The Typical English Composition Student & Why English Composition Matters

Since January is the time when I prepare for the spring semester courses that I teach, I start to think about the classes I teach and what I would like to get from students in terms of the essays I receive.

I’m sure all of you at some time or another have had an English teacher who is absolutely in love with English and literature and what he or she teaches.  Those teachers should be.  That’s what makes an inspiring and effective teacher.  What is hard for the average student to take is when those teachers expect students to have the same love as they do.

I take a very different approach when I teach English Composition to incoming freshmen.  I know that in my class, I’ll find two maybe three students who love to write.  I’m grateful for those students because it’s likely that they’ll turn in essays that I’ll really enjoy reading. 

The majority of the students in class are students who are required to take it for the general education credits, and they will be grateful when it’s all over.  I don’t mind those students, and I tell them that I don’t expect novels and super creative works.  All that I want from them is sincere effort in trying to communicate clearly and at a college writing level.  I just want them to put in the effort that students should for any college course.

Why does English Composition matter so much?  Sometimes it’s hard to make a student understand that these highly constructed academic essays will help them with college and with life.  In a typical student’s life, there’s email and texting. Neither form of communication is anything like college English.  They don’t see the connection, and that’s what I try to show them throughout the semester.

Here are a few of the connections I hope I get my students to learn:

What’s the point of a comparison and contrast essay?  Besides learning a new form of writing, students are also learning critical comparison thinking that can help them when buying their first car, choosing an apartment, or purchasing a large appliance.  With that type of essay, students have to learn to pick out the useful information and make decisions as to what is important.  We are making comparisons all the time and basing many decisions on those comparisons.

What’s the point of an argument essay that requires research?  This one is a biggie because students groan when they know they have this huge essay at the end of the semester.  Besides helping them learn the steps in working on a longer piece of writing, I try to show how in the real world, we often have to persuade people.  If you are in sales, you have to persuade people to buy.  Why is my product better?  What special features does it offer?  Maybe you have to persuade your boss to invest in a new piece of office equipment.  Why do we need to place a perfectly good copier?  Why should we spend the money now?  We often have to persuade people both personally and professionally.  Most young students have already practiced persuasion when trying to get something out of their parents, but most of them have not learned to persuade beyond pleading and comparing themselves to their peers.  Again, I try to show them critical thinking skills.  They need to look at a problem and research it and find what’s important to that topic.  They need to learn how to blend logical argument with emotional appeal and while appearing knowledgeable about their topic.  What are the details that will sway a reader?  What are the key components that make you believe what you do?

I could offer a lot more examples, but you get the point from just these two.

We are a species that relies on communication.  We rely on verbal communication, and we rely heavily on written communication.  Our world goes beyond email and texting, and there are very few jobs out there that don’t require written communication skills.  If a student can write successfully in college English adjusting their style to whatever scenario they are given, then they can communicate effectively anywhere they go.  Writing clearly matters.

The Typical English Composition Student & Why English Composition Matters

Since January is the time when I prepare for the spring semester courses that I teach, I start to think about the classes I teach and what I would like to get from students in terms of the essays I receive.

I’m sure all of you at some time or another have had an English teacher who is absolutely in love with English and literature and what he or she teaches.  Those teachers should be.  That’s what makes an inspiring and effective teacher.  What is hard for the average student to take is when those teachers expect students to have the same love as they do.

I take a very different approach when I teach English Composition to incoming freshmen.  I know that in my class, I’ll find two maybe three students who love to write.  I’m grateful for those students because it’s likely that they’ll turn in essays that I’ll really enjoy reading. 

The majority of the students in class are students who are required to take it for the general education credits, and they will be grateful when it’s all over.  I don’t mind those students, and I tell them that I don’t expect novels and super creative works.  All that I want from them is sincere effort in trying to communicate clearly and at a college writing level.  I just want them to put in the effort that students should for any college course.

Why does English Composition matter so much?  Sometimes it’s hard to make a student understand that these highly constructed academic essays will help them with college and with life.  In a typical student’s life, there’s email and texting. Neither form of communication is anything like college English.  They don’t see the connection, and that’s what I try to show them throughout the semester.

Here are a few of the connections I hope I get my students to learn:

What’s the point of a comparison and contrast essay?  Besides learning a new form of writing, students are also learning critical comparison thinking that can help them when buying their first car, choosing an apartment, or purchasing a large appliance.  With that type of essay, students have to learn to pick out the useful information and make decisions as to what is important.  We are making comparisons all the time and basing many decisions on those comparisons.

