Before being able to declare a major and undertake specialized classes, most college students must first fulfill the general education criteria. This means taking at least one literature course, which, especially for non-English majors, is intensive and difficult work. Generally speaking, since these courses combine critical thinking with technical writing, it can be difficult for students to conceptualize and apply these concepts articulately enough for a high grade. Fortunately, there are many strategies you can employ to survive in these courses without having to dedicate inordinate amounts of time trying to build an expert command of things like grammar, syntax, and style. Here are some things that you can do: