This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org.
Part 1 of our Study Skills Series.
Ask any first-year college student and they will tell you that writing clearly and effectively is an essential skill in college. They will also tell you that even when you know the basics—essay format and grammar, for example—you still have to learn the “unwritten rules” that are part of the writing expectations of college professors.
Good papers don’t just happen; they are created through hard work and by following the unwritten rules of quality writing. Those secrets are revealed here so that you, too, can have the “write” stuff in college.
Understand the Assignment Requirements
While it seems a simple task, students can get off track fast by not understanding what they are supposed to write about and how to complete an assignment. If the assignment asks for a 10-page paper with seven sources on major Renaissance philosophers, then a five-page paper with sources about medieval art will not make the grade.
Action Step
Create an outline first, before diving into a writing assignment. An outline will provide a road map for following the guidelines of the assignment. For example, if you are asked to write a paper on how key historical events shaped 20th century literature, you may decide to plan your paper like this:
I. The Great Depression
a. Historical significance
b. Influence on major works of literature of that timeII. The Civil Rights Movement
a. Historical significance
b. Influence on major works of literature of that timeIII. The Vietnam War
a. Historical significance
b. Influence on major works of literature of that time
Get Help When Needed
If the assignment requires doing something you have never done before, talk to your professor first and then visit the tutoring center throughout the process. Professors know that you will need help along the way, and they expect you to reach out and ask for it.
Action Step
Find your professor’s office hours on the syllabus and make an appointment with him or her during those hours. Ask if you can get feedback on an early draft and if there are samples of good student work that he or she can share with you as a model.
Manage Your Time
The procrastinator’s perfect pitfall: Waiting until the last minute (the night or even the day before) to complete a major writing assignment. Successful students break down a writing assignment into manageable parts and schedule those parts to be completed over several weeks. They may brainstorm ideas for the paper one day and go to the library another day to search for suitable sources. They may draft and revise one day and proofread and edit another day. Then, they turn in their paper on time.
Action Step
Break down your assignment into parts that you can complete in one or two hours at a time. Schedule those parts on your calendar over the next few weeks, before the paper is due, and complete them as you’ve scheduled them.
Avoid Plagiarism
That word alone can strike more fear into students’ hearts than telling them that they have to run across campus at high noon in their underwear. You need not worry too much because plagiarism (using someone else’s work without proper acknowledgment) is actually very preventable. First, do your own work. If you didn’t write or create it yourself, don’t claim that you did. Second, acknowledge any and all sources you use for your assignments. Third, ask for help if you are not sure how to avoid plagiarizing. Your professors, tutor and library staff are there to assist you with documenting the sources you do use. Websites such as www.dianahacker.com/resdoc provide information about the documentation styles you may use in college.
Action Step
When you use a quote from a source, always use quotation marks around word-for-word quotes and provide documentation according to your professor’s instructions. Most of the time, documentation includes the author’s name and page number after the quote. When you paraphrase (rewriting someone else’s ideas into your own words), always provide documentation as well. Yes, paraphrases must be documented to avoid plagiarism!
Submit Polished Work
Professors expect you to complete multiple drafts to take care of any unclear passages and to correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Your college professors will be looking for thoughtful, original writing that shows that you worked hard on getting it to shine. This may mean that you will need to take several days—at least—to get your writing right before you submit it.
Action Step
The day before an assignment is due is the day to spend proofreading and editing. Even better, complete your final draft two days before the due date and “rest” your eyes before reviewing it one last time for errors prior to submitting it. Whatever you plan, don’t “do” the paper the day it is “due”!
Writing that makes a clear point, has few grammatical and spelling errors and is easy to follow is essential at the college level. However, following the unwritten rules above will strengthen your work and make you a more confident writer.
What other “unwritten rules” of college writing have you encountered so far in college?