What’s the point of an argument essay that requires research?  This one is a biggie because students groan when they know they have this huge essay at the end of the semester.  Besides helping them learn the steps in working on a longer piece of writing, I try to show how in the real world, we often have to persuade people.  If you are in sales, you have to persuade people to buy.  Why is my product better?  What special features does it offer?  Maybe you have to persuade your boss to invest in a new piece of office equipment.  Why do we need to place a perfectly good copier?  Why should we spend the money now?  We often have to persuade people both personally and professionally.  Most young students have already practiced persuasion when trying to get something out of their parents, but most of them have not learned to persuade beyond pleading and comparing themselves to their peers.  Again, I try to show them critical thinking skills.  They need to look at a problem and research it and find what’s important to that topic.  They need to learn how to blend logical argument with emotional appeal and while appearing knowledgeable about their topic.  What are the details that will sway a reader?  What are the key components that make you believe what you do?

I could offer a lot more examples, but you get the point from just these two.

We are a species that relies on communication.  We rely on verbal communication, and we rely heavily on written communication.  Our world goes beyond email and texting, and there are very few jobs out there that don’t require written communication skills.  If a student can write successfully in college English adjusting their style to whatever scenario they are given, then they can communicate effectively anywhere they go.  Writing clearly matters.

What Students Need to Add to Their Essays

If you are new to college and getting ready for English Composition (Freshman Comp), what should you try to put in your essays?  Detail.  Detail is what is lacking in many of our busy lives.  We are a society of sound bites and 30 second clips, and unfortunately, that’s what is showing up in much of the writing of recent high school graduates.

So if you are a college student, keep detail in mind when you write.  When you make a statement, you have to expand on it.  And here are some examples of how you can expand your writing both creatively and objectively.

Example 1:  In a personal essay, someone writes, “The food on my plate looked totally unappealing.”

It’s an okay sentence, and most people would have an idea what was meant.  Still, there’s the opportunity to make it more detailed so that people know why it was so unappealing to the author:  “I looked at my plate and silently gagged.  There was congealed gravy on top of some grayish matter.  I tried not to smell it, but I couldn’t help getting sour odor from the food into my nostrils.”  The author now has told you exactly what was unappealing about the food on the plate.

Example 2:  In a research paper, someone writes, “Many people will be involved in a drunk driving accident sometime in their lifetime.”

This sentence needs specific detail and support.  After all, it is part of a research paper and it’s giving a fact without detail or support.  Give the reader something to really go on and believe:  “Almost a third of the American population will be involved in a drunk driving accident sometime in their lifetime (‘Drunk Driving Facts & Stats Tips’).  That means that if you are sitting in a classroom of twenty students, at least six students in that classroom will be in an alcohol related accident some day.”  This passage now has a real statistic what is cited and a little elaboration that may make the statistic more personal.

There are many ways to expand your writing and make your essay longer and more detailed.  Remember:  don’t just fill your essay to meet the minimum length.  Figure out how to fill your essay with substance, with detail that makes the material more interesting.

The Five Senses

One thing that’s often forgotten today is to depend on the five senses.  We are such a visual society that we forget that there are other senses to draw from.  What are the five senses?

·         Sight

·         Hearing

·         Taste

·         Touch

·         Smell

Look back at the food example.  Yes, it’s very visual, but it draws on smell too.  I won’t even try to imagine what that stuff would have tasted like, but you get the picture.  Think of all the things you can include in your essay.  Talking about past birthdays?  Did your parents light the birthday candles with a match?  Recall that sulfur smell and describe it.  Been right beneath fireworks?  Describe the sounds of the explosions and how the ground rumbled under your feet.  You can also try to describe the smell of gunpowder that would have gone along with it.  Writing about your best football game in high school?  Don’t forget the feeling of being tackled with all that weight piled up on you.  Describe the mud splattering against your face during one of the wettest games ever.

Examples and Statistics

Examples can make your writing come alive, it works in giving support to your topic.  The examples can come from your own life or from newspaper and magazine articles or from any other source you can think of.  It really depends on the type of essays you are writing.  In fact, for the research paper assignments I give out, I encourage students to use examples.  Some teachers and textbooks refer to them as case studies.  Either way, find people who have been in similar circumstances and describe their situations and how it relates.  Find examples in business or science or at gatherings.  Make sure you refer to the source where the information came from when you use it.  Sometimes it can be as simple as mentioning the publication or author.  Other times, you have to be more formal and document the sources.  Again it depends on the assignment.

Use statistics to show that what you are writing about matters.  If you are writing about global warming, use examples such as the polar bears’ hunting territory shrinking.  Use statistics about how much that territory has actually shrunk.  Maybe their territory was all of the arctic and now it’s the size of …..  Again, you need to say where information came from, formally or informally depending upon the assignment.

