Proficiency in language and writing is on the decline nationwide, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and the Obama administration invited associate professor Susan Miller-Cochran to participate in a discussion forum to improve students’ preparation for college.
The White House hosted the community leaders briefing series Oct. 7 to facilitate interaction between high schools and colleges to make students “college ready.” The initiative follows concerns that were raised by representatives from the national Council of Writing Program Administrators that the common core standards addresses writing instruction narrowly.
“The department of education encourages participation in the discussion about the common core standards, and we discussed some of the differences between high school and college writing,” Susan Miller-Cochran, associate professor, department of English and director of First-Year Writing program, said. “Students repeatedly practice a narrowly defined, five-paragraph writing model in school that does not work in college and beyond.”
According to Miller-Cochran, students are not always prepared for the kind of writing required in college.
“They seem to be focusing on just three kinds of writing: argumentative, descriptive and exposition,” she said. “Every discipline in college requires different approaches to writing. For instance, writing an experimental study or a lab report in biology is different from writing a research or a business proposal. Students are also tending to prepare keeping standardized tests in mind. We brought this up. “
Representatives also cautioned the administration on the concept of earning college credits while in high school.
“I say this again keeping the writing instruction in mind,” Miller-Cochran said. “Writing instruction in advanced placement program is different from those taught in colleges.”
Fulfilling college-level requirements in high school saves time and money, according to Miller-Cochran. But, for this to succeed, there must be better articulation between high schools and colleges.
“Our task now is to speak with state-level officials to discuss how the Common Core Standards will be implemented, assessed, and incorporated into the curriculum and to improve articulation between high school and college. There aren’t specific improvements or changes that students would see in either our curriculum at NC State or at the high school level that I can point to at this time, but our hope is that improved communication between stakeholders will help students to be better prepared for what is expected at the college level.”
