So You've Got a Writing Assignment. Now What?

Chapter Description

Interpreting writing assignments can be a challenge for anyone. For first-year college students, however, it can be an overwhelming struggle as students learn to adjust to new academic pressures and expectations.What is my instructor evaluating? Do I need an argument? How do I structure my response? Questions like these trouble the minds of many undergraduates and, for several reasons, they frequently go unanswered. This chapter gives students practical strategies for interpreting writing assignments, including how to identify important rhetorical elements, how to calculate and respond to common expectations, and how to recognize and discuss specific points of confusion.