Even if you don’t like college writing—no, even if you hate college writing—this guide will get you through it. It offers clear and concise answers to your questions about writing college papers.
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What makes a good research question? How do I write a strong thesis statement? What if I don’t understand my assignment? How do I write an introduction? How do I answer the “so what” question?
Well, this is a treasure that I am glad I found. The tips and recommendations are fabulous, and everything is presented in an easy to read style with a sense of humor and memorable anecdotes to make poignant points. The author clearly paid attention to the lessons in this book, and it is a great little piece of writing on writing.
Catherine Prendergast has been teaching writing, and writing about teaching writing, for a while now. But she’s only grown in her irreverence as time has passed.
Thank God.
Can I Use I?: Because I Hate Hate Hate College Writing is a short book (130 pages, print), but it has a big goal: to demystify the freshman college writing course for incoming students.
It accomplishes this goal using a three-part technique. First, it breaks down college writing challenges into what I’m guessing are the most common student questions that Prendergast has received over the years. Each one of these questions gets a chapter. Second, the book pulls back the curtain on what writing professors are thinking, providing insights into the minds of the real people who are assigning college writing. Third, the book draws analogies with non-writing activities or events to help new writers understand what exactly is going on in the writing class and what they should be doing.
This is a magical combination. Answering the most common questions derived over decades of experience, providing professor insights, and connecting college writing to students’ experience outside of the classroom makes for effective and entertaining reading. Let me give you an example.
This is a smart book, friendly, accessible, and clear. It really wore on me. Its aim is to coach students on how to get through a boring and routinely conceived course on freshman composition. Why not write a book instead on how to make that course an intellectually exciting experience?
Aimed at undergrads, this is a lively, engaging, and informative look at some of the questions they will likely ask about writing papers in college. Prendergast covers much, and manages to maintain a tone that is at once serious and entertaining. It would be a lovely addition to a FYC course.