Conquer Your College Writing: Our Honest Advice

 

Conquer Your College Writing

How to approach college writing assignments, with advice from experienced college writers

Leah Howland 

If you’re taking an upper division literature course for the first time, it’s essential to leave some extra time between when you write a piece and see it again. Often, when I write something, I have a bias to like/dislike it more and not be able to read back through it and make the necessary edits that it needs because the content is too familiar. Leaving at least two days between when I write a piece and when I look at it again gives it enough time to ruminate and helps me look at it through fresh eyes, which improves my writing. If there’s something I didn’t really like when I first wrote something, chances are I still hate it and I should cut it. Having a graveyard document to place lines in that I don’t want to get rid of makes me more likely to cut something. 

A second thing I would suggest is taking detailed notes on assignment requirements even when it’s hard, because it’ll help you in the future when completing an assignment. For those days that something is due but you can’t think well enough to get words on the page, having detailed notes gives you something to look back on that’ll help jog your memory when you need it most.  

Shorthand and abbreviations are also helpful because sometimes a professor talks too fast to keep up with. Having one central notebook where you can place assignments and notes is helpful in that it gives you a spot for your thoughts where everything is in one place, and you don’t have to find something in multiple places and search for one thing in particular. 

  

Mallory Allen 

Two pieces of advice I would give to sophomores taking upper-level courses would be to follow the instructions of the assignment thoroughly. I would also tell them the importance of striking language. No matter what you are writing, you want to keep the reader’s interest, and a great way to do this is through engaging language through imagery. If you can keep their interest, you can get your point across. Also, professors like to know you’re passionate about your writing, and if they can sense that through your work, you will impress them. 

 

Chris Edwards 

When it comes to formal writing assignments, it is important to throw out the idea of a fixed and formal structure for essays. Disregard the notion of "introduction, point one, point two, point three, then conclusion" that may have carried you through high school: it cannot save you now. You are going to be writing essays about topics that will not fit cleanly into such a structure, using ideas that refused to be organized neatly, no matter how hard you try. Perhaps this may come naturally to you, perhaps it doesn’t. Regardless, formal structure can’t be used for all essays. A life vest is not a parachute. But the ground is quickly approaching, so you need to figure something out. This means you are likely going to produce poor writing at some points, however, which leads to my next point.  

You need to make bad work. You must write poorly. It is inevitable, and you need to be okay with putting out the most horrendous pieces of work you have ever created if it means getting to the end. Because once you get to the end, only then can you get the best view of how to make your work not terrible. This is why rough drafts and revisions exist, not necessarily to correct last minute punctuation, but to get the idea out there and then figure out how to make it better. You are never going to write the perfect essay the first time, and understanding this fact and continuing to write despite it is the first step in writing that perfect essay. Do not be afraid to start because the writing isn’t perfect, lest you end up writing your own copy of the Lone Gamer. 

 

Lily Spooner 

Treat the assignment instructions like a map or guideline, not a checklist. A lot of students skim the assignment instructions and go straight into writing, but upper division courses require deeper, more strategic thinking and reading of prompts.  

When you read instructions closely, writing becomes less about guessing what the teacher or professor wants and more about being confident in your own writing abilities. This approach also saves time later because you won’t need to erase the whole essay if you realize you misunderstood something. 

My biggest advice is to slow down and pay attention to key verbs like describe, analyze, reflect, argue, or observe. A good question to ask yourself before writing is, “What is the goal of this assignment?” It's represented in those verbs. Once you know the goal, you can make smarter choices about structure, tone, and evidence.

Also, build your essay outward starting with one strong idea. Instead of starting with a blank page, start with one compelling moment, idea, observation, or quote. After that, let everything else stem from that, like your examples/evidence, your tone, and your structure. This helps keep your writing focused and prevents you from wandering or rambling. It also makes revisions easier because you know exactly what the essay is about or trying to say. Whether it’s a nature essay, a news article, or a book recommendation, it’s helpful to pick one idea that gives your writing clarity and meaning. You don’t need to say everything: you just need to say one thing well and let the rest support it. 

 

Mia Iaccino 

For sophomore students who are taking upper division classes, a piece of advice I recommend to them is to take a lower-level writing class first before going into upper level. For the most part, most professors do go over the basics of writing as a refresher for their students, but if you were to already have that information fresh in your mind from a semester beforehand it is way more ideal. This is true especially when it comes to things like comma placement. As you move up the academic ladder, I also think it is important to hold onto the sources that professors might recommend to you to use when writing. For example, The Little Seagull Handbook by Richard Bullock and others as well as Writing About Arguments by Anthony Weston were both books were introduced to me through my lower-level classes I have taken and have either followed me along the way in other classes or helped me on my own time. There are also sites like Purdue OWL which are helpful as well. Another piece of advice I can give is to never be afraid to reach out and ask for help, either from your professor, your classmates, or to utilize the writing center and book an appointment with a tutor. Most of the time the tutors are within your age range, so it is a little bit less intimidating to work alongside them. If you choose to follow this advice, I truly feel an upper-level course will go by a lot smoother for a sophomore student. 

