College Writing (English 110)
Professor Zino
Essay #3: Saying Why It Matters
Theme: For the last of your three short papers, you will write a letter to the Queens
College Provost inspired by the readings in this unit (“Education in America: The Next
Generation”) that you have completed over the past two weeks. A provost, who is the
chief academic officer at a college, is responsible for all academic programs. This person
handles academic budget concerns, deciding how money should be allocated when hiring
new faculty; the provost also signs off on any changes to a college’s curriculum, research
interests, admissions and enrollment policies, and its uses of instructional technology. As
the senior vice president, the provost also advises the president on matters relating to
overall planning and allocation of a college’s resources. Our provost is James Stellar (you
should include his contact information in your heading to the letter, which should be
formatted like the sample “block” letter shown here:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/02/ -- follow this only for basic format, not
for content.)
Dr. James R. Stellar
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kiely Hall, Room 1104
Phone: (718) 997-5900
Fax: (718) 997-5879
Backup Fax: (718) 997-5895
james.stellar@qc.cuny.edu
Your letter should present an argument that responds to the following questions:
How can Queens College offer an academic experience that is best suited to students of
your generation? (Hint: How will you define the personality traits and learning styles that
seem to be unique--or at least significant--to your generation? How have these been
shaped by past experiences in school? What other identifying factors does your
generation exhibit? Define these in relation to the picture of “Generation Me” provided
by Twenge.) Describe two to three specific reforms that would make the Queens College
experience more accessible and useful to your generation. Finally, explain what the
increasingly popular “corporate model” of schooling has to offer your generation of
college students. (Hint: You also need to define how you’re using the term “corporate
model” as this might be understood differently by different audiences.) Which aspects of
this model might Queens College adopt and which should it change or avoid completely?
Writing method: This letter will require you to incorporate ALL the writing moves you
have learned from reading TSIS Chapters 1-10. See the rubric to follow.
Formal Requirements:
 Typed, doubled-spaced, 5-6 pages (STAPLE and NUMBER PAGES PLEASE),
with appropriate heading
 Paper has been carefully edited
 A works cited page in MLA format (not included in the 5-6 pages of writing)
 To cite your sources in MLA format go to this link for in-text citations,
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/, and this link for your works
cited page, http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/, and follow the
appropriate model, depending on your source)
 Due dates:
+ COMPLETE THREE-PAGE OUTLINE to be posted on your individual
blog by Monday, November 1st at 2 p.m.
+ Required peer review session in class on in Kiely Hall, Room 236 on
Monday, November 1st
+ Hard copy of final paper to be handed in on Monday, November 3rd at the
start of class. (Post a version of this copy on your blog as well.)
Please note: Both the outline and the paper must be not turned in. Late assignments will
not be accepted.