College students must learn how to write adequately so they sustain mental health, make better grades, and compete in the workplace. As the modern world evolves, one of the basic characteristics of humanity, communication, becomes more essential. The development of technologies such as email, texting, and social media have led to an increase in the value of proficient writing. The ability to write adequately and express inner feelings proves massively important in maintaining mental health. College students capable of expressing themselves can greater project “bottled up” feelings, an act that largely benefits mental health. According to Steven Stosny, Ph.D. and writer for Psychology today, “[writing] Brings your emotions and motivations into alignment with your deepest values” (Stosny). Reflective writing facilitates introspective intrigue, which leads to heightened levels of self efficacy, more self respect, and a greater understood identity. In essentially all areas of academics, college students benefit greatly by learning how to write competently. At school, successful writing does not just benefit students inside of the english classroom. According to Marquette University, “Writing is the primary basis upon which your work, your …show more content…
According to The College Board’s recent study on the essentiality of effective writing in the workplace, “Two-thirds of salaried employees in large American companies have some writing responsibility” (Kerrey). If a college student plans on exiting college and obtaining a job, adequate writing skills will likely be required. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found in a 2010 study that “Communication skills are ranked first among a job candidate’s 'must have' skills and qualities.” So, the need to communicate well in a workplace makes adequate writing skills increasingly necessary for any potential member of the
Sam Dillion wrote “What Corporate America Can’t Build: A Sentence” for an audience of college students, employees and corporate people. In his article, Sam points out that companies are spending a lot of money annually on remedial training. According to Sam, the writing problem appears in e-mails, reports and texts. He is informing his audience to brush up on writing skills before entering the corporate world, in order to avoid remedial training. Companies like to hire employees with excellent writing skills but many of employees and applicants fall short of that standard.
In Downs and Wardle’s article, they argue and identify the flaws in teaching writing in college. Demonstrating the misconceptions that academic writing is universal, but rather specialized in each case. Citing studies and opinions from esteemed professionals, Downs & Wardle state their points and illuminate the problem in today’s many colleges.
To ensure that formal written language is preserved, a clear distinction must be made between formal writing and texting. Students -as well as adults- must also be given sufficient practice in both areas if they are to clearly communicate their thoughts to others through either means. As quoted from Nicole Wood and Becky Wang in their presentation “Is Texting Killing the English Language”, “the most common misuses by students are ... using only the letter ‘u’ … [and] using the letter ‘r’...” These errors in formal essays are often -and in most cases- caused by confusion of the distinction between texting and formal writing, leading to an overlap between the two. The value of formal written language is its ability to clearly and distinctly communicate one’s ideas to another -and because of its overall consistency regardless of time- even those in the future. Texting, in some cases however, loses this ability to clearly communicate thoughts and ideas, and exclusively texting at home could lead to a decline in one’s ability to clearly communicate with others through writing.
Several people have trouble writing college level essays and believe that they are unable to improve their writing skills. In “the Inspired Writer vs. The Real Writer,” Sarah Allen argues how no one is born naturally good at writing. Sarah Allen also states how even professional writers have trouble with the task of writing. Others, such as Lennie Irvin, agree. In Irvin’s article “What is ‘Academic’ Writing?” states how there are misconceptions about writing. Furthermore, Mike Bunn’s article “How to Read Like a Writer” shows ways on how one can improve their writing skills. Allen, Bunn, and Irvin are correct to say how no one is born naturally good writers. Now that we know this, we should find ways to help improve our writing skills, and
In her essay “Does Texting Affect Writing?” author Michaela Cullington argues about the influence texting has on student writing. Cullington claims, after her research, that texting has minimal impact on how a student formally writes, although educators counter this argument because they have witnessed these mistakes first hand.
Reflective writing is a term which based on assignments when you have to think about your own thinking. There are many different kinds of topics for reflective writing. The main point of the topic is that it should be related to your own experience, emotions, thoughts and feelings. You have to describe something in your own words.
Transitioning from high school to college can be overwhelming. Before English 1301, I thought that I did not have to worry about being prepared for college. I quickly realized that my little background in writing essays was not going to be enough for college. Writing is not just something that I will use in English classes. In college, I will have to use effective writing skills in all my classes to complete research papers, essay tests and communicate to professors. Throughout my education, writing strategies persisted to be something that did not come easy to me. I dreaded writing because I could never find ways to get my thoughts down on paper. Ironically, a class that petrified me due to the amount of writing that was required ended up helping me in so many ways. English 1301 and my professor prepared me so much for college and real life.
In “Writing to Learn: Writing across the Disciplines,” Anne J. Herrington finds different sources stating that writing is to be taken serious. Janet Emig says, "writing represents a unique mode of learning-not merely valuable, not merely special, but unique” (1) meaning that writing is far more essential than we ought to make it seem. Anne Herrington wants educators teaching in economics, history, chemistry or any other subject to guide their students into understanding why progressing their writing skills will be more helpful to them. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the educator; whether he/she wants their students to use writing as a way for students to adapt to different disciplines.
