Post 7 - High School vs College writing
Moving
from High School to college writing has several immediate differences. The
expectations, complexity, length of writing and adherence to writing styles is
heavily scrutinized. Another difference is the amount of research required. In High
School, some research would be necessary, in college, the amount of research
required is much more extensive. College also requires a higher degree of
original thought. High School is easier to spend less time on writing and more
time focusing on extra-curricular activities. Kate Madalena explains it this way:
writing
at the college level and beyond often has to “do”
a few things in the same text. Most involved writing assignments expect you to
do at least two things. You may need to summarize/report and respond, or (more
likely) you’ll need to summarize/report, synthesize, and respond. (185)
Completing
this requires more time, both in proofing and reproofing, 1st
drafts, 2nd drafts and then more research. High School writing requires
far less effort. More critical thinking is needed at the college level, as College
is preparing the students to join the workforce at a high functioning level.
Works
Cited:
Maddalena,
McKinney Kate, “I need you to say “I”: Why First Person Is Important in College
Writing, Writing Spaces readings on writing volume 1, edited by Charles
Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky, Parlor Press, 2010, p. 185.
Clint, I agree with what you’re saying about the difference between high school and college. I’ve noticed the difference in the amount of time I’ve spent doing research recently compared to what I did in high school, and it’s way different.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I totally agree with your points about the differences between high school and college writing. In high school, we often focus more on structure and following specific guidelines, which helps build a solid foundation. But in college, it's all about critical thinking and originality. The emphasis on research and integrating various perspectives definitely pushes us to engage more deeply with the material. It's a challenging transition, but it really prepares us for professional and scholarly work in the future. Thanks for sharing your insights!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the time invested into writing at the college level is more extensive compared tot he high school level. Writing in college requires students to ponder deeply about their won thought or stance on a certain topic, and to explain it thoroughly. Meanwhile, in high school, students can just find one outside resource that supports a claim they are trying to make, not having a bigger grasp about what they are writing and doing less research.
ReplyDeleteYou've identified several key differences that many students experience when writing in high school and college. Indeed, the shift in expectations can be too much to bear, especially considering the increased emphasis on creativity and research. As Kate Madalena points out, collegiate writing frequently requires balancing multiple duties into a single piece, and I totally agree. This complexity drives us to improve our critical thinking skills while also necessitating more time for drafting and revising.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on when it comes to the differences between high school and college writing. I also noticed while high school writing only really focuses on getting the information presented professionally, it doesn't allow you to explore the different ways of expressing your point of view.
ReplyDelete