College Reading Lists
How Exposure to Literature Can Lead to College Admission and Success
Mar 23, 2009
Robert Needleman once penned, "Literacy widens a person's world; illiteracy narrows it." Literacy is not simply the ability to read; literacy includes exposure to cultures, language, and ideas beyond one's own background. Preparing for college and being successful there requires one to be open to new ideas and to be able to compare and contrast ideas to one another. Colleges expect students to come to their institutions with a minimum level of literacy, or exposure to experiences and literature. Some may contend that an increase in independent reading assists in increasing ACT/SAT scores.
Reading lists for the college bound are abundant on the internet. Most lists contain 50-200 different titles. These lists are only a guide and don't suggest that every title must be read. Here are some of the different genres on most lists:
Poetry as Literature
Poetry is complex. Poets write in a manner to compress ideas and masterfully select limited words to express those ideas. Almost like a puzzle the reader must decipher the meaning behind the writing. Contrary to what most English teachers will say, poems speak to readers in different ways. The poet may have been attempting to convey one message, yet the reader may understand the poem differently.
This exposure opens the mind to interpretation of others and self. Consider reading works of some of the following poets: Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath, and Geoffrey Chaucer. After reading several poems think how the poets use language, themes, and flow of the verses to convey their thoughts.
Plays and Dramas as Literature
Plays and dramas were meant to be seen and heard, not necessarily read. However, through the reading of plays one can concentrate on the expression of words. Actual plays deliver visual effects, actors, costumes, and numerous other elements that pull the audience away from the words of the play.
To sit down and read through a play gives the work a new life form. The reader must imagine the play taking form and concentrate on how the playwright designs the story using only words. Here are a few plays to considering reading: A Death of a Salesman, Antigone, anything by Shakespeare, and A Raisin in the Sun. After a play is read consider seeing the play at the local community college or theatre. Compare the literature to the actual play.
Understanding Fiction
Works of fiction are stories that are fabricated or did not actually happen. These works allow the author to explore a theme (plot) extensively. Using developed characters, settings, themes, and symbolism, authors produce works that conveys a message to the reader. This is a simple definition. The category of fiction is extensive and caters to the likes of every person. Examples of this genre include Don Qioxote, Vanity Fair, The Client, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and The Catcher in the Rye.
Nonfiction as a Genre
Simply put, nonfiction works are real accounts of people, places, times, and ideas. Autobiographies and biographies are examples. Some of these works can be heavy reading. Works included in this genre are The Bible, The Prince, and Communist Manifesto.
The previous examples of each genre are not an exhaustive list. Consider talking to a media center specialist/librarian, school counselor, or English Teacher about other recommendations.
Independent reading will provide the reader with an opportunity to explore new and different ideas, as well as understanding the different ways that authors and poets express those ideas. Some college admission requirements may include writing an essay on a piece of literature. Additionally, once at college, the student may be required to relate literature elements to the ideas that are being discussed in class. Exposure to reading can be an asset to college success and a reading list can help students be prepared.
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