Page 74 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Paragraph 2 Reasons for

Attending College

People go to college for many reasons. Some attend college to fulfill

lifelong goals, others to escape dead-end jobs, still others to fulfill their

families’ expectations. What has brought you to college?

Write a paragraph discussing your reasons for attending college,

using the following steps.

Prewrite: Take a sheet of paper and begin with the words, “When
I . . . .” Write for five or ten minutes without stopping, then look to see

what you have. Does your prewriting focus more on the past (When I

was a child, I used to line up my dolls and pretend they were

students . . .) or on the future (When I receive my nursing degree, I will

be able to fulfill many of my dreams . . .)? Seeing whether your focus is
on the past or on the future will help you to decide on the direction

your paragraph should take.

Plan: Look over your prewriting and underline the most important
words and ideas. Then construct an opening sentence that states the

central idea you want to express in your paragraph. Some typical

opening sentences follow.

All of my reasons for attending college are rooted in the past.

Attending college is one way I can ensure a brighter future for my

children.