How to Get a Good English Grade as a College Freshman

At the start of college, it's important to start off strong by getting good grades. Part of that will be doing well in your freshmen English course. Freshmen English courses are important courses to take seriously as good writing skills will be important to your success in college. Universities also put a lot of importance on these classes and use them as a benchmark as a way to gauge how well they believe the students may do in other courses. Freshmen English can be an intimidating course when first entering college, but if you try to keep a few things in mind, it's not so bad.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Getting Organized for College English

1
Get any materials you may need for class. You'll want to be prepared for your upcoming class so make sure you have all the materials you'll need so you're not scrambling at the last minute for them. This could include:
- Notebooks
- Pens/pencils
- Textbooks
2
Have access to some form of word processor. Most classes require you to format your paper a specific way which will require you to have a word processor.
- Most papers will most likely be turned in either online or in hand with a printed hard copy. Keep in mind that some instructors may require that you use a specific word processor.
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3
Keep a journal or have a method prepared to use to help with reading. Make sure you have a method you use to help you understand what you are reading during this course.
- This could look like outlined notes or simply having a hard copy of the reading to annotate.
- There may also be a way to virtually annotate, but use a method that works best for you.
4
Be prepared for research. Introductory English courses typically involve a project that includes research, so be prepared by knowing where you access articles and scholarly papers and keeping ones used organized can be important.
- Another important thing to keep in mind is knowing how your instructors want you to cite sources in your paper. There are many formats you can use to cite things such as MLA or APA, but many instructors will have a specific one that they prefer and should specify to you.
5
Be prepared to take advantage of the course being process-oriented. Most introductory English college courses care more about the process of doing the assignment rather than the final product.
- To be successful, embrace a growth mindset and understand that your writing may not start off where you want it. Realize that throughout the course, your goal will be to grow as a writer. ^{[1]XResearch source}
A major part of your introductory English course will be reflecting on your own work to learn from it. ^{[2]XResearch source}
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Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Tailoring Time Management to Writing Projects

Keeping a schedule for yourself can help you keep track of the different due dates for assignments as well as help you with setting aside time to do homework.
2
Start assignments in advance. Many introductory English courses are project-oriented, so you may find yourself in situations where you have a while to work to complete an assignment. Being prepared to start assignments early and working on them consistently until the due date will help make sure that you're not rushing last minute to complete the assignment.
- Starting early will also make sure you have a sufficient amount of time to ask your instructor questions about the assignment. This will also give you time to revise if need be.
You may find yourself working with a partner or in a group, so dividing work up and scheduling meeting times will be important, especially since you will likely have different schedules to work with.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

In Class

1
Attend every class lecture and workshop. This is very important - a lot of work will be done in class due to the social nature of these courses.
- Introductory English courses are usually workshop-oriented. Being in the classroom ready to participate is crucial in helping you perform better in the course.
It's easy to forget the things learned in class, so it's always a good idea to make sure you're taking plenty of notes.
3
Ask as many questions as you can. Asking questions can be intimidating sometimes but it is also crucial to doing well in the course.
- Asking too many questions rather than too few is a good thing because if you're unsure of something and you never ask, you may not do as well as you hoped.
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Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Using Campus Resources

1
Use your easiest resource - your instructor. Your instructor is the one teaching the course, so of course they should know what they're talking about. Reach out to them and ask if you need help with anything.
- Your instructor should have office hours. Keep that in mind as well and try to go as often as possible, even if it's just to check-in. See if there are any areas you could improve in.
2
Check for any campus tutoring for writing. There will usually be some form of writing workshop or tutoring program on campus. If you ever need help with sharpening your writing skills, have someone look at your paper to let you know how it looks.
- This also includes things like writing centers that you can go to for things such as advice on papers or help with writing.
- Keep in mind that if you require special learning accommodations your campus should offer something.
Libraries are usually full of different people that are willing to help you find resources or help you out with other needs such as writing advice. Talk to your librarian and ask if they can direct you to any resources within the library.
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Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Understanding Assignment Expectations

1
Know common types of assignments. Understanding the common types of assignments you will be working with will allow you to prepare and sharpen your skills in key areas that will allow you to have a higher chance of success in doing these assignments. Some common assignments in introductory freshman English courses are:
- Analysis papers
- Rhetorical analysis papers
- Research papers
- Argument papers
- Reflection essays
- Infographics or multimodal essays
2
Know common mistakes one may make. Keeping in mind the common mistakes that most people tend to make, or even common mistakes you find yourself making, and trying to notice and stop them as you're doing them will give you a higher chance of doing well. Some common mistakes include:
- Not formatting your paper properly
- Waiting until the last minute to do an assignment
- Skipping class
- Forgetting basic materials
Understanding and recognizing some basic things you can to do to help ensure you get a better grade will always be helpful. Observe other students who typically seem to perform well and try to see what they do to help themselves. Talk to your instructor and ask them what some students have done in the past that helped them perform better.
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