I don’t have the strongest writing skills when it comes to constructing analytical essays. I usually receive As on my papers but, truth be told, it’s mostly due to grade inflations. My writing teacher sometimes scales our scores because on average, our classes essays tend to be horrible. Last year, our summer reading essays got scaled 13 points. My paper earned an 86% but I received a 99% instead. Without grade inflations, I tend to receive (A-)s on my essays.
At boarding schools, how strong of an essay writer to do have to be to receive a B or an A. Do they teach you how to write essays?
From what I’ve heard from friends, there is definitely more emphasis on learning to properly write essays. Loomis Chaffee has a writing workshop required for every incoming student, no matter their grade (I believe?)
Almost every school has a writing center, too. I think they’ll definitely expect higher quality writing but you will also certainly have the resources to improve.
@YoungThriver. Here it goes in a nutshell.
English Teacher’s Coming To Town- (to Santa Claus is Coming To Town)
You better write well, you better darn try
You better write well, I’m telling you why
English Teacher’s Coming To Town!
She’s correcting in pen, checking it twice
Grading is tough, even when she is nice
English Teacher’s Coming To Town!
You must know how to structure
an essay like a pro
Support your argument strongly,
in prep school -no “free flow”!
You must formulate an “apex”
To your argument, don’t deter
Her expectations may be rigid,
So learn to write like her!
Oh, you will have a correction or two
on every sentence you write
Purple or Red Ink, it’s a darn fright -
English Teacher’s Coming To Town!
@Golfgr8 That was genius =D> Truly a masterpiece.
Expect to write a lot! Because BS have small classes, teachers have the time to read lots of papers, and a lot of emphasis is placed on being able to put your thoughts on paper.
I know that for several bigger projects and in some classes, DS often had to submit a draft or two along the way. This really helped him work on the process of writing as well. Expectations around quality were definitely high.
With that said, that part of college was an easy transition. So this is indeed one of the areas in which schools take the “prep” part of their name seriously.
@YoungThriver - just to add to what @gardenstategal posted above, you will be often asked to write answers/essays about the “Why” and the “How”. For example, “How did Nick’s sense of self change from his relationship with Gatsby?”…or in History …”How did events and Europe’s political structures set the stage for World War I .?”…or “Why do you think Lewis ended his novel with Doc Kennicott fixing the furnace?”…
It’s a fun new way of thinking about the materials while you are reading. Don’t wait until the test or assignment to think this way? Do a Star Trek “mind meld” with the teacher while you are studying
$-)