Question

In high school, Daphne excelled in English, earning mostly A’s on her papers. She had a knack for figuring out what teachers wanted to read and knew how to deliver the material in a clean, articulate fashion. So Daphne wasn’t all that concerned when she had her first big essay due in her first-year composition class. She chose a topic that was very important to her and started the paper three nights before it was due, finished it the following day, and turned the essay in early. She was confident that she would receive another A.

When she got her essay back, however, Daphne was dismayed to see that she had earned only a C. Her instructor’s comments noted a lack of original thought, disorganized structure, and several typos as the reasons for the lower-than-expected grade. Daphne was crushed. Why were her usual writing methods failing her now?


1. What was one thing Daphne did wrong in writing the first paper?

She started and finished the paper very quickly, not allowing much time for following the steps of the writing process.
She chose a topic that was important to her.
She should have repurposed one of her successful high school papers instead of writing a new one.
She let her writing process stretch for more than one day. She should have started and finished the paper in one sitting.
2. What is one thing Daphne did right in writing the paper?

She wrote about a topic that was important to her.
She used the same tried and true writing process that earned her all A’s in high school.
She waited until just the right time to start writing, any earlier and the writing process would have dragged on too long probably causing her to lose focus on her thesis. Any later and she would have been struggling to get it done on time.
She turned the paper in early, showing initiative.
3. If she truly wants to write “A” papers, what is one thing Daphne should NOT do?

Start preparing to write by filling her mind with information from other sources.
Seek help from the writing center or a librarian early on in the process.
Spend too much time writing the paper and not allow enough time for revising.
Master the art of paraphrasing.

Answer 1

Daphne did not allow enough time for revising and editing, but chose an important topic. To improve, she should not neglect revision time and should engage with the text and maintain a clear thesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When looking at Daphne's approach to writing her first college essay, it becomes clear that one thing she did wrong was starting and finishing the paper very quickly, and not allowing much time for the important steps of the writing process. This likely impeded her ability to properly organize her thoughts, revise, and edit her draft for typos and clarity. On the contrary, one thing she did right was choosing a topic that was personally important to her, which can often result in more passionate and engaged writing. However, if she truly wants to write “A” papers, one thing Daphne should not do is spend too much time writing the paper without leaving sufficient time for revising, as the revision process is crucial for strengthening the essay's structure and arguments.

To improve her writing, Daphne can embrace different strategies, such as freewriting, creating formal outlines, and engaging in “close reading” of the text, which can foster a better analysis and avoid excessive summary. Critical reading and dialogue with the text, coupled with a clear thesis that drives the structure of the paper, are imperative. Daphne should remember that all writing, even the portions that don't make it to the final draft, is valuable in evolving her ideas and arguments.

Answer 2

1. First option
2. Last option
3. Second option