Local college professors believe the most recent group of students are among the strongest writers they've seen, and they believe technology has played a positive role in the trend.
Results released recently by the National Assessment of Educational Progress show that students who have access to computers at home and use them regularly are more likely to be strong writers.
University of Louisiana at Monroe professor Mary Adams believes that the amount of written communication that students use daily — texting, blogging, Facebook, email and in online communities has enhanced writing skills and produced more confident writers.
"I think these students have a different relationship to writing from past generations who believed writing is something that you do in a formal way," she said. "They are using writing in a lot of different ways that are making them more creative. These students are really good at translating visual details into written language, making them better storytellers."
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ReplyDeleteThis is yet another demonstration that there is no idea so absurd (or contrary to experience) that there isn't at least one Ph.D. who takes it seriously.
ReplyDeleteThe developmental English instructor quoted in the story says that many of his students "can express themselves just fine."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that this is true, at least to some extent. If I asked one of my students simply to "express yourself" in writing, plenty of them could probably do a pretty reasonable job. Sure, there would be some awful grammar and usage, and some cringe-worthy sentence construction, but for the most part it would probably be reasonably coherent and creative, and would have a decent narrative.
The problem comes when the instruction is no longer "express yourself," but something along the lines of "Read this text, then summarize the author's main argument and explain how it differs from other arguments we have read this semester about the immigrant social networks created in urban environments during the late twentieth century."
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DeleteI agree. I can express some sentiments, such as what I think of the-site-that-shall-not-be-named, by farting. Anything involving reasoning needs a more sophisticated communications medium. "The Dumbest Generation," by Max Bauerlein, discusses this at length.
DeleteWait, this isn't an Onion piece?
ReplyDeleteChrist, gumdrops and unicorns everywhere I step.
ReplyDeleteR u r33ding da Rticle lik me? OINVU! Brb.
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ReplyDeleteOMG.
ReplyDeleteJust a guess, but I have a feeling Mary and Scott don't come around here much.
Will they come help me with the grading of the 200-level writing class I'm shepherding this term? Because 20 years into their young lives and six weeks into the fall semester, half of my flock has yet to discover the "Shift" key on their keyboard.
How can I work on subject/verb agreement, appropriate word choice, citing references for objective data, laying out facts, framing arguments and whatever the hell else when "I" has become "i", and "and" has become "&"??
I used to keep a "student gems" file each semester. Now its no longer funny, too hard and too sad. This term, about 20% of my crowd showed up with solid writing chops. If I'm lucky, about 10% of the rest will make some decent progress by the time we're shoveling snow. For the rest...I worry that I'm shoveling shit against the tide. And if they enter the workforce, they had better shine above their peers in other areas, because their written communication skills are not going to elevate their worth. And of more education is their goal..well, OMG again.
Even worse than the student work is the crap I see in undergraduate and and recent graduate resumes (including advanced degrees). In my last position, I read LOTS of applicant resumes for professional positions... way over 1000 annually. 50% or more didn't require more than minute's attention, because the was simply disastrous.
I ask my students to remember just one thing as we start the semester: ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, strong writing skills are a sure thing to help separate you from the best of your peers. And if you find yourself fortunate enough to get a professional position, you can expect to continue to compete for money or people to get your work done. This means the person who can make the strongest case in writing is going to have an edge (all other requirements still being equal).
Just like us, they can't all be beautiful or have politician hair. But they can improve their writing. Some do. But my enduring impression is that most don't believe any of the other stuff I tell them. It's not about grammar and spelling...it's about surviving in a competitive employment market. It's their domain...they can choose the weapons in their quiver. I've got some to offer if they'll stick out their hands and take them.
Mary and Scott, how about a nice big cup of STFU...because you're not helping them...or us...or yourselves.