1.3 Why should I care?
Some students who enroll in College Composition may feel apprehensive about taking the course or may not see how it will connect to their educational and professional goals. We want to assure you that the connection is very real. The knowledge and skills you gain from College Composition will set you up for success in your other college courses and beyond.
College Composition sets you up for success in your other college courses. This is because your other instructors will expect you to read complex academic texts and to compose thoughtful, well-executed writing projects of your own. In other words, it doesn’t matter what subject you want to study at LCCC; academic reading and writing will be a big part of your college experience. What you learn in College Composition will ensure that your experience is a rich one.
Admittedly, one or even two writing courses cannot introduce you to every type of academic writing that you may be asked to produce in college. However, what you learn in College Composition about writing summary, analysis, synthesis, and conducting research will help you to compose many common genres of academic writing. These include lab reports, process analyses, literary interpretations, reviews and critiques, essay exams, annotated bibliographies, case studies, argument or position papers, profiles, research proposals, and many others.
College Composition also sets you up for success in your career. This is because employers value skillful writing, critical thinking, and the ability to conduct and share research. In fact, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) report on “What Really Matters for Employment?” finds that written communication is among the top skills that executives and hiring manages look for in job candidates. One respondent to the AAC&U’s survey of employers explains, “I think earning a college degree means that an individual has made a commitment to learn how to analyze problems and think at a higher level than those with just a high school diploma. It means they have learned how to set goals, manage their time, and work in a group to achieve a common goal. It also means they have honed their skills in presenting their ideas orally and in writing” (Watson and McConnell).
Again, College Composition cannot introduce you to every form of professional writing that you may need for your job. Nevertheless, many professional genres require the skills in summary, analysis, synthesis, and research that you will develop in this course. These include professional correspondence, business plans, policy and legal briefs, researched reports, medical charts, grant proposals, case studies, print and online news stories and articles, market analyses, and environmental impact studies, among many others.
Continue Reading: 1.4 How do I write ethically and responsibly?
