How to Earn a Good Grade in College Freshman English

Freshman English Composition courses in college are designed to give you tools you really can use in all your other classes across the curriculum. It is an essential foundation course because not only does it help you review your writing skills, it also shows you how to approach problem-solving strategies you can use anywhere.

Things You'll Need

• Collegiate dictionary/access to online dictionary
• Laptop computer
• Internet access (usually available at your school)
• Handbook (assigned by instructor)

Instructions

1. Careful reading leads to creative thinking. This might appear too obvious to state, but read the syllabus carefully--it may contain helpful information you can use (such as ideas for paper topics or resources you can consult) as well as the class schedule. It may be surprising to learn that many students fail because they have not followed the directions.

2. Don't forget that your professor has at least a master's degree and probably a doctorate in English. This does not mean that your professor is going to punish you for not writing correctly; rather, it means that your professor is proficient in helping students find clear, concise and competent strategies for writing cogently and effectively. If you don't understand anything, ask.

3. Set your own rules, too. The syllabus might have a list of requirements for you; make your own as well. This is your course, and you can use it to gain skills you can use in all your other classes. If an assignment calls for three pages, write four. Then edit your work down to three. If an assignment requires four sources (from books or articles, for example), find six--it's OK to know more (and your head will not explode, really).

4. Use the comments your professor writes on your papers. Again, the red ink is not punishment, it's a guide to better expression. If the written comments indicate you need to review commas, for instance, make sure that your next paper includes at least one example of correct comma use, to show the professor you understand.

5. The best advice is the one most often overlooked: Read more. You will learn information you didn't know before--but you will also see examples of good writing in magazines and journals. Even if it's "Playboy" or "Rolling Stone," you will see articles that are well-written and effective. Copy their strategy (if not their content).

Tips & Warnings

• Look up words you don't know. It's easier than ever now to look up words online; there's really no excuse. Don't use big words just because you think you should. Try to keep looking ahead in the syllabus to see what assignments are coming up, and plan ahead.

• Failing freshman English will hinder your progress in all your other courses. If you really feel you are in over your head, you might want to reconsider the decision to attend college at all. Is it the best course of action there is for you? If you are floundering, look for assistance from the Writing Center or an equivalent so you can meet other students who share your concerns. It helps.

References

• Comparative Assessment of College Student Performance in Developmental and Freshman English Courses
• The Impact of Clustering Freshman Seminars With English Composition Courses On New Students' Grade Point average and Retention Rates (College Students)
• Practicing Writing: The Postwar Discourse of Freshman English

Resources

• Freshman English