 

Tiara Palazzo Cross 

Advice that I would give to students taking upper-division college classes for the first time would be do not be afraid to ask for help from your professors if you do not understand something. They want to see you do well and succeed in the classroom. Another thing I would say is use your resources such as the Writers' Block tutoring center and professors' office hours. This will help you with understanding what you could do well on, what you might be missing in the assignment and ways to improve it. Also being able to have a second set of eyes view your work is a great way to make sure that you are not missing any small things like grammar. A piece of advice I would give students is do not give up, keep writing even if you find yourself getting stuck at times, do not be afraid to take small breaks at times and ask for help if you find yourself getting stuck. It is okay to ask questions and receive help sometimes. This is a good way to be able to explain to your professor what you are trying to say and how you plan to address it before you submit it for a grade. 

 

Johnny Dandurand 

One piece of advice I would give to younger writers is to not expect perfection on the first draft. There are many times I have tried to do too much at once and strive for perfection on the first try. It makes sense to hold yourself to high standards, but by doing this to excess, you are only holding yourself back. You have to be willing to make mistakes in your writing because trying to be perfect all the time will only paralyze you. I have learned that making mistakes often makes my writing sound better in the end because I am at least putting something on the page and then thinking about that --  instead of paralyzing myself in fear of making a mistake. Mistakes also allow you to grow as a writer because you can see where your inadequacies are and address them from there, instead of hiding from them. 

Another piece of advice I would give to writers is to find someone else to read their work for them before they submit it. I can recall several times where I thought I wrote a really great essay but received a low grade on it because I didn’t put in the time to see if it really made sense to a third party. Clarity, concision, and ordering are extremely important parts of writing that often are overlooked and can only truly be addressed by having someone else read your writing for you. Naturally, it’s going to make sense to you because you’re the one that wrote it, but that doesn’t make it universal for everyone. It’s great if you answered the prompt sufficiently, but going the extra mile and really making sure that your writing is easy to read will bring you so far as a writer. 

 

Brandi-Marie Williams 

Something students need to know is how to use commas. Although I don’t think I am wonderful at it I have gotten better and I think having at least a little bit of an idea has helped me develop as a writer. Not knowing how to use these can confuse your readers while reading your piece and you’ll just have to go back and fix everything. If you are unsure of what to do make sure to ask your professor. Another piece of advice I would give is to never be afraid to ask for help. Professors may be scary, but they are here to help you. Even if you are unsure about something it is better for you to ask and get clarifications than to do the assignment wrong and have to rewrite it. I also think you should use the writers’ block for anything. I use them regularly to help improve and revise my writing and I think they are a useful tool on campus. They always help you and never make you feel like you’re stupid. They will give you useful feedback and help you become a better writer.

  

 Nick Soles 

One piece of advice I would give to students new to upper-level courses is to remove the preconceived notion that upperclassmen are supposed to know everything and do their work unaided. I think higher-level classes are more intimidating at first because it’s easy to feel like your classmates will be more educated on the class material. Regardless of your class year, you shouldn’t pull back from participating in class discussions, as everyone's input benefits the entire class. 

Another piece of advice I would give students new to upper-division courses is to practice revising your work through multiple ways. You can always get a second perspective on something through your professor, through the Writers' Block, or even a friend. There are people on your team of academic success all around you, and they are eager to help you produce the best work that you can. To add to this, I urge newly upperclassmen to remove any judgment based on previous experiences, as not every professor is out to get you; in fact, very few are. Throughout my time at SUNY Potsdam, I have seen a handful of students be very reluctant to be open to conversation about a professor’s teaching style or expectations. It’s frustrating to see that, in life, your circumstances will not be consistent, and you will have to meet criteria you may care less about. My recommendation is to stay open to new methods. 

Chloe Tiernan 

One piece of advice that I would give a sophomore re going into an upper-division writing class Is that nobody is perfect. I know you’ve probably heard that phrase a million times in your life, but when you take writing courses, they can be challenging. You can feel like you’re behind, almost as if you’re sinking and no one else is right there with you , but trust me: there are so many students in the same class as you that feel the same way. You know how you don’t think anyone else feels this way because they talk more than you do in the class or seem to have it together? Just know they probably think the same thing about you. You know how teachers always say, always make sure to ask questions even if you’re afraid it sounds stupid because it might help someone else in the long run? It is the same concept. You never know if someone else feels the same way you do. 

