Class:COM375/What's Wrong With Writing

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What's Wrong with Writing? According to these students, plenty!

"The written word is an immensely positive force in our lives." Yet quality writing requires a great amount of time and effort, leaving many in a quandary wondering why putting words on paper and making sense of them all is not such a simple process. One person may experience writing as an exciting medium of expression, while another might think of it as a bothersome and painstaking process.

The expression of the creative mind begins as an empty page, in the same way as an empty womb remains vacant until an act of procreation generates a new substance. Writing can be an occasion to express one's thoughts or ideas in an original and personalized manner, which in turn can provide a momentary escape from a social world built upon routine and predictability.

Writing is not purely glory and fame; it also has its share of strife and opposition. One classmate feels the major problem with writing has to do with the power it is given in an environment that is supposed to be conducive to learning. Many believe that people should be able to write without restraint and say whatever they want, however they want. A unique argument states that every long writing assignment should be accompanied by a warning from the Surgeon General concerning the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by the physical labor your hand and wrist undergo in the process of writing. Perhaps writer's block or having low standards for being entertained can also hinder the writing process. For instance, one student professes that watching the television show Sex and the City is a far superior way to pass the time than writing a paper. Of course, it is no secret that a truly good essay, paper, story, or book cannot be written overnight. Additional rules and higher standard expectations have caused writing to evolve into a very time-consuming and restricting process. Perhaps some parts of writing are overly scrutinized, like grammar and spelling. "It is a wdeliy apecetcd fcat taht seplinly has ltilte ecfeft on our ailitby to cmperoned a snetncee, yet spelling is on a list of grading criteria that also includes the overrated importance of grammar and punctuation." Furthermore, "the act of writing, particularly writing that is motivated by a student’s deep-seeded desire for good grades, is an exercise in futility." These dissenters argue that the purpose of writing should be the