Academic Writing vs. Fiction

[carsonshepherd]

I'm heading back to school after 15 years, as some of you may know, and due to my test scores I have the opportunity to "test out" of first year English. We won't discuss my math placement. Anyway, the testing involves writing three essays on three separate days in the testing center, with only what resources they provide for research, etc, and then I'll be evaluated. I'm certainly not worried about spelling and style, and I know I can write at a college level, but it's been a long time since I've written anything academic. I've been looking at some academic writing guides, trying to get back in the essay zone, remembering just what you're supposed to be doing when you write an academic paper.

I don't want to just lowball it - show up knowing that my writing talent will carry me through. That might be true, but I'd like to be prepared somewhat. If I'm prepared, there won't be any surprises. Has anyone else done this CLEP testing to get credit for first-year English, or had anything to do with the evaluations thereof? I'm concerned about the topics, what research I'll be given the opportunity to do, and the format they expect. Thanks!

 

[cloudy]

I tested out of first year english, Carson, but it's been so long ago I'm not sure what I remember would be any help.

As I recall, what we were required to write was your basic freshman essay - which may only be difficult for you because you're so far beyond that.

State your thesis (first paragraph), back it up with evidence (why you believe your thesis), then a summary (last paragraph). Most of mine weren't much over a page long.

Not sure if that's any help or not, but I have confidence that you'll do just fine.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I tested out of first year english, Carson, but it's been so long ago I'm not sure what I remember would be any help.

As I recall, what we were required to write was your basic freshman essay - which may only be difficult for you because you're so far beyond that.

State your thesis (first paragraph), back it up with evidence (why you believe your thesis), then a summary (last paragraph). Most of mine weren't much over a page long.

Not sure if that's any help or not, but I have confidence that you'll do just fine.

That's what my mom said but hers was about 28 years ago
Sounds like a high school essay test to me. *was the king of essay tests*

 

[oggbashan]

...State your thesis (first paragraph), back it up with evidence (why you believe your thesis), then a summary (last paragraph). Most of mine weren't much over a page long.

Not sure if that's any help or not, but I have confidence that you'll do just fine.

I have no experience of that system but I would add to Cloudy's post: List the sources at the end. You'll only have a few but quote them.

Og.

PS. I'n probably going to need academic advice myself shortly. I'm considering a part-time MA in Creative Writing. They need a 2,000 to 5,000 word piece of prose fiction to assess...

And a referee who knows my work!

 

[carsonshepherd]

I have no experience of that system but I would add to Cloudy's post: List the sources at the end. You'll only have a few but quote them.

Og.

PS. I'n probably going to need academic advice myself shortly. I'm considering a part-time MA in Creative Writing. They need a 2,000 to 5,000 word piece of prose fiction to assess...

And a referee who knows my work!

Good luck Ogg!

 

[Quiet_Cool]

State your thesis (first paragraph), back it up with evidence (why you believe your thesis), then a summary (last paragraph). Most of mine weren't much over a page long.

Yep. I dunno much about the difference between Freshman and anything else. Haven't been to school in nearly 8 years. I'd add to remember that in your thesis paragraph, you want to end it with a thesis sentence which states your exact points. "Such and such is true because A, B and C."

When you begin each point, restate each supporting reason in its own sentence. Then go from there.

That's if i remember right. I didn't pay much attention. I, unlike you, chose to cruise through on my writing abilities. Didn't help me much in History though. Essay tests and all (judge by length of handwritten answer; my handwriting is smaller than most, two and a half pages per answer, three answers per test, and fifty minutes to do so in worked against me. So did the fact that I kept falling alseep in class).

Good luck, Carson.

Q_C

 

[tanyachrs]

I think whatever they taught you in high school about writing essays is valid at any level. The thinking gets more complex but the structure stays the same. You want to try to stick to the 1-3-1 rule. One part intro, three parts amplification, one part summary. Do that at the micro and macro level. Probably your essay will be 5 paragraphs long. Each paragraph should be 5 sentences. If longer, you'll have 5 sections of 5 paragraphs each, etc. Make each group of 5 into 1-3-1 and use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and I think you'll ace it.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I highly recommend A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker. We were required to buy it in first year English and I think it would be a great thing to look through prior to your test. If you are allowed to have such with you, it is also a very easily used and accesible reference book.

