If you are an entering first-year, visiting, or transfer student for the 2021-22 school year, most likely, your
university will give you a reading to complete before the semester starts. It's typically a novel, memoir, or
non-fiction book to introduce students to the university's academic climate and promote a common
reading experience among first-year students. I'll give you some indispensable guidance about your
university's selection—READ IT! Don't wait until the week before or the night before the classroom
discussion to read the text because it will be your first introduction to college writing and your
instructor's impression of you. Of course, both will change over the sixteen weeks—but why waste time?
Do you know that quote about making a good first impression? Trust me; it's not just for first dates or job
interviews. Here are a few guidelines for engaging your university's common reading this summer.

• Read the assigned text before you arrive at your university
  I can't stress this enough. Doing the common reading at your pace is a good way for you to wrestle with some of the ideas on your own before you articulate them in the classroom discussion and your essay. Take this time to underline passages that strike you as odd or inspiring and have a conversation with yourself about why? Then, when you write your essay, you can use those underlined passages in the text. Are there patterns that you find? What are they? And why do you think the author placed them there? Search the author's social media and see if there are insights into the book from them or other readers. Introduce yourself—tell the author that you are reading their book for your university's common reading. And that you look forward to their discussion when they come to the campus or virtually for the reading. Reading at your pace also gives you time to rethink and refine your engagement with the text. So, don't worry—the goal is to get you to articulate your thoughts in a clear, coherent, and persuasive manner.

• Participate in the facilitated discussion in your first-year seminar
  Yes, you will have to share your thoughts in your first-year seminar discussion using The Socratic Method, named after the Greek philosopher Socrates.  He taught his students by posing one question after the other to draw out ideas that are nuanced and not so obvious. The Socratic Method is about asking questions to stimulate critical thinking, reasoning, and logic—it's about stimulating debate or lively debate inside and outside the classroom. You're probably performing the Socratic Method with your friends when you discuss the latest Marvel movie or analyzing the merits of some controversial lyrics by your favorite artists. So, don't worry—the goal is to get you to articulate your thoughts in a clear, coherent, and persuasive manner. 

• Attend the author's speaking engagement on campus    
  Make sure you attend the author's reading when they visit the campus. You may not have a choice as some instructors view the event as critical to understanding the text. Your instructor may also link points to the author's reading to your attendance. These extra points for attendance can be vital at the end of the semester when your instructor tallies your final grade. More importantly, this is the time for you to hear the author answer questions from students about the common reading. You may also want to write down quotes from the author to add to your essay that you will write. Or do something bold and ask a question. You can add this to your writing as well. If possible, take a photo with the author and add that to your essay—visual imagery is a powerful way to interact with the reader of your writing. Remember, the common reading is about a shared intellectual experience. So, share what you know or pose a question to the author. 

• Be prepared to write an essay about your engagement with the book 
  The common reading is all about your first essay in your first-year seminar. That's why it is essential to keep track of every step of this process. If you have, then you are in a much better position to write an engaging essay that your grade will reflect. If not, you will struggle to write, and it will show. Plus, you have wasted time trying to play catch up, and trust me, it will show in your writing, and your grade will reflect your late start. 
  
  The university's common reading is a great starting place for your academic experience to begin. The common reading will help you find connections to the book using the Socratic Method rather than a passive relationship. Also, the university's common reading allows you to interact with the author and your instructor personally and share an intellectual experience with your graduating class.