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

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)

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.

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.)

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.

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.