The Difference Between High School and College Writing
What is the difference between high school and college writing?
The main difference between high school and college writing is the shift from summary to analysis. High school writing often follows a rigid five-paragraph structure and focuses on demonstrating knowledge of facts. College writing requires original arguments, complex structures, and the use of peer-reviewed evidence to contribute to academic conversations.
Comparison: High School vs. College Writing
Characteristics of High School Writing
In high school, writing is often used as a tool to prove you have read the assigned material. Teachers look for a clear introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion that restates the main points. The language is often descriptive rather than analytical. Students are generally taught to avoid the first person and stick to a predictable flow to ensure all required components are present for standardized grading rubrics.
Characteristics of College Writing
College writing expects you to move beyond what happened to explain why or how it happened. Professors assume you know the facts and want to see how you interpret them. This level of writing requires a sophisticated thesis statement that someone could reasonably disagree with. You must also engage with 'the conversation' of your field, meaning you cite other scholars to support or contrast your views. Structure is flexible and should be dictated by the logic of your argument rather than a set paragraph count.
Example: Analyzing The Great Gatsby
<strong>High School Approach (Summary):</strong><br>In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the green light to represent Gatsby's dreams. This essay will show how Gatsby looks at the light, how it represents Daisy, and how he fails to reach it in the end.<br><br><strong>College Approach (Analysis):</strong><br>While the green light is traditionally viewed as a symbol of Gatsby’s romantic hope, it more accurately functions as a critique of the American Dream's inherent commodification. By examining Gatsby’s proximity to the light against the economic barriers of West Egg, one can see that the 'dream' is structurally inaccessible to the nouveau riche.
Tip for Success
When you enter college, stop trying to write for your professor and start writing for a skeptical reader. Don't just tell the reader what a source says; explain why that source matters to your specific argument. If you can remove a paragraph and your essay still makes sense, that paragraph was likely filler summary and should be replaced with deeper analysis.
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