Postsecondary Transition Programs for Underprepared Writers

Abstract

There is a large population of students who enter postsecondary institutions underprepared in the area of writing,which can negatively affect their academic success in various disciplines. Lack of alignment between secondary andpostsecondary education writing curricula is a common cause of why students are underprepared in writing.Identifying gaps in writing when transitioning from secondary to postsecondary institutions is critical in creatingappropriate writing support programs which better prepare students for academic success. Moreover, in order tofacilitate successful postsecondary writing outcomes, proactive writing interventions (transition programs) betweensecondary and postsecondary institutions can be implemented to generate a positive impact on students’ ability towrite, thereby leading to greater academic success.