Why good writing should be a top priority
by Kelley Rosario
Writing is a vital part of our daily adult lives. We all practiced a wide variety of writing during grade school and, if you attended college, you remember having to regurgitate your thoughts and ideas by writing essays that, for some, reached double digits in volume. The reality is that we have been writing for just about as long as we’ve been alive. After decades of practice, why do so many of us have poor writing skills?
The Problem
A growing number of adults are neither fluent, flexible, nor confident in their writing. As far back as 2008, national reports showed that nearly 40% of college registrants were writing well below college level and, subsequently, referred to developmental instruction. However, our swift transition into the digital age, only expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, has created an urgent need for writing skills. Even if we are not writers by trade, our frequent use of social media, email, and other workspace applications ensures that we are writing all day everyday. It is imperative that we are proficient in writing, but so many adults just aren’t. This is largely due to low expectations in formative years. Prior to the implementation of Common Core, or College and Career Readiness Standards (CCSS), writing proficiency was measured by state testing according to No Child Left Behind which essentially forced teachers to “teach the test”. Since writing wasn’t a considerable part of the score, this skill was unfortunately overlooked in districts across the country. Decades later, the result is a significant population of adults who struggle to write.
The Solution
The increased need for writing support across all age groups prompted a push for CCSS. When implemented correctly, CCSS intends that teachers develop lessons rooted in common standards and deliver instruction informed by research. This curriculum reaches adult education as well, affording those who might otherwise face writing challenges in college or careers the opportunity to not only receive sound instruction, but also be identified as needing and receiving support when it’s most critical.
How Can Greater Writing Help?
This will seem cliche, but the first step to solving a problem is realizing that one exists. Many of my adult clients confess that it took them a long time to ask for help because they didn’t think they needed to be good writers. “As long as people got the point, I didn’t really care about misspellings or not putting commas in the right place,” explained Sheila, a former stay-at-home-parent and now returning college student, who recently sought support to write an informative essay. “It just didn’t seem to be a big deal as long as I wasn’t trying to be an author.” But that’s just it: we are all authors. To be an author simply means to have written something others will read. Others read your emails, social media posts, text messages, resumes, and letters. When they can’t understand what you’ve written, they are likely to put it down or scroll past it. Imagine the frustration of reading in a language completely foreign to you. You realize trying to translate it will be more work than it’s worth, so you decide not to read it all. That’s your reader’s experience when your writing doesn’t clearly communicate your thoughts or perspective.
Greater Writing Tutoring Service helps adults of all ages. If you’re headed to college and need help with assigned writing tasks or you just need help writing your admission and scholarship essays, we are here to serve. Book a consultation to meet with a state certified teacher and learn more about how we can help you communicate clearly and effectively for college and career.
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