how to survive a college literature course

by Phyllis Witting 3 min read

Here's how to succeed in your literature class from high school through college. Be on Time Even on the first day of class, you might miss out on important details (and homework assignments) if you're even 5 minutes late for class. In order to discourage tardiness, some teachers refuse to accept homework if you're not there when class starts.

How to Survive your Literature Class
  1. Finding the purpose. ...
  2. Once you're in, you're in. ...
  3. Build a great relationship with your professors. ...
  4. Don't forget to pay attention and take notes. ...
  5. Participate.
Aug 9, 2012

Full Answer

How can I succeed in my literature class?

Here's how to succeed in your literature class from high school through college. Even on the first day of class, you might miss out on important details (and homework assignments) if you're even 5 minutes late for class. In order to discourage tardiness, some teachers refuse to accept homework if you're not there when class starts.

How do I prepare for a literature class?

To start out, do your reading. This seems like a no-brainer, but it is very easy to make the mistake of forgetting it, claiming you’ll read it right before class, or something along those lines. Most literature classes you will take in college will involve very heavy reading.

Should I teach college literature class?

Teaching a college literature course for the first time can be intimidating. However, if you are well-prepared, the idea of teaching college literature class should start to sound fun and exciting.

What are the biggest challenges of teaching college literature?

One of the biggest challenges of teaching college literature is getting your students to come to class prepared. One way to motivate your students to do the readings and come to class ready to discuss them is to give daily reading quizzes.

How hard is college literature?

Most literature classes you will take in college will involve very heavy reading. You're in college, so the expectation is to be able to analyze more complicated subject matter. The unfortunate cause of this is five pages of homework that can take an hour to read.

How do you survive college English class?

5 Useful Tips for Passing English 101 in CollegeHone Your Writing Skills. Writing well means writing concisely, clearly, and effectively. ... Learn Basic Grammar. As mentioned previously, English 101 classes generally don't focus on grammar. ... Know How to Craft a Compelling Essay. ... Use Sources Thoughtfully. ... Build Upon Feedback.

What do you learn in a college literature class?

An introduction to reading and analyzing these primary genres of literature: fiction, poetry, and drama. The course may also include creative nonfiction. Students will respond critically to readings of different historical and cultural contexts through class discussion and written evidence-based literary arguments.

How do you prepare for a literature class?

Exam Preparation: How to prepare for the Literature examRead and re-read your texts. ... Learn quotations. ... Read around your text. ... Talk your ideas through. ... Go back over your own work. ... Study style – select and scrutinise significant/striking/special sections. ... Get to know VCAA a little better. ... Write sample paragraphs.More items...•

Is English class hard?

The English language is widely regarded as one of the most difficult to master. Because of its unpredictable spelling and challenging to learn grammar, it is challenging for both learners and native speakers.

What does 101 mean in college?

Freshman level classThe first number indicates year (101 = Freshman level class) 101/Freshman, 201/Sophomore, 301/Junior, 401/Senior. Anything above these numbers is usually a graduate level course. The last two numbers indicate subject level relative to other classes offered in that department (ENG101 = Basic English course). 8.

Why is literature so hard?

Literature deals with things that are rarely talked about in everyday life. Things that in themselves are not as clear as the stuff we convey in pragmatic speech. These are often experiences that are fundamentally human and thus complex.

How can I be good in literature?

7 Reading Hacks To Improve Your Literary SkillsDon't read in bed. Okay, we all love reading in bed. ... Read alone. Reading isn't a group activity, and it certainly isn't one facilitated by Gchat or Twitter. ... Read in print if possible. ... Underline. ... Take notes. ... Reread for clarity. ... Read aloud, or mouth along.

How can I understand literature better?

How to read and understand classic literatureLearn about the historical period of a book.Read summaries of the work. ... Ask questions. ... Consider reading an annotated edition. ... Don't stop reading. ... Make comments in the margins of the text. ... Try reading and learning with a group. ... Tell someone what you have read.More items...•

How many hours should a literature student study?

So based on the discussed research and my personal experience I recommend about 7 or 6 hours per day of studying for most students.

How do you pass English literature?

Plan your time. ... Annotate. ... Attempt all the questions on the texts you have studied. ... Answer the question asked! ... Track through the extract in the extract questions. ... Know when context is assessed. ... Write a short plan for the essay questions. ... Track your character or theme across the whole text.More items...

Is English literature easy?

No,it isn't hard to study. To study english literature,one must understand the english language. Once we understand it, it becomes easy and interesting.

How to be your own adult in college?

That being said, remember that college is the time when you learn how to be your own adult. Make choices that line up with your values and make you happy. Remember that sometimes, you and your parents or other authority figures may disagree , and that's okay.

How to deal with stress as a college student?

2. Deal with stress through exercise . Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage the stress that you are dealing with as a college student. You might think that you are too tired or do not have time to fit this in, but it will give you so much more energy that it will be more than worth it.

What can I keep in my dorm room?

Even if you don’t have a refrigerator or microwave, you can keep whole-wheat bread, some peanut butters, granola bars, apples, bananas, some jerkies, and nuts in your dorm room. If you have access to a refrigerator or microwave, you can expand to milk, yogurt, more fruit, and veggie burgers.

How to maximize your money on a scholarship?

If you have a scholarship that includes a meal plan, maximize your money by eating as many meals on-campus as you can.

What are accommodations in college?