There’s a lot more that I could write on this topic, but I think I’ve given you some ideas of how to add detail.  Like I said before, if I could give one piece of advice to new college writers, it would be to learn to write with details and avoid those 30 second sound bites.

What’s the Deal with Textbook Costs?

I mean to publish regularly in December, but I got caught up in the mad dash to get all my papers graded for all my classes.  That will probably happen in May and again next December.  Now that the semester is over and the holidays are just about over, I’m once again thinking ahead to the next semester.

I am simply thrilled that this semester, we do not have new editions of the textbooks I use for my classes.  I know there’s a need to update information, but in the 10 years that I’ve been teaching, every 1 ½ to 2 years, we have to totally revamp our classes because the publishers come out with a new edition of the textbook.  They’re sneaky.  Sometimes all they’ve done is change the order of the chapters.  Sometime, they make more extensive changes – this bother me less.

Everyone is in to make money.  I don’t blame publishers for that, but they realized that the used book market was taking revenue away from them, and their solution is to come up out with new editions of books more frequently.  Now, many of them are realizing that they need to embrace the e-book market as well.

What does that mean for students?  It means less opportunity to benefit from saving money by buying used books.  And as any college student knows:  textbooks are very expensive.  They were expensive when I was in college.  I can’t imagine what my book bill would be today if I was a full time student.

Although the used book market has shrunk, student can now begin to make use of the e-book market. 

Here are some benefits:

·         Savings:  Students can save as much as 25% or more by purchasing an e-book.

·         Portability:  Students can save their backs, since many books can be uploaded to the same e-reader.

·         Readability: No, I’m not talking about text size – although that can be adjusted.  I’m talking about lighting – they can be read in any lighting conditions.

There are some disadvantages too:

·         E-books need an e-reader:  There is the upfront charge of purchasing an e-reader in order to download your e-book.  At least it’s a one-time charge.

·         E-books need to be charged:  Unlike a traditional book, an e-book must be kept charged.

·         Textbook e-books have an expiration date:  Many college e-books have an expiration date. The expiration often is 180 days from date of purchase.  This is probably not an issue for a general education course, however, it may be for books in a student’s major.

·         E-books may not match up page for page with traditional textbooks:  Depending how the book is created, the pagination of the e-book may not necessarily match up.  As time goes on, I’m sure instructors and students will work this out.

·         Not all textbooks are out as e-books:  The market is growing, but now all the textbooks are offered as e-books.  The market is growing, but a student may not always be able to get all books as e-books.

Even so, the disadvantages may not matter when it comes to the money a student can save by going the e-book route.

  Here are some e-book sellers:

http://www.coursesmart.com/

http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/career-schools/ebooks.php

http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/Catalog/other/eBooks_Find_Your_eBook

Are Online Classes for You?

Are online classes for you?  That’s a question that only you can answer, but I can share some thoughts and ideas that may help you make up your mind about that option.

You see, I teach online credit classes for two local community colleges.  Each semester, my classes begin relatively full, and every semester, I have at some five or six out of twenty fade away during the semester.  Why do they fade away?  Am I boring?  Are my classes too hard?  I don’t think either of those are the reasons, although I can’t say that I’m snazzy online, I’m thorough and methodical.  I do know that my classes aren’t too hard.  The reason those students fade away is that the online environment is not for them.

An online student needs to be organized:  You do not need to be the most organized individual, but you need to be organized enough that you meet deadlines.  You have to be able to keep track of assignments and be aware of due dates without an instructor reminding you.

An online student needs to be independent:  If you are rather shy, an online class may be for you.  Online classes allow students to plan their responses.  There’s not speaking in front of people off the cuff.  Social people can do well in online classes too, but if you’re the type who needs face to face social interaction and immediate feedback from the instructor, online classes may not be right for you. 

An online student needs to be motivated:  If you need someone to stand over you and constantly remind you that assignments are due, online learning is not for you.  But if you are one to complete tasks that are assigned to you independently and without reminders, then online learning works very well.

An online student needs to be comfortable with computers.  You do not need to be an expert, but you need to be comfortable using computers, the Internet and basic software and willing to try new things on your own.  If you barely know how to turn on a PC and are anxious every time you try something new, consider a traditional course instead.

Online learning isn’t the same as being in a classroom, but it does offer an equally good education if it comes from an accredited institution.  In fact, online learning requires more of students in terms of independent study because the student needs to read and study on his own a lot more than one who attends a class and gets to hear the instructor speak.

Online learning is wonderful for those with full lives and erratic schedules provided that they can meet the requirements I mentioned above.  Many of my students are nurses who work nights, people who travel frequently for work, and even parents of young children who can’t afford babysitting and tuition.  My students come from all walks of life – that’s the beauty of online learning.  So, are online classes for you?

