1.1 Reading and Writing in College
Table 1.1, “High School versus College Assignments,” summarizes major differences between high school and college assignments.
Table 1.1 High School versus College Assignments
| High School | College |
| Reading assignments are moderately long. Teachers may set aside some class time for reading and reviewing the material in depth. | Some reading assignments may be very long. You will be expected to come to class with a basic understanding of the material. |
| Teachers often provide study guides and other aids to help you prepare for exams. | Reviewing for exams is primarily your responsibility. |
| Your grade is determined by your performance on a wide variety of assessments, including minor and major assignments. Not all assessments are writing-based. | Your grade may depend on just a few major assessments. Most assessments are writing-based. |
| Writing assignments include personal writing and creative writing, in addition to expository writing. | Outside of creative writing courses, most writing assignments are expository. |
| The structure and format of writing assignments are generally stable over a four-year period. | Depending on the course, you may be asked to master new forms of writing and follow standards within a particular professional field. |
| Teachers often go out of their way to identify and try to help students who are performing poorly on exams, missing classes, not turning in assignments, or just struggling with the course. Often teachers will give students many “second chances.” | Although teachers want their students to succeed, they may not always realize when students are struggling. They also expect you to be proactive and take steps to help yourself. “Second chances” are less common. |
This chapter covers the types of reading and writing assignments you will encounter as a college student. You will also learn a variety of strategies for mastering these new challenges—and becoming a more confident student and writer.
