Freshmen to Freshmen:  Life’s Little Instruction List

Advice from Current Comp Students for Future Comp Students

Apply yourself and take heed of teacher’s instructions.  She/he will not lead

          you astray.

Don’t be nervous.  Try to be focused. 

Don’t wait until the last minute before you write.

Make sure you know your grammar basics inside and out.

Let someone else read through your paper.  It helps.

Always make sure that you understand the topic you are writing about.

Make sure that you choose a topic that will be interesting to you and you    

          know you can write a lot about.

Make sure that you revise your paper thoroughly and let somebody else read

          it.

Ask as many questions as you can and don’t be ashamed of what you write.

Allow your thoughts to flow, and when you get them down, organize them

          so that what you are trying to say is being said.

Make sure to organize your paper.

Don’t be afraid to try new things while writing your essays.

If you are not sure about corrections, ask your teacher about them.

Always get your paper edited by someone else.

Watch your mechanics and spelling.

Always picture and repicture anything you write about from all

          different angles.

Write with a lot of detail.

Revise, revise, revise and revise again.

Be prepared to write a lot.

Know how to write correctly.

Take the time to edit your paper.

Try and expand your vocabulary more than I have.

Keep an open mind and have others read your stuff.

Make sure you have a good idea (brainstorming) before you write.

Take your time with your writing.

Read what you have written and see if it makes sense.

Don’t be afraid to express yourself.

Don’t just write for the grade.

Use assignments as a means of communicating your feelings.

It’s ok to describe things in a different way.

Uniqueness will definitely take you a long way.

Grab a high school grammar textbook and study it for about 20 minutes

          a night for the first couple of weeks.

If you hate writing (like me), don’t wait until the last minute to write your

          paper because you are going to need more than 24 hours.

Ask lots of questions.  If you don’t know and don’t ask, you are setting

          yourself up for failure.

Always brainstorm.

Know the rules for writing and pay attention to details.

If you really want to write well, read lots of different types of writing

          styles.

Writing to learn is just as important, if not more important, as learning to

          write.

Though grades are important, just remember you’re also improving your

          greatest selling point: yourself.

Don’t try to write like a high school student.  Learn how to write like a

          college student.

Be patient.

Stay focused; listen to the instructor; take good advice to heart.

Learn from your mistakes.

Explore your mind and find new angles to start your papers with.

Don’t be afraid to put a lot of work into your papers.

It is easier to write about something that is meaningful to you.

Always explore all of your options when you are writing.

Be aware of grammar and mechanics.

Keep working hard on formatting your paper and having it smooth

          because for me that’s the hardest part.

Don’t take writing as a joke.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Use peer groups to full advantage.

Don’t over think your writing.  Keep it simple.

Make sure you know your grammar.

Be yourself.