<p>It is a very common tactic for professors to give everyone a “C” or “D” on the first paper. Sometimes this is a ploy to get the students to go and meet with the professor. If this happens to your daughter, she SHOULD ask for a meeting, and then, very non-defensively, ask what she should do to improve. If she does this, she will learn and her writing will improve. Chances are she will look back in retrospect, very grateful for everything she learned in this class. Good luck!</p>