My Message to Students

Freshman Composition is in the position of gatekeeper to the college, teaching not just writing skills, but orienting the student socially to college level work and classroom propriety. College is different from high school. So, I will offer some thoughts on how to thrive in college. I will also throw in some dire warnings. I am not very comfortable in the role of cop, but students often put me in that role, so if you are a diligent student, I hope you will not be put off by any of the warnings that will not apply to you.

First, in life there may be nothing more valuable than a good habit and nothing harder to get rid of than a bad one. The older you get, the harder it is to break a bad habit, and the younger you are, the easier it is to establish a new one, good or bad. You can, as a young person, adapt quickly, but only if you challenge yourself to do so; therefore, consider stepping outside of your comfort zone for a moment and asking yourself what activities help and hinder you, especially in the long term. There is a part of you that wants what it wants right now, but that part of you can be disastrous to follow when it comes to the long run. Regardless of what they tell you, by the way, your future is not that long, so don’t waste it on passive, counter-productive activities. What you do is as important in establishing your character as what you say, so don’t forget to walk the walk. Use your actions to sculpt your character into what you want it to be.

Some bad habits that are typically harmful to students are gaming or substance addictions and procrastination. Some good habits that are typically helpful to students are studying and completing assignments on time, reading, eating your vegetables, and exercising regularly.

Procrastination is often a big issue, and it sometimes kills college careers. A fact that might empower you to conquer procrastination is that being chronically late is thought of by some psychologists as just an unconscious power play. That is, being a dollar short and a day late forces everyone to accommodate you, and in that way, some part of the procrastinator feels like s/he is in charge. Awareness of this dynamic may help you take real control over your life rather than the illusory control of trying to force others to alter their plans.

About this issue, my father used to say, “Always be where you say you are going to be, when you say you are going to be there.” I think I will add to that. “Always be where you say you are going to be, when you say you are going to be there, with what you say you are going to bring with you.” Sometimes when he was not pleased with something I did, he would say, “That’s not good enough for you.” I still hear that voice in my head sometimes, and it ends up making me do better. So, consider installing a little voice inside your own head that says, “That’s not good enough for you,” each time you consider blowing off a deadline. You can imagine me saying it if you like.

Click here to go to a 6th Century BC guide to warfare that can be applied to any kind of modern problem or obstacle in one's life.

One counter-productive attitude I see fairly often is a general resentment of being here. You should never sit in class thinking that you are here because you have to be. You are an adult, and so you are free to hitchhike to Colorado to become a white-water rafting guide, and you are encouraged to do that if it is your dream. I am not here to inhibit anyone's freedom, but there are rules to being in class. However, if you do not like the class, you can also try making suggestions. I actually like them, and try to incorporate student suggestions into lesson plans whenever I can.

Well, it is a prerequisite, right? So, in a way, I am forcing it on you, right? You do have to take the class in order to get your degree. You may be thinking, “I’m an artist. I shouldn’t have to learn to write papers!” Well, writing goes with the territory. It is college. “Why do I have to write papers?” I hear you say. I seem to remember asking the same type of thing about learning how to read when I was a little kid. “Why do I have to learn to read?” Same deal.

Own your education. Make it yours. You may be thinking that in a few years, when you graduate, you will enter the “real world.” This is a wasteful way of thinking about college. College is the real world. You are in it right now. Look for any opportunity to make connections in your field or connect your education to commercial or community projects. In this way, you can make your time here much more valuable. Not only that, your successes will be a source of pride for this institution and may very well become a source of revenue, experience, and further opportunities for you.

Some Rules and Further Suggestions

You will be asked, and by “asked” I mean “told,” to leave class if
• I catch any of your electronic devices beeping, buzzing, or vibrating
• You use any electronic devices except to take notes on class material
• You disrupt class by excessive whispering, talking, murmuring, snickering, making of noises, etc. Do participate, and ask questions, but keep your comments public and on-topic.

List of Things Students Need

Required in Class!
• Book
• Paper
• Writing implement

Strongly Suggested
• Notebook with Tabs
• Compact Stapler
• USB Flash Drive
• Three-hole punch
• 6” ruler

Things Adults Need to Stay Organized and Competitive
• Filing System (Very inexpensive, compact, plastic, portable filing boxes are now available.)
• Computer + Printer, Scanner, Backup Drive, & Fax. (I know faxes are ridiculous, but most business, government, and legal transactions seem to still rely on them.)
• Desk W/Chair
• Cell Phone
• Watch (Optional if you get a cell phone or Blackberry. However, be warned that some human resources people might secretly have a rule of not hiring someone without a watch.)

Strategies for Freshman Composition

You are expected to come to every class. However, DMAC understands that things happen. For your first three absences, there is no need to apologize, present an excuse, or say anything to the teacher about them. The first three absences are yours to manage for any major family obligations, serious illnesses, or severe logistical problems you encounter. Do not use them because you would rather go home and watch Lost; however, if you choose to use the three absences to go to the beach or play WoW, that is none of my business, ultimately. However, after the first three absences, you are walking on thin ice and will need a signed, written excuse. Acceptable excuses would be a death in your immediate family, your car falling into a sink hole with you in it, or being diagnosed with a serious illness. Even if your excuses are legitimate, four or more absences will make it difficult for you to pass the class. It is strongly suggested that you use your absences only if you need them. If you use them unnecessarily, you may ruin things for yourself.

This is not a blow-off class. Take my word for it. An uncomfortable percentage of students failed last semester, and there were several clear-cut cases of plagiarism that resulted in the students failing. Okay, enough of the warnings and cop stuff. Welcome to Freshman Composition. This class is not curved, so that means I can give you all A's if you deserve them! I am rooting for you! Work hard!