My second piece of advice would be to stay on track. It is very easy to get behind, especially in a writing class, but you have to try and stay on top of your work. If you miss one or two assignments, it’s okay, you don’t need to freak out, but make sure that your top priority is to catch them up as soon as possible because if you get too behind, it sucks having to catch up. It’s not just a singular piece of homework, it’s a writing assignment that takes time, longer than any math homework, and that’s coming from someone who is terrible at math. Writing consists of your heart, mind, and body. You need all three in order to complete a writing assignment. Just do it and get it over with that way you don’t have to catch up at the end. Why create stress for yourself out for the final week of school, when you could stress for a day or two instead, maybe even a couple hours. It isn’t worth the stress at the end, trust me. 

 

Jayden Levitsky 

Advice I would give to a sophomore would be you need to work on time management. As the work piles up very quickly, while you may think you can get it done with 20 minutes to spare, the work you turn, is not going to be the best work that you could have done. Use the resources that school gives you, it is not that scary, and all they want to do is help you in any way possible. Tutors are not going to call you dumb, they want you to succeed, as well as you want to succeed.   

 

Cassandra Bolesh 

One piece of advice I would give to college students taking upper-level writing courses for the first time is to not be afraid. I would recommend they not make assumptions on a course just by the course number. Of course, in general, 300-400 level courses have a reputation of being more demanding than 100 level courses. This is, however, not the case. There are also a lot of factors that play into it; the major/course topic, the instructor teaching it, how long it’s been a course, what the student’s connection to the topic is, whether or not they have experience in the topic, and their connection to writing/their writing history. In my experience, a lot of 100-level courses can actually be much more demanding and challenging than upper-level courses, given the above-stated factors. The second piece of advice I would give to them is, in the off chance they do end up in a much more difficult course than they’re used to, there absolutely are resources and people to help them. Even as a senior, attending writer’s block appointments can seem really daunting, embarrassing, and nerve-wracking before it starts. However, once the appointments start, the tutors are kind and helpful and really do feel more like a peer than a superior. They’re great at using their experience in a helpful, non-condescending way. In fact, they do so in a way that is very empowering for the student receiving help. I would strongly recommend utilizing campus resources such as Writers' Block, tutoring, meetings with the professor, collaborating with peers, the librarians, and the Student Success Center. 

 

Marceline Barnes 

Overall, my advice to anyone struggling to grapple with societal regressions and all kinds of catastrophes, I suggest curiosity as a remedy to the paralyzed these events can put one in. Being curious means understanding, and knowledge is power, and we can’t move forward without it. This translates to everything you are assigned. It’s hard to focus if you aren’t invested but try to come at it from an angle you are curious about. Even if you aren’t actually interested, be curious and ask questions. Maybe the ‘why’ of things or the ‘how’ will get you more invested in whatever it is you are tasked with learning and writing about. Also, YouTube. This sounds really silly – but it helps with reading fatigue. There are journalist platforms on YouTube that provide sources in the descriptions of their video essays. In my experience, watching a video essay with traceable sources is a smoother introduction and education on a topic I’m tasked with writing about than scrolling through Wikipedia. 

 

Chloe Munro 

Firstly, timing is a huge thing. I feel I would have gotten much more out of the assignments if I were better at time management. Usually, when it comes to my writing, I like to follow the typical steps of making outlines, brain dumps, and drafts before the final copy, but sometimes life doesn’t work out that way. Even though eventually I made it through all the motions, that's all they were, motions. I didn’t fully get to experience my writing the way I had hoped because I was so anxious about my timing. This is something I have struggled with my whole life, and there are certainly services that could help me become better at it, but unfortunately, it's never been something I could get a handle on.  

 

Another thing I'd say is to get comfortable, both with others and yourself. The biggest struggle I have had this semester and in this class, particularly, was having to share my writing. I am constantly worried about being judged, and I hate peer feedback. The anxiety is horrible. I only ever want my work to go from my hands to the professors. Even then, when it comes to feedback, I wait until the very last possible moment to read it. However, this does me no good if anything, all I'm doing is feeding the anxiety. Feedback is meant to be helpful not daunting, but unfortunately, that's just how some of our brains are wired. In complete honesty, I would rather advise professors to get rid of required peer review, but I know that's not an option, so, as a student, it's our job to work through these harder feelings and get the work done.