One way to reduce the shock that some students experience from the transition between high school and college writing is to make the first few assignments personal. For example, allow the students to write an argumentative paper about a topic that is important to them, such as vegetarianism or gun control. Once they understand the process of researching and writing an argumentative paper, the students can transition to topics that are less controversial or more academic.
Encourage students to write about topics in their fields. Freshman and sophomores in introductory composition courses may not know a lot about their chosen majors yet, and allowing them to research and write about an issue in their field will engage their interest. In addition, choosing topics that are relevant to their majors will help them explore their career path, which will help students make informed decisions about their majors and future careers. For instance, a psychology major may decide that he wants to be a drug and addiction counselor through writing about opportunities in his field.
Some assignments can't be made personal, such as a critique of a novel. In this case, choose reading materials or assignments that will interest most students in their age group. For example, choose a novel that discusses issues that impact the students, such as racism, bullying, or becoming independent. Alternatively, instead of having students analyze the rhetorical appeals used in an article, have them examine ads or watch a popular documentary and analyze the appeals used in the film.
You won't capture every student's interest with your assignments. Some students struggle with writing or researching, and they will find any writing assignment difficult or boring. The best you can do in this case is to explain what skills the assignment will teach them, and how that will be relevant in their life once they graduate. For example, students need to know how to write a well-researched, reasoned argument because they will encounter that situation again and again in their lives, whether it is arguing against a workplace policy or writing a letter to the editor of their local newspaper.