How to Make Writing Relevant to Students

In senior high school, students are often asked to write about topics within their personal lives or about topics that are of special interest for them. However, in college, that changes. Professors usually ask students to create about more general topics, and as a result, the subject matter might not be as interesting to the student. Many college students disengage from academic writing because they don't understand how the writing is relevant to their life.

Subject Matter

One way to reduce the shock that some students experience in the transition between high school and college writing is to create the first few assignments personal. For example, allow the students to create an argumentative paper about a topic that is vital that you them, such as vegetarianism or gun control. Once they understand the procedure of researching and writing an argumentative paper, the students can transition to topics which are less controversial or more academic.

Draw on their Areas

Encourage students to write about topics in their areas. Freshman and sophomores in introductory composition courses may not know a great deal about their chosen majors yet, and allowing them to analyze and write about an issue in their field may engage their interest. In addition, choosing topics that are highly relevant to their majors will help them explore their career route, which will help students make informed decisions about their own majors and future careers. For instance, a psychology major may decide that he wants to become a drug and addiction counselor through writing about opportunities within his field.

Make Assignments Engaging

Some assignments can't be produced personal, such as a critique of a novel. In this instance, choose reading materials or assignments that will interest most students within their age group. For example, choose a novel that discusses problems that impact the students, such as racism, bullying, or getting independent. Alternatively, instead of having students analyze the rhetorical appeals utilized in an article, have them examine ads or watch a well known documentary and analyze the appeals used in the movie.

Explain the Relevance

You won't capture every student's interest together with your assignments. Some students struggle with writing or researching, and they'll find any writing assignment difficult or boring. The best that you can do in this case is to explain what skills the actual assignment will teach them, and how that will be relevant within their life once they graduate. For example, students need to understand how to write a well-researched, reasoned argument because they will encounter that situation over and over in their lives, whether it is arguing against a workplace policy or writing a letter towards the editor of their local newspaper.