The Black and White

by Jillian Mastrostefano

Since becoming a recent opportunity just last year at Pilgrim High School, the College Writing and Literature course is now offered as English 4 through the University of Rhode Island (URI). This course is considered a Dual Enrollment program, using websites and curriculums directly from URI. On October 16, 2025, teachers Mr. Kearsley and Mrs. Parente took their three classes straight to the campus for an all-day opportunity as writers.

This day was an incredible opportunity for the students enrolled in this course as they were introduced to several resources for research and writing purposes, commonly used solely by URI students. The high schoolers had access to the remarkable Robert L. Carothers Library, welcomed by professor Amanda Izenstark, who provided the students with numerous websites, pieces of advice, and even allowed them to use a learning lab where they gained access to URI’s technology. Not only did the students learn writing techniques directly from a college advisor, but they also earned access to research databases they can use for the rest of the year.

To pass the English 4 College Writing and Literature class, students must work towards earning a certain amount of badges within the URI curriculum. This includes a “Writing on the Day” badge, where students must complete specific writing prompts and assignments on only a certain day. Thankfully, this day lay on the same day as their college trip. For this badge, students were welcomed into the North Woods, which is found directly on the campus of the University. There, they hiked to specific points, where they responded to different prompts, relating the natural sights, sounds, and feelings as the woods surrounded them. This involved listening to trees, winds, and wildlife, writing down how they sounded to them personally. They also made traces of certain objects they found within the woods, getting to write about the physical and emotional feelings it brought them. 

Overall, the students of the College Writing and Literature class felt incredibly welcomed and appreciated their time at the University of Rhode Island. They enjoyed so many views from the campus, inside and out. As these seniors got the opportunity to experience college for a day, they grew intense anticipation and preparation for the rest of their senior year, and the college life that comes next.