Improve Your Writing Skills With An English Composition Class

By Michelle Conner


In order to prepare yourself for English Composition at the college level, it is a good idea to gain an idea of what you should expect from the course. By having an idea of what you will be stepping into, you will better prepare yourself for the course at hand. If you don't know what to expect, you can cause yourself unnecessary anxiety, it is much better to walk into your classes with some sort of expectation.

Students enrolled in a college level English Composition class can expect to learn a multitude of strategies on how to identify the elements that are found in a good and purposeful essay. Students will also learn to use those elements in their own essays and writing. By recognizing and using these elements, students will work on become better writers. Speed your success by learning more about Test Drive College.

It is not unheard of for students to be required to write anywhere from six to eight essays during a semester, with each essay being three to six pages in length. This may seem like a lot at first, but you have to remember that the course's main focus in on writing, so of course, you will be required to write more than you are most likely used to. As you write, you will receive feedback from your professor, who will help you write more effective essays. The more you write, the better you will get at crafting essays.

There will most likely be a focus on the writing process within your English composition course. This involves brainstorming or mapping, pre-writing, first and second drafts, using peer and teacher feedback, and creating polished final drafts. By using the writing process, you will gain a better grasp on what makes a great essay.

Another thing you will learn in English Composition is the importance of structure and clarity when creating an essay. You will learn to create essays that provide readers with a sense of organization and purpose. Usually, professors will have students share their written work with other students in the class to gain perspective on their writing. By reading and reviewing other students' work, you will learn how to evaluate others' work and how to apply peer feedback to your own work.

Most English Composition courses are taught in a workshop or portfolio method. Using a workshop method has students using the writing process of brainstorming, peer feedback, and draft writing, on a daily basis through the use of writing exercises and activities. Classes taught in a portfolio method use a slightly different teaching method, which involves students reviewing a set number of their own essays at the end of the course and noting the growth that they have made with their writing abilities. Both methods are valid ways to teach, learn, and apply writing skills. Weighing the value of free colleges may be key to your success.

As you move on to other classes, you can use the skills from English Composition in order to be a more effective communicator. Just about every college class will require some kind of written work or essays. You can use your writing skills from English Composition and apply them to written work for your other classes.




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