How To Succeed In This Class:
1. Read all assigned material actively (i.e. with pen or highlighter in hand, making notes or asking
questions in the margins, marking significant passages and pages, etc.)
2. Attend class. If you have to miss class, be sure that you get the notes and/or assignments that
you missed. (You can do this by checking the online calendar; I will keep it updated with any
changes to the syllabus.
3. Take good notes. Every essay assignment will come from our class discussions, so pay
attention and take notes in class. In addition, underline passages that we read aloud or
reference in class, marking the pages as well; these passages will likely be useful to you when
you’re writing your essay. (To really ensure that you understand the material, re-copy your
notes after each class, both for the sake of keeping them neat and clear for future reference, as
well as to help you better retain the information we cover in class.)
4. Address your problem areas early. If you struggled in ENGL 1101 (or if you know you have
problems when it comes to reading, writing, and/or grammar), then begin to immediately
address those, either with the Writing Center or with me; the same is the case for error
patterns that may emerge for you on essay #1.
5. Pay close attention to the feedback you receive on your essays. I spend a great deal of time
giving you comments and asking leading questions on your essays; these comments and
questions are meant to lead you to understanding and improving upon your mistakes. Look up
the error codes for your grammatical/mechanical errors; note and address any patterns of error
that you may have. If ever any of my comments to you are unclear, don’t hesitate to ask me
for help or for clarification. Never hesitate to approach me; I’ll always be glad to help you.
6. Participate in class discussions. The best classes are those in which the majority of students
participate actively. This helps you build a rapport with each other so that you feel
comfortable, and it also makes class much, much more interesting. Hearing your peers’
comments and sharing your own makes for a far more entertaining hour than listening to me
drone on. The level of your involvement in class is directly proportionate to your overall
performance in the class; students who participate in discussions and engage with the material
in class tend to do better on essays, as they have a familiarity with the material that gives them
an advantage when it comes to writing about it. Likewise, those students who listen passively (if
at all) during class generally struggle more when it comes to writing an essay. You’ve already
got to sit in class for the duration, so if you’re there, why not make it well worth your time?
7. Don’t procrastinate. It’s human nature to do so, but it’s also a habit that inevitably undercuts
your grade. The sooner you begin planning your essays, the better. Ideally, you should be
able to take at least 24 to 48 hours away from your completed final draft before going back to
proofread it one last time. You will be amazed at how just that little time away will enable you
to have a fresh perspective on your essay, catching errors that you wouldn’t notice without
having had that break from working. If you wait until the last minute to write, you won’t have
the chance to take that much-needed perspective time.
The biggest secret “rule” for success in the class?
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR GRADE AND YOUR WORK; RECOGNIZE
THE BIGGER PICTURE. Avoid falling into the too-easy habit of disassociating your grade from
your performance. In this class, you will not be graded on the basis of anything other than your
performance – not on how nice you are, not on how much I like you, and unfortunately, not on
the basis of effort. Spending ten hours on an essay does not guarantee a good grade; putting into
practice the principles, ideas, and techniques that we learn this semester – whether in one hour or
in twenty – is what will lead to a good grade.
Remember, too, that this class is vital to your success in college (and beyond), regardless of your
major. Every other course that you take will necessitate that you be able to read actively, arrive
upon an informed analysis on the basis of the information at hand, and finally, be able to
effectively articulate in writing what you have learned.