Colleges and universities offer accommodations to students who require them for both physical and mental reasons. Accommodations can include changes to how you take tests, turn in assignments, and more. However, you will have to be proactive to secure these accommodations for yourself.

How to live with roommates?

Learn to live with roommates. Sharing a room is challenging, especially if you have never had to do so before. Start off on the right foot by talking about how the space should be used, and respect those decisions once they are made. This includes decisions about both the physical space and behavior.

What is a reference librarian?

Most libraries have reference librarians for specific areas, such as hard sciences, music, or English. If you have a big project, it's a good idea to ask for a consultation with the reference librarian in your subject. She stays up to date with all the latest research and can guide you to the best sources. ...

Be on Time

Even on the first day of class, you might miss out on important details (and homework assignments) if you're even 5 minutes late for class. In order to discourage tardiness, some teachers refuse to accept homework if you're not there when class starts.

Buy the Books at the Beginning of the Term

Or, if the books are being provided, be sure you have the book when you need to start your reading. Don't wait until the last minute to start reading the book. Some literature students wait to buy some of their books until half-way through the semester/quarter.

Be Prepared

Be sure you know what the reading assignment is for the day, and read the selection more than once. Also, read through the discussion questions before class.

Be Sure You Understand

If you've read through the assignment and the discussion questions, and you still don't understand what you've read, start thinking about why! If you're having difficulty with the terminology, look up any words you don't understand. If you can't concentrate on the assignment, read the selection out loud.

Ask Questions!

Remember: if you think the question is confusing, there are probably other students in your class who are wondering the same thing. Ask your teacher; ask your classmate, or ask for help from the Writing/Tutoring Center.

What You Need

Always make sure you come to class prepared. Have a notebook or tablet to take notes, pens, a dictionary, and other critical resources with you at class and while you are doing work at home.

How to get over college life?

Believe me when I say that is so easy to get caught up in ‘the college life’ that you forget to call your dear old mom and dad. Make time to reach out to your family and friends back home. Give your old man a call out of the blue. Facebook your mom and tell her that you love her. Tell that old friend from High School that you miss them. It is important to remember keep in contact with love ones. It is important to remember where you are from-or-it’s keen to remember where your roots grow… so to speak. Keeping in contact with family and friends gives you an unbelievable boost of confidence and strength to deal with the next go ‘round of ‘the college life’.

How to change your life while in college?

Change for the better, but do not lose who you are to fit into specific group. Make good, long-lasting, healthy changes as well. As long as these changes will bring positivity and add to your life (and not subtract from it), it’s all breezy. Get comfortable with who you are because ‘you’ are going to be with ‘you’ for the rest of your days-so you might as well learn to love yourself now.

How to score a job while in college?

Someone is bound to have the answers you seek. In fact, your specific college likely has several websites dedicated to finding employment and internships. You can’t find that awesome internship you wanted? Volunteer. Volunteer in your department of study. Volunteer as your favorite professor’s teaching assistant. It will pay off.

What is easy to do is also easy not to do?

As Jim Rohn says, “What is easy to do is also easy not to do.” And this is an underlying principle that will carry through in all aspects of communication. Distractions are a surefire way to ensure a lack of understanding or interpretation of a conversation, which in turn, will create inefficiencies and a poor foundation for communication.

How to pass a class?

1. Successfully take notes for a difficult class. I am sure you all have heard this saying before: in order to pass a class, you must take good notes. When you arrive at your college class, ditch some of your High School note-taking techniques. Write your notes legibility and in ways that YOU can comprehend.

Do unto others when you go to college?

When you get to college, you will have a roommate. It is not easy to share a room with a stranger! Here is some really solid advice for you guys: do unto others as you will have them do unto you. Remember that golden rule and treat it as a rule of thumb when you go off to college.

How to teach literature to college students?

To teach literature to college students, you will need to incorporate strategies that work at the college level, find ways to maintain a positive class environment, develop a teaching strategy that is comfortable for you, and design a course that meets your department’s requirements. Steps.

How to maintain a positive environment in literature?

To maintain a positive environment in your literature class, you will have to offer your students encouragement for contributing to the discussion. This can just be a simple, “Thanks for bringing that up,” after a student finishes a comment or question. Or, you can offer more personal responses.

How to motivate students to do readings?

One way to motivate your students to do the readings and come to class ready to discuss them is to give daily reading quizzes. You can either create simple short answer quizzes or assign writing prompts that will test your students' knowledge of the reading. Give these quizzes at the beginning of every class.

How to teach difficult skills?

1. Use scaffolding to teach difficult skills. Scaf folding is when you teach students to do something that is one level beyond their abilities and then support them through the task. The students should develop mastery over the skill after practicing it a few times and then you can remove the support.

How to teach close reading?

Try to pick one passage per class or invite a student to pick one passage per class and focus on it for 15 to 20 minutes.

Can you add a theme to a literature course?

However, you can always add a theme for even more focus. If the course does not have a theme, then you may find it easier to identify readings and craft assignments by choosing a theme. Some common literature course themes include: African American literature.

Should students be exposed to literary theory?

At the college level, students should be exposed to literary theory. If your department has a specific course meant to introduce students to theory, then you may be able to request that students incorporate theory into papers or presentations.

Why Every College Student Should Take A Literature Class

Literature classes are a requirement we all have to endure from elementary school up until we reach the college level. For some like me, literature classes have also been easier due to my love of reading. For others, it can be a source of dread to read about people that are long gone and don’t matter.

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