College Reading and Writing: The Typical and the Exemplary

1. College Reading and Writing: The Typical and the Exemplary Ann M. Johns, PhD Professor Emerita, Linguistics & Writing Studies San Diego State University

2. A Quick Quiz: Short Answer • What is the average number of pages per week assigned for college reading in the social sciences and humanities? • What do students read for? (List) • What is the typical writing task in freshman and sophomore classes? • What do faculty across the curriculum grade for? What’s important? (List)

3. College reading (across the curriculum) is • Rapid: Particularly in the humanities and social sciences, many pages are assigned for independent reading , or • Intense: In the sciences and technology, close reading is central. • Purposeful and selective: Students need to know why they are reading and take appropriate notes. • Determined by class concepts, content, and assessments.

4. College cross-curricular writing is • Scholarly and academic: seldom, if ever, personal. • Devoted to discussion, critique, and analysis of topics and questions that are of academic interest. • Often assigned as a “researched argument,” supported by sources. (See the new AP assessment.)

5. Writing tasks: Common features • Short: 2-3 pages • Completed in class, and written to a faculty-designed prompt. • Vary unpredictably in text structure and purpose. • Require integration of sources. • Demand precision---and a concise, impersonal style.

6. Preparing for College Tasks • Assign independent reading for academic purposes: finding an argument, writing a summary, selecting specific information related to a concept. • Apply readings to a variety of writing tasks. • Practice prompt analysis and response. • Build academic vocabulary and editing skills. • Require oral and written paraphrase, summary and synthesis.