 

[Grushenka]

Mr. Shepherd: I'm an academic and very familiar with American college entrance requirements. I read a few paras from among a few of your stories. Trust me, you will do fine.

'Placement' essays are graded through amazingly quick scans (human) and require minimal writing skills (complete sentences, sensible paragraphs, clear references, basic grammar). The process says more about the dire state of U.S. education than particular talents or techniques.

Grushenka

 

[carsonshepherd]

Mr. Shepherd: I'm an academic and very familiar with American college entrance requirements. I read a few paras from among a few of your stories. Trust me, you will do fine.

'Placement' essays are graded through amazingly quick scans (human) and require minimal writing skills (complete sentences, sensible paragraphs, clear references, basic grammar). The process says more about the dire state of U.S. education than particular talents or techniques.

Grushenka

That's what I thought, but it discourages me that it means that just being better than most people equates being talented.

 

[Grushenka]

That's what I thought, but it discourages me that it means that just being better than most people equates being talented.

Yes, but imagine how much more discouraging it is for the professors. Good news for you: you will be very welcomed!

A friend of mine tears her hair out every time she grades papers and exams. At least half simply cannot be graded. She's too kind, and rather than simply giving a failing grade she instructs them to go to the writing center and have a tutor help rewrite the piece.

Anyway, I meant to congratulate you on returning to school. I did the same and ended up loving academe. Whatever your goals, good luck (and have fun too).

Gru

 

[carsonshepherd]

Yes, but imagine how much more discouraging it is for the professors. Good news for you: you will be very welcomed!

A friend of mine tears her hair out every time she grades papers and exams. At least half simply cannot be graded. She's too kind, and rather than simply giving a failing grade she instructs them to go to the writing center and have a tutor help rewrite the piece.

Anyway, I meant to congratulate you on returning to school. I did the same and ended up loving academe. Whatever your goals, good luck (and have fun too).

Gru

Thanks.

I'm not going into a language field, I'm actually going into a scientific field and hoping to use my writing talents in journals and articles, etc. What you describe with your friend is why I was never that interested in school - the classes, geared to people with no writing skills, were boring. I'm hoping college will be a little different...

 

[TitilateMe]

I know I don't post around here much, but I just finished college with an English degree.

What the others have told you has been great advice. You may want to bone up on MLA format, including parenthetical citation, especially since it's different from APA or Chicago style that you might be more familiar with. Oh, and make sure you brush up on the Works Cited formats for the basics in MLA as well.

While it's true that it's likely that the person reading your papers might just be scanning to be sure you can handle the organization of the paper and you employ the right word choices to sound "smart," some people get hung up on the minutiae that's often taught in freshman English classes.

I know this mostly because I was a tutor at the college level after testing out of English 101 myself. Congrats on this, by the way. It'll save you some money!

 

[cantdog]

Mr. Shepherd: I'm an academic and very familiar with American college entrance requirements. I read a few paras from among a few of your stories. Trust me, you will do fine.

'Placement' essays are graded through amazingly quick scans (human) and require minimal writing skills (complete sentences, sensible paragraphs, clear references, basic grammar). The process says more about the dire state of U.S. education than particular talents or techniques.

Grushenka

Very succintly put, Grushenka. B+

 

[Grushenka]

Very succintly put, Grushenka. B+

You dog, you. Well, that screws up my 4.0 average.

 

[cantdog]

Love you, kid. Isn't it astonishing how a question like this, or indeed most any question we ask on these boards, will bring up genuine experts? He could never have asked this anyplace else in the real world and gotten so many genuinely knowledgeable responses.

This place is a gold mine. Carson know this, of course. I met him as a gay sailorman av and a smile, but we go 'way back. (Great to see you posting, Carson!)

Gotta love the AH.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Love you, kid. Isn't it astonishing how a question like this, or indeed most any question we ask on these boards, will bring up genuine experts? He could never have asked this anyplace else in the real world and gotten so many genuinely knowledgeable responses.

This place is a gold mine. Carson know this, of course. I met him as a gay sailorman av and a smile, but we go 'way back. (Great to see you posting, Carson!)

Gotta love the AH.

There are quite a few smart people here. I know where it's at.

(Peace, cant)

 

[jushorny]

You mean to say, this isn't about writing smut?

 

[cantdog]

What isn't about writing smut? It's all connected.

I think that at least as believable as the second law, about entropy, is the Law of Conservation of Connectedness.

 

[Matadore]

Smut?

You mean to say, this isn't about writing smut?

Aw don't be too disappointed. This isn't just only writing about smut...well it is, but it's a pretty good quality of smut. Maybe Carson, you could consider writing a learned paper about the difference between really good smut and just the run of the mill "wanna be" smutsters?

 

[The_Fool]

What isn't about writing smut? It's all connected.

I think that at least as believable as the second law, about entropy, is the Law of Conservation of Connectedness.

I thought the second law was wait till she was good and drunk before trying to pick her up?

 

[LadyAria]

I'm heading back to school after 15 years, as some of you may know, and due to my test scores I have the opportunity to "test out" of first year English. We won't discuss my math placement. Anyway, the testing involves writing three essays on three separate days in the testing center, with only what resources they provide for research, etc, and then I'll be evaluated. I'm certainly not worried about spelling and style, and I know I can write at a college level, but it's been a long time since I've written anything academic. I've been looking at some academic writing guides, trying to get back in the essay zone, remembering just what you're supposed to be doing when you write an academic paper.

I don't want to just lowball it - show up knowing that my writing talent will carry me through. That might be true, but I'd like to be prepared somewhat. If I'm prepared, there won't be any surprises. Has anyone else done this CLEP testing to get credit for first-year English, or had anything to do with the evaluations thereof? I'm concerned about the topics, what research I'll be given the opportunity to do, and the format they expect. Thanks!

I taught English 111 & 112 when I was in Grad School. It's a really easy formula.

Thesis Statement
Supporting Idea 1
Supporting Idea 2
Supporting Idea 3
Restatement of Thesis

Supporting Idea 1 (evidence)
Support Statement 1 for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 2 for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 3 for how Idea proves Thesis
Restatement of Supporting Idea 1 as proven evidence based on argument

Supporting Idea 2 (evidence)
Support Statement 1 for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 2 for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 3 for how Idea proves Thesis
Restatement of Supporting Idea 2 as proven evidence based on argument

Supporting Idea 3 (evidence)
Support Statement 1 for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 2for how Idea proves Thesis
Support Statement 3 for how Idea proves Thesis
Restatement of Supporting Idea 3 as proven evidence based on argument

Conclusion (Thesis restated with strength)
Supporting Idea 1 supports Thesis
Supporting Idea 2 supports Thesis
Supporting Idea 3 supports Thesis
Restatement of Thesis as proven evidence based on argument

If you make an outline, the paper will write itself in 10 minutes. You can spend the rest of the time on grammar. Structure and grammar are more important then an interesting subject for freshman english.

 

[cumallday]

Whatever your thesis, include a follow up question in the conclusion. This is especially true if you plan on going into science.

 

[Grushenka]

Thesis Statement
Supporting Idea 1
Supporting Idea 2
Supporting Idea 3
Restatement of Thesis ...
...
Structure and grammar are more important then an interesting subject for freshman english.

So true (and I learned that in middle school). Your brilliantly brief outline made me laugh thinking on all the 'how to write' books and courses and gurus that help 'subsidize' American education. Wonderful post, I'm cutting/pasting it to hand out. If I had the nerve I'd stand in a campus forum and hand 'em out like the religious/politico fanatics do with their usually ill-written tracts.

 

[kairotic]

As a college english teacher myself, I'd just chime with everyone else here. Your style should do more than enough to carry you through. Speaking from personal experience, though, try not to get too hung up on the 5-paragraph template. Craft a solid thesis and develop as much support as you think is necessary -- for a short placement essay, 2 supporting paragraphs that are tight and concise will do more than 2 support paragraphs plus a third that's tacked on out of some numerical fetish.

Beyond that, don't be afraid of style. Make your points, but don't feel the need to be purely bland and technical. Although, you did (i think) say you were going into science, where they get down with that sort of thing. Who knows?