Freshman Year: "Get it Write"
Content by Astoria Aviles and Gabrielle Pound, Site by Megan Venable

(printable version here)

It's no secret that the transition from high school to college can be stressful. A lot of first-year students are nervous about the workload they're expected to take on, particularly when it comes to writing. Whether you are an incoming student or someone who simply feels the need to fine tune your writing skills, it never hurts to get a little advice from those of us who have been around for a while!

If you have a problem, don't be afraid to speak up and ask questions. A great way to clear up any misunderstandings is simply to talk to your professor and find out what he or she is looking for.

It can be nerve-wracking for first year students to approach professors, so, in the following pages, we have included video interviews with Dr. Joyce MacAllister, Associate Professor of English and an experienced writing instructor, who has taught in Richmond's First Year Seminar program. What better way to understand expectations and problems than asking the source directly? After each video there is a summary of Dr. MacAllister's main points and links to Writer's Web pages that may be helpful to first year writers.