In the Era of College Readiness

Some information adapted and modified from Joseph M. Williams and Lawrence McEnerney’s “Writing in College, Part I”

Jobs are becoming increasingly competitive due to globalization.

# Country 2000 2007

1 Iceland 34% 63%

2 Australia 36% 49%

3 Poland 35% 48%

4 Finland 41% 47%

5 New Zealand 51% 46.5%

6 Denmark 37% 46%

7 Iceland 31% 44%

8 Norway 38% 43%

16 U.S. 34% 34.5%

Average 29% 39%

From: ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

U.S. has recently dropped to “12th among 36 developed nations.”

70% of H.S. grads in the U.S. enroll in college within 2 years of graduating

57% of students who begin a a bachelor’s degree will graduate within 6 years

22% of students who begin at a community college graduate with an associate’s within 3 years.

Source: New York Times, Once a Leader, U.S. Lags in College Degrees, July 23, 2010

English Questions

English I

English II

English III

Reading

Writing

Reading

Writing

Reading

Writing

38 Multiple Choice2 Short Answer30 Multiple Choice3 Compositions

38 Multiple Choice2 Short Answer30 Multiple Choice3 Compositions

38 Multiple Choice2 Short Answer30 Multiple Choice3 Compositions

2 days of testing

Requires short answer and multiple compositions

Editing and Revising

Grammar and style

Middle School vs. High School

Often students transitioning from middle school to high school are puzzled and frustrated by their experiences with writing for college and career readiness

Middle School vs. High School

Only months earlier your writing was winning praise and getting you by. Now…•the writing isn't quite "there" yet, it is "lacking something.”

Middle School vs. High School

It is assumed that when writing for college readiness, or professionally…• your writing is mechanically sound• your descriptions are accurate• you're saying smart things• your formatting is perfectIn the past this has likely been the limit of expectation…

Writing for College/Career Readiness

There are many types of writing tasks that you will encounter…• summarizing a reading and/or lecture accurately and showing that you understand it

•This is usually the kind of writing you are asked to do, and praised for in middle school

•to react to a reading, speculate about it•Can be both formal and informal

Writing for College/Career Readiness

There are many types of writing tasks that you will encounter…• Far more often you will be asked to analyze the reading, to make a worthwhile claim about it that is not obvious

•(state a thesis means almost the same thing)

Writing for College/Career Readiness

• to support your claim with good reasons, all in four or five pages, that are organized to present an argument

•A systematic approach to coherently arranging and presenting your thoughts

Analysis

Requires that we move beyond mere summary, mimicry, and regurgitation…

Analysis

Is the cornerstone, or foundation, of effective argument

It is the key to effective college level

and professional writing.

Less than a high school diploma:

$23,088.00/yr$461,760.00/

20yrs

Professional Degree:

$83,720.00/yr$1,674,400.00/

20yrs

Bachelor’s Degree:

$53,976.00/yr$1,079,520.00/

20yrs

Helpful Insider Hints…

College Professors love grading students papers that…

• do not meet the minimum requirements (length, for example).• do not have a thesis• have poor mechanics and structure• completely fail to address the prompt

Helpful Insider Hints…

You don’t get a second chance, and your instructors/bosses are often indifferent.