What Is "College-Level" Writing?

by Patrick Sullivan (Editor), Howard Tinberg (Editor)

Just what defines "college-level" writing? This book seeks to engage this essential question with care, patience, and pragmatism, and includes contributions by many well-known scholars such as Edward M. White, Lynn Z. Bloom, Ronald Lunsford, Sheridan Blau, Jeanne Gunner, Muriel Harris, and Kathleen Blake Yancey. Special features include the following: perspectives from high school teachers, who present their concerns about the discrepancy between what they tell their students is important in college writing courses and what students actually learn is important; student contributors, who write about their experiences transitioning from high school writing to college-level writing; the administrative perspective, which addresses such issues as what other departments within a university consider college-level writing and how an English department develops its standard course syllabi, makes textbook recommendations, and interacts with adjunct faculty members; and discussion between contributors, drawn from their exchanges.

418 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2006

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Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most edited collections, certain contributions are more profound than others. However, I really admired the editors' attempt to bring in such a variety of voices, not only from many types of institutions, but from various spots within them (administrators, students, etc.).

[Jason Courtmanche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this recently because I was invited to submit a chapter to volume II. It's terrific. High school teachers and college instructors both should read it to learn more about each other's area of the discipline. The whole purpose of the book is to foster that very communication.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book, but I found it to be a bit redundant in some sections. There are a lot of great essays in here, but a few I would omit. Volume II sounds great, based on what I've heard.

[J. Alfred · Rating 2 out of 5]

What Is College-Level Writing indeed. Hooray assigned texts.

[Kristin Dragos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great introduction to thinking about college writing. It drastically changed my view of what college-level writing is. I highly recommend it.

[Lisa Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found much more to interest me in the second volume. Still this is valuable book.