At some point or another, we've all taken a class that was pointless and painful to sit through. We've pulled our hair out doing homework for an irrelevant lecture and contemplated dropping out of school to pursue a career in watching Netflix.
For those of you who don't fall into that very lucky percentage of people who AP'd out of Expository Writing, I'm here to tell you that you're not alone. In these next few minutes, you're going to read about every emotional and mental state you will be in over the course of the semester. I'm going to pull back the mysterious curtain that is Expos, and tell you exactly what to expect, when to expect it and how to deal with it. So buckle up, sharpen your pencils, and get ready for the most frustrating roller coaster of your life.
Before you lock yourself in your room until second semester, let me start by saying this: It is completely possible to pass Expos. It is possible to survive that class and walk out on the last day with some sense of self-worth and the remaining shreds of your dignity. Perseverance is key. Even though your rate of survival is high, I assure you, it won't be an easy fight to win. Now, hold on tight, because I'm about to arm you with the necessary knowledge you need to survive and I don’t plan on sugar-coating anything.
Expository Writing 101 is the most flawed class you're ever going to take at Rutgers. Right off the bat, you're expected to fail. The moment you walk through the classroom door the first thing you are told is to get ready to see a big fat F on your first paper. Because nothing makes more sense than mandating a course that immediately sets students up for failure.
But the sad thing is, they're right. You're thrown into a college level writing course armed with whatever you’ve learned from senior year English which, let's be honest, is irrelevant. Here in Expository Writing, you're going to be expected to know how to write in a specific style with specific rules in a specific manner that varies between each professor. It's just too bad most professors never teach you anything about the style they expect you to write in. Crazy, I know. Be prepared to forget everything you've ever learned about writing a paper. Disregard anything your high school teachers have taught you about synthesizing ideas, formatting thesis statements and embedding quotations. I promise, everything you know now is a lie.
Your grade will be based on what kind of mood your professor is in and whether or not you were able to read their mind and decipher how they expect your paper to be written.You’re going to go back to your dorm with a tear-stained, F-ridden first paper and seek consolation on your floor mates who are going through the same thing. Except, the schedule gods blessed them with a professor who was in a really good mood and actually teaches them how to write. So, they defied all Expos laws and got a C on their first paper… just try to fight the urge to hurt them.
Now, from a much less dramatic standpoint, there are things you can do to make this experience less painful. In all seriousness, your experience in this class is what you make of it. While there are going to be times you would rather have cavities filled than write another paper, it’s important you keep your head held high and your level of perseverance held higher.
One of the most important things you can do during your Expos semester is take the time to understand what your professor expects from you. Thoroughly go through the comments left on your last paper and see exactly where you went wrong and how you can fix it. But if your professor is anything like mine and crossed off paragraphs and wrote “no” in the margins, then the next best thing you can do is talk to them in person.
Actually go to office hours, they really do help. If you can’t make time to meet with your professor outside of class, try to get to class earlier and talk to them beforehand. Your professors really do notice when you take initiative on your work. Don’t stand by and put up with the frustration. Say something about it! You’re allowed to say what you feel and demand answers. You have a right to know the reasoning behind the grade you've received.
On a related note, all the grading in Expos is based on improvement. That rumor is true. So what is important is that you focus on doing better each paper. Remember that the frustration is inevitable. Just make sure you do something about it. Don’t be afraid to seek help from your professor. Utilize the writing labs and office hours…They really do help!
We’ve all been there, and we’ve all survived. Focus on yourself and the wave of relief you’re going feel after handing in your final paper and walking out of the classroom able to call yourself a survivor of Expository Writing 101. Stay calm and persevere. Great things come to those who take initiative.
