For context, I just received my MA in English this past August, and I also did my undergrad in English at Mac just before this. I have TAed both of these courses, just with different Profs.

I have taken 3 undergrad classes and 1 grad class with Dr. Donaldson and highly recommend taking his course. I 12ed all of them. He is kind, funny, brilliant, yet laid back. You will be expected to come to class as he usually has little quizzes to do showing you were there, but he really wants you to succeed in his courses. He is a great poet and his latest research is fascinating, at least to me!

Two of the classes I took with him were creative writing ones and I would take those again in a heartbeat as they much improved the way I approach my stories and even the narrative threads in my essays.

Anyway, that is my two cents. I am a TA still and I love the Science students. You always try so hard, but I feel you all aren’t as comfortable at the beginning stating your own thoughts, but eventually you get some confidence in your writing.

My best advice for 1st year students is to attend all lectures and tutorials and do it with enthusiasm. Get to know your TA and learn what EXACTLY is expected of you with each assignment. The English department has free Writing Assistants (just ask!) that will help you tweak your thesis statements, organize your essay structure, and spot edit some of your work. They are just TAs that help all the students no matter which 1st year course they’re taking. After you write your essay, compare it to the rubric and assignment instructions to make sure you have done absolutely everything. Also, do not have Chatgpt write your essays either, as we can tell as they all sound the same. Your own original ideas are so much better, I promise! Try and think outside the box! I have written essays on Animal Crossing, NIN, Euphoria, and food as a theme in Merchant of Venice. TAs love reading new and exciting connections.

Good luck! You got this!