and energy in the long run as it allows you to catch any potential issues before they become major problems down the line.
8) Keep it Simple
Remember that when it comes to composition classes, clarity is key; don’t try to make things more complicated than they need to be by using overly flowery language or complex sentence structures. Stick with straightforward language and simple syntax so that readers can easily understand what you are trying to say without having to work too hard at deciphering it all on their own!
9) Take Breaks
Writing can be exhausting, both mentally and physically, so make sure that you give yourself plenty of breaks throughout the process of completing an assignment or project in order for yourself stay alert and focused on what needs to get done! Breaks can range from simply stretching or going for a walk around campus all the way up to watching an episode of your favorite TV show—whatever helps keep those creative juices flowing!
What Are Some Example Writing Assignments for Composition Class?
Each composition class sample writing piece will vary depending on where you are taking the class and what level you’re at.
Writing assignments are an important part of adult writing composition classes, no matter the level. They help students develop their writing skills, practice critical thinking, and learn to express themselves more effectively. But what should you expect from writing assignments in a composition class? Let’s take a look at some example assignments.
Essays
Essays are one of the most common types of writing assignments in composition classes. Essays can range from short responses to long research papers, so it’s important to know what type of essay your instructor is expecting before you begin writing. Common essay topics include book or movie reviews, argumentative essays, and compare-and-contrast essays. Additionally, many instructors will allow students to come up with their own topics as long as they stay within the scope of the course material.
Journals
Another popular type of assignment is journaling. This type of writing assignment encourages students to explore their thoughts and feelings on various topics in greater depth than they would be able to do in an essay format. Journals can also be used by instructors as a way to assess student understanding of course material and gauge overall comprehension. Journals can be done in class or at home depending on the requirements set by your instructor.
Research Papers
Research papers are often assigned in advanced-level composition classes or upper-division courses within specific disciplines such as English literature or history. Research papers require students to conduct scholarly research into a topic and then use that information to support an argument or thesis statement about that topic. Research papers often require more time and effort than traditional essays, so it’s important for students to plan ahead when tackling this type of assignment!
Make This Composition Writing Class the Best One Yet!
While there is no way to guarantee an A in your class, these strategies will be a great start to getting you a grade you can be proud of and improving your composition writing skills.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that this composition writing class is your best one yet!
While there is no way to guarantee an A in your class, these strategies will be a great start to getting you a grade you can be proud of and improving your composition writing skills.
Matt M. teaches writing in Machias, ME. He has a Ph.D in English and Comparative Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing, as well as a broad background in writing and editing. Learn more about Matt here!
Photo by The LEAF Project
Suzy S.