International Student looking for help

Hello guys
I'm an internation student at MATC/UW Madison, the classes I'm taking have been quite difficult, specially my english class where I have to write a bunch of essays.

I need you guys to help me with it if it's possible, I don't have intruduction nor either conclution and some parts of the essay seem kind of weak. I do not know what else to include or where does it need more information sooooo
I'd be great if you guys give me some ideas, recommendations, thoughts, ETC... to make it better.



This is what I have done so far.
Draft 1

The current requirements for a liberal arts student at MATC currently satisfies only the most basic skills needed to go on to a four year college. As the world evolves and changes so do the needs of the students. Computer literacy, information literacy and multicultural literacy are the new essential skills required for success in the job market and higher education today. We will show why this is and what the MATC Board can do to make these changes happen.

What is computer literacy? Using the word literacy would imply that everyone must have it in order to function at all in society. This is the future. In 2004, everyone from the McDonald's cashier to your car mechanic uses computers. While there are many jobs that do not require the day-to-day use of spreadsheets for instance, for the student, whether just out of high school or the adult returning to college later in life there is a basic computer literacy one needs to graduate. MATC offers a tremendous amount of computer classes as there are a tremendous amount of different computer programs out there. We certainly do not recommend that each student must learn them all. There are basic requirements that we feel very strongly should be required. In the combined experience of this paper's authors, the Microsoft Suite of programs including Word, Excel, Power Point and Equation Editor are being widely used across the curriculum by teachers and by a great many students as well. By requiring a basic skills class, the Board would be setting up the students for better functioning during their MATC experience and beyond, whether into the job market or on to another college. As distance learning becomes more popular computer literacy is vital for this student as well. Reading, writing and ?'rithmatic must make room for computer literacy to be added to the basics.

Information Literacy is learning how to learn. This is different from computer literacy although there is a strong connection. Knowing how to operate a computer and its software does not guarantee that you will learn anything from using them. Information literacy is also defined as the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate and effectively use that information for the issue or problem being investigated. The other important facet to information literacy is to be able to discern the difference between quality information and, as an example, the opinions of an unidentified web master who may or may not have any expertise in the subject at hand. The U.S. Department of Labor's report from the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) lists information literacy as one of the five essential competencies necessary for solid job performance. This has been recognized by the MATC Board in the District Plan for 2010 under Strategic Initiative 2: Skilled Workforce says: "Develop a skilled workforce to support the economic vitality of the district and state". A specific goal (2.2b) says "design and deliver education and training that build on students' skills and credentials by addressing competencies identified by business and industry". The benefits of information literacy are far-reaching and can be integrated into most classrooms. The ultimate goal is for the learner to develop lifetime skills of learning from a broad selection of media as well as critically viewing the information before forming opinions. The teacher's role is in guiding and coaching in this learner-based approach. Standards for this type of literacy can be built in to the current curriculum, however, it will have its challenges since those who form curricula are typically persons who likely did not grow up learning in this way and may be attached to the familiarity of lecture and fact- based approaches to teaching. Once in place students will be able to integrate the information literacy approach along with their current classes.

As our ability to find and use information around the globe continues to expand so does the need to understand the very cultures this information comes from. The tremendous growth in international businesses of all kinds brings with it a demand for multicultural literacy. Locally, diversity training is becoming mandatory for businesses large and small. Currently MATC offers a variety of experiences for the international or ESL student. However, the kind of multicultural literacy needed to meet basic standards of sensitivity is for the American student. It is becoming increasingly valuable to learn the basic communication skills of persons from other nations. It may be as simple as developing sensitivity to the way different cultural groups ask and answer questions. Or, the non-verbal cues associated with many foreign groups. As with information literacy, multicultural literacy can be built in across curricula. The bulk of the training needed would be for the teachers themselves, learning to incorporate and use opportunities in the classroom to advance the idea that difference does not equal deficiency. As MATC students go into the job market or on to a 4 year college they will most certainly need to work with persons from other cultures. The training they will receive from MATC in this regard will certainly allow them to work more effectively and efficiently making them more valuable to their future employer.