The author, Natalie Wexler is a one of the founders of the board of trustees for the Writing Revolution. In her article, Why Americans Can 't Write, with the advent of email, writing ability has become more important than ever, and writing deficiencies have become increasingly apparent. The writing skills have been lacking in America, and the reason is because schools have only 24% of the students in eighth and 12th grades were proficient in writing and just 3% were advanced. The exercise doesn 't provide kids with the tools they need to write analytically. The standards in middle and in high schools teachers expect students to know things.
Graff thinks that a lot of kids would much rather read a magazine or book about their favorite sports player, car, or fashion designer rather than read Shakespeare or other writer you read about in school (270). Students like to learn about what they like to do, and even if they don’t like to write about what they read Graff explains “ Even if they don’t , the magazine reading will make them more literate and reflective than they would otherwise” (270). Writing is writing as long as the student likes to write, they will get better at it no matter what they write about. Graff would much rather have, “the student anytime who writes a sharply argued, sociologically acute analysis of an issue of Source over the student who writes a lifeless explication of Hamlet or Socrates’s Apology” (270). A student who writes well doesn’t have to be writing about great works throughout history, they just need to know how to write well even if it comes from a
In Bad Ideas about Writing, Ronald Clark Brooks writes that everyone can be a writer because he believes that everyone’s experiences and perspectives are worth writing about. He expresses his belief that a good writer is not necessarily defined by their credentials or publishings. However, he acknowledges that there is a sort of stigma around writing that may discourage novice writers and offend veteran writers. In Brooks’ essay, he attempts to take an empowering and supportive approach in explaining how anyone can be a writer. He also says that even in writing classes, where there may be more structure and rules to follow for writing, optimism and a positive outlook make all the difference.
In his 2011 essay “How to Read Like a Writer,” author Mike Bunn provides useful tips and tools for college students, in the hopes that they will be better prepared to tackle the various kinds of essays and writing assignments that will be given to them throughout their college careers. Calling back to 1997 and his time spent as a college graduate working at the Palace Theater in London, Bunn introduces how he stumbled upon the titular technique through an anecdote about his time spent as a Red Coat on West End. One of the key things Bunn points out in this recollection is his realization that “all writing consists of a series of choices” (Bunn 72), which leads him down a path of discovering intricacies about the relation between reading and
In her essay "Does Texting Affect Writing?", Michaela Cullington presents her argument that texting does not impact formal writing written by students. She discusses the concerns presented by many people about how texting language can transfer into writing, but through the use of personal experiences and credible sources she discusses how this is not true. Her use of multiple different studies and situations help boost her argument and allow the reader to truly see how students actually do formal writing. She presents a strong argument as to why those who believe students don't have the control and knowledge to write formally, instead of with text speak, are wrong.
Baron claims that, “...not everyone should write because not everyone has something to say”(Baron 707). Not everyone’s material is worth to reading so why create pieces that will be neglected to readers. If profound literature is created, readers will gain excitement and therefore writers will also gain success. When writing is overdone, the meaning of literature and its logic minimizes. Baron’s purpose is to clear up the issue of why not everyone should write and the public can easily gain an insight into why
“Looking back, I realize that the books I liked best were simple, unambiguous: good versus bad and right versus wrong with right rewarded and wrong punished, mysteries unraveled and all set right in the end” (Mellix 5). I have always thought that simplicity was the answer to almost everything. I have noticed many students tying to over complicate something so simple. To me, the answer is not found in the book, but in one’s mind and response. To be truthful, I have also turned something so simple into a ball of confusion.
The purpose of my writing is to provide a Rhetorical Analysis on the article “Multiculturalism Should Be Promoted.” My audience is readers that haven’t read “Multiculturalism Should Be Promoted” and try to provide them with a complete analysis of the article for them to completely understand and visualize what the article discusses. My writing process started off as writing the essay, but not clearly understanding what the article meant. After my first draft I had to really figure out what I wanted to say about the article, uncertain if I was writing on how the article was effective or not I choose to write about both sides, which resulted horribly. My peers were confused while reading my essay.
He arrives at the summation that most of his students will find his course arduous and boring. I cannot think of anyone that wants to be around such a toxic person with such a negative
Everyone’s An Author with Readings by Andrea Lunsford, Michal Brody, Lisa Ede, Beverly J. Moss, Carole Clark Papper, and Keith Walters; is about how everyday writing is very closely related to academic writing. This book discusses The Need for Rhetoric and Writing, Genres of Writing, The Role of Argument, Research, Style, and includes Readings. The text also bridges the gap between Facebook and academic writing, showing how some tactics students use in social media may also be used in their academic
In this short passage by William Zinsser, Zinsser used compare and contrast to inform the readers about his personal opinions of being a writer. Due to different understandings and opinions on how to be a good writer, Zinsser decided to use compare and contrast in order to present a clean and detailed differences to the reader about how different people’s writing style can vary. By doing this, it would be extremely helpful for the readers to distinguish the differences of each writing style, see the benefits and disadvantages, and ultimately gather enough information to decide which style fits them the best. At the panel with Dr. Brock, Zinsser gave the audience a broader view of different writing styles and how they contribute differently.
Writing About Writing, A College Reader. Ed. Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 481-495.
Writing has always been an issue but yet interesting subject of mine. As hard as I try and write essays, and papers I just can’t get the hang of writing. But after taking this class, I did learn different writing technique and improved my writing proficiency, material body of formatting, and how to uncovering and properly use sources. Through class exams, essays, and a research paper, I was able to learn new writing skills. Although I have learned a variety of things, my writing still needs improvement.
Writing is a way to communicate with the world around you, express yourself, relate facts, influence people, present arguments, connect to people, and participate in conversations. Writing is how we communicate with our world everyday. Some people only communicate through writing and if they don’t rock it then there message will be lost. An effective writer must know who they are writing for in order to reach that audience.
1. Compare and contrast Kilfoil and Van der Walt’s views with Nunans’ views on the teaching of writing as a process and as a product. In accordance with Kilfoil and Van der Walt’s views they actually saw writing as a process rather than a product. They stipulated that: “writing is, in fact, a process and learners need to be prepared for and guided through the various stages”.