Did I leave anything out?  Leave me know in the comments section below.

Fundraising for Kids

Fundraising is not my strong suit, and my daughter needs to begin fundraising in order to earn money for her Girl Scout’s Silver Project.  It was pretty easy coming up with the idea for the project.  My daughter chose to support a local organization’s fund drive for Easter baskets for needy children. She even came up with a pretty simple fundraising idea:  bake sale.  Of course, I waited too long to sign up for the craft shows this holiday season – I’m still waiting to hear as I write this.

While I wait to hear, I thought I would look around and see what other ideas are out there for children to fund raise whether they are working on a Girls Scout badge or a Boy Scout Eagle project.  After all, we have to come up with something to earn money.

These are a few I found that go beyond the car washes and other ones that you see frequently.

Personalized Ornament Sale – I like this one too.  I thought about making our own, but they suggested finding a vendor that will personalize ornaments and offers fundraising discounts to nonprofit groups.  Of course, this has to be planned ahead.

Lights / Ornaments Removal – Offer your services to remove ornaments from yards and houses after the holiday.  This one is really creative, and I can see some people really jumping at it – after all how many houses do you see with ornaments until spring?  This one is better for teens because of the climbing and heights that may be involved.

We Bake for You – Maybe this is one we should consider since we (I) waited so long to contact shows and fairs for the bake sale.  They suggest deciding on a list of about ten things that you bake well and can sell for a nice profit.  Create order forms – they say to time it for major holidays and sporting events.

Restaurant Fundraising Night – See if a local restaurant will give you a share of the proceeds.  Most often they will give you weeknights since those are lower turnout days.  Ask both local restaurants and chains. Remember that in order for this to be successful, you need to really announce, promote and pass out flyers.

Mom-O-Grams – Try your hand at making corsages for special times such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day.  This is best done as a group with orders taken in advance.  If time and talent is an issue, see if you can work out a discount with a local florist – less profit but less time too.

Photo Scanning – This one is good if you’re handy with a computer. Offer to scan old photos and put them on CDs.  This one can be done throughout the year.  Decide if you want age limits on photos (not too old and fragile).

These are just a few.  Check the Internet for more.  In fact, here are a few Web sites that I found useful – yes, some of the ideas here came from them!

http://www.kidsforourtroops.org/ideasfromkids.htm

http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/

http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/

http://www.squidoo.com/fundraisingideasforkids

If you have useful ideas or know a site, share it here.

Kindness of Strangers

Sometimes, it is good to get off topic.  Today is one of those days.  Sometimes, I am struck by the kindness of strangers.

This week, while running errands with my children, my son inadvertently lost his IPod which he had had for less than two weeks.  Needless to say, I was upset and frustrated.  I had the kids look carefully through the van while I called the stores to see if it had been returned.  I wasn’t too hopeful because many people would simply pocket the thing if they found it.

I was thrilled when I called Target, and they said someone had returned it to their lost and found.  Apparently, my son had dropped it by the van in the parking lot.  It’s amazing that it wasn’t even scratched let alone smashed by another vehicle.  Someone was a really good person and simply did the right thing:  returned it.

Throughout the years, I’ve run into many people who were just plain kind to strangers. 

Years ago, when I was in college, two of my high school friends were visiting me in Baltimore.  We had spent much of the morning roaming through Inner Harbor and then we were planning to go to the Aquarium.  It cost more than any of us expected, and we stared at the sign with the fees, and among us, we didn’t have enough.   This older gentleman walked up to us.  We weren’t sure about him since it was the city, but he said he would pay for one of us to get in.  What?  Admission for free?  There had to be a catch.  We were young women and not totally naive.  No catch he said.  His wife had passed away some months ago, and he was lonely and still had his membership.  He said he came most days to the Aquarium just to pass the time, and he made a point to look around and choose someone deserving of a free admission.  Sometimes he would pick a young couple, but that day he picked us.  He said he could tell that we were in college and probably didn’t have enough money.  So he led us through the membership door, paid for one of our admission, tipped his hat and wished us well.

Then some years later, I was at the Bay Bridge heading to visit my parents and got my turn at the toll only to find that the person ahead of me had paid for me.  It was Christmas time.  After that, I’ve done that a few times myself.  It’s a nice gesture and doesn’t cost all that much.  Apparently it is done at lot at the Bay Bridge.

While it doesn’t make up for all the meanness out there, those acts of kindness that pop up here and there give me some faith in humanity.  People have to remember that it’s the little things that matter.  Holding a door for someone coming up behind you.  Letting people off the elevator first before getting on.  Turning something into the lost and found instead of pocketing it.  It doesn’t take much, but it makes a world of difference.