Young adult literature is increasingly used in college courses, from first-year composition to education methods classes. Paper Towns offers accessible prose and layered themes that support rigorous analysis without requiring students to grapple with archaic language. For composition instructors, it provides a shared text that every student can read quickly. For education faculty, it models a novel commonly taught in secondary classrooms.

In a composition course, the novel can anchor assignments in argument, rhetorical analysis, and research. Students might write a rhetorical analysis of how Green persuades readers to question Quentin's view, or an argument about whether the novel's portrayal of adolescence is realistic. Because the text is familiar in tone, students can focus on developing their analytical skills. The key is to set the expectations of college-level writing, including sophistication of claims and use of sources.

In teacher preparation courses, Paper Towns can serve as a case study for planning instruction. Pre-service teachers can design lessons, write sample prompts, and create rubrics for the novel. They also practice grading sample student essays, which builds assessment literacy. Working with a text they may later teach makes the training concrete.

Assignments That Fit Higher Education

College assignments should push beyond high school expectations by incorporating scholarly sources and more complex arguments. Students might analyze the novel through a critical lens, such as theories of identity or gender representation, and support their claims with academic articles. They might also write about the cultural significance of young adult literature itself. These tasks engage with broader conversations.

• A rhetorical analysis of how the narration shapes reader sympathy
• A critical essay applying an academic lens to Margo's characterization
• A research paper on young adult literature and adolescent identity
• A pedagogical project designing a Paper Towns unit for secondary students
• A reflective essay on how reading shapes assumptions about other people

Managing Large Enrollment Writing Courses

Many composition courses have high enrollments, and instructors may be grading dozens or even hundreds of essays per term. Consistency across sections taught by multiple instructors or graduate assistants is a recurring challenge. Shared rubrics and norming sessions help, as does clear communication about expectations. Without these, students may experience wide variation in grading.

Technology can support this work. AI grading tools that apply an instructor's rubric to each essay can offer preliminary feedback and flag common issues, freeing instructors to focus on higher-order concerns during conferences. They can also help teaching assistants provide more uniform comments. Used thoughtfully, these tools make high-volume writing instruction more sustainable.

Feedback in College Writing

College students benefit from feedback that treats them as emerging scholars. Comments should address argument, evidence, and organization, with attention to disciplinary conventions. Encourage revision through multiple drafts, with conferences to discuss goals. This mirrors how professional writers work.

Students also need to learn how to interpret feedback and decide how to use it. Ask them to submit revision memos explaining what they changed and why. This builds metacognition and gives instructors insight into their thinking. Over the semester, students become more independent and reflective writers.

Connecting to Future Careers

For education majors, working with Paper Towns can prepare them for the realities of classroom teaching, including designing assessments and giving feedback. Discuss the challenges they will face, such as time management and consistency in grading. Introducing them to efficient, thoughtful practices early can help them avoid burnout. Practical experience is invaluable.

For other majors, the course can build transferable skills like critical reading, persuasive writing, and attention to audience. Emphasize how these abilities apply in many professions. A familiar novel can make abstract skills tangible. Used well, Paper Towns can be a surprisingly effective college teaching text.