Writing

When I arrived to college I tought: I am ready to face college and any subject. However, I realized that my positive attitude was not the only skill necessary to pass my classes. Now after reading “An open letter to ninth graders”, I question myself if I am ready for college. Do I really read for pleasure? Will I be able to spend an afternoon reading one topic in English? And most important, do I have the wish to do my best in order to improve my skills in English?

“An open letter to ninth graders” by Patrick Sullivan published in 2006 is not just a letter to ninth graders. It is an article to the general public and those who are interested in higher education offered at colleges. Some of the key points he talks about in this letter that tell you how to succeed are, reading, writing, thinking, listening and grit. Patrick Sullivan in detail describes to you that reading is essential to being successful in a liberal arts education. In addition to reading, comprehending is also just as necessary to survive college. If you associate the terms, “work” or “discomfort” with reading, then you most likely don’t like to read and therefore you will have a tough time understanding what is being tought to you, and will not go very far.

What is college level writing? Writing was also another topic that Patrick Sullivan discusses in this letter. He states that you should go into college with the mindset that you can always improve on your writing. Don’t go in there believing that you have already mastered that art of writing. As a skill, reading must be trained and improved over time by more reading. A whole range of behavioral and attitudinal qualities are also essential who anyone who hopes to be successful college level writer. Here I list some of the most important skills which I need to enter in college, work through “panic”, do library research, brainstorm in note form, develop a thesis, and I think the same as some other students this skills deserve to be underscored.

Mr. Sullivan states that “strong reading comprehension skills do not guarantee that you are ready for college”, and it is because we need to read with commitment and love for what we read, not for obligation. I agree with this fact for a simple reason. I, as normal student college, have 12 hour’s credit this semester, so that means 4 class in the week. Sometimes I need to read a book, sometimes two, besides the study guides that some teachers give me and the extra information doing research in the library or internet. Therefore, if the student does not like to read, college will probably be very difficult, confusing and a frustrating experience. There is an extra reading related strength that Patrick Sullivan establishes: “Students who are ready for college have to read some good books as well as some important books while they were in high school.” The most important books that I had to read in high school were: Cien anos

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