In the article, “Does Texting Affect Writing?”, the author Michaela Cullington conveys her speculation that texting does not correlate to how students write formal essays. At the beginning of the article Cullington introduces the term texting and the convenience texting brings. Later expressing her concern that the texting language “Textspeak” is actually affecting students writing; then contradicts these views by using primary and secondary sources (news articles, books, her own surveys and research). In addition, she uses an anecdote to tell of her own experience with texting and writing. Together with other evidences and research put together, she uncovers the debate between textspeak and formal writing. On the basis of her research, she concludes that the state of texting does not interfere with writing or writing abilities.
The lack of basic skills is financially a problem, too. The government and employers are also spending too much money on basic writing skills. A 2003 survey of managers shows that employers are spending $1.3 billion a year on basic writing. (Begley, Sh...
It's taking over our lives. We can do it almost anywhere. What is it? It's texting! Texting is a reliable, easy and convenient form of communication that is most commonly used by, but not limited to millenials and those in the workforce. Many people use it as a way to express themselves as well. In Michaela Cullington’s article, “Does Texting Affect Writing?” she targets two different attitudes in relation to texting. Cullington explains that there is often an assumption that students who use abbreviations when they text, will bring those same abbreviations over to their formal writing pieces. Cullington then adds that the other attitude in relation to writing skills and texting insists that texting is harming student’s writing capabilities. Because of her research as well as experiments done by other colleagues of hers, it shows that
In this age of electronic communication, why is it still important to be able write well? First, in order to pass the composition class a student must be able to show a proficiency in writing. This skill will also assist the student in the majority of the other classes attended. Another reason is it will directly benefit the student in reaching individual goals. As a student approaches graduation, the mailing and posting of many resumes for companies to view will occur. For the person who possesses excellent communication skills this will be the first opportunity to dazzle, hence gaining the recruiter’s attention. The goal is for the company to desire hiring the student for the position. Once hired much of the communication done will be in the form of written e-mails and memos, for the employee who has mastered the skill of effectively expressing ideas, concepts, information, and directions via written communication this will be an efficient tool for completing company tasks. Now that the importance of being able to write well is established, just how does the student achieve the first step on the journey passing a college composition class?
I have chosen expressive writing therapy as my area of interest. Throughout my teenage years, I enjoyed writing in my journal, but I wanted to know the difference between journal writing and expressive writing. For thousands of years, writing has been a practice of communication throughout the world. Many people have been journaling their thoughts and opinions to sort through their daily life situation. Unlike traditional journal writing, where most people record daily events and happenings from an exterior standpoint; on the other hand, expressive writing focuses on the writer’s internal reactions, perceptions and experiences which assist the individual to overcome many obstacles. Writing therapy suggests that writing one's feelings will slowly but surely ease feelings of emotional trauma and this healing technique is offered by a licensed therapist. There are several types of integrating counseling practice. Over thousands of years, Greece and Rome have integrated a variety of creative arts into their healing practices. Degges-White and Davis (2011) explained the different characters of art therapy such as visual art, music, dance/movement, dramatic play, and expressive writing is the primary expressive arts modalities used in counseling (p. 2). After my research, I have discovered that expressive writing therapy is a therapeutic tool which allows the client to participate in writing exercises to address emotional issues. Each client works under the direction of a therapist or counselor, or can write independently. In most cases, the therapist will provide therapeutic writing activities for the client. The client writes down their thoughts, emotions, narratives, and other experiences. Each client writing is confidential and i...
Writing is an important part of everyone’s life, whether we use it in school, in the workplace, as a hobby or in personal communication. It is important to have this skill because it helps us as writers to express feelings and thoughts to other people in a reasonably permanent form. Formal writing forms like essays, research papers, and articles stimulates critically thinking. This helps the writer to learn how to interpret the world around him/her in a meaningful way. In college, professors motivate students to write in a formal, coherent manner, without losing their own voice in the process. Improving your writing skills is important, in every English class that’s the main teaching point; to help students improve their writing skills. Throughout my college experience I have acknowledge that
Writing plays an important role in our everyday live because it is an inevitable part of life. We have different styles of writing, and some of us may use it daily to communicate with our families, friends, coworkers, and customers. If we are a businessperson, our writing will focus on business letters. If we are a preschool teacher, our style of writing will look like journals, note takings, and reports. If we are students, most of your writings are about class assignments like discussion, journal, research paper. However, not everyone can have writing skills, and some of us have still been struggling with writing skills. As a college student, writing plays a huge part in my school life, and I still have many struggles in my writing. In this essay, I will mention about the strength and weakness in my writing, and I will also discuss informal and formal writing.