Assignment: Writing Strategies

Objectives

  • Describe the purpose of writing assignments and what an instructor might expect to see from your writing
  • Identify common types of writing tasks in a college class

Directions

  1. Review the syllabi for courses you’re taking this term. Make note of the writing-based assignments you’ll be asked to complete for each course you’re taking. For each one, identify the following:
    • what kind of writing task it is (essay, journal, memo, annotated bibliography, online discussion, scientific report, etc.)
    • how much of your course grade it represents
    • how much time you estimate it will take you to complete
    • what the purpose of the assignment seems to be – why it is a graded requirement of the class
  2. Compare the list you’ve generated with a small group of your classmates. How do their lists of writing assignments compare to your own? What are some common factors across writing assignments? What are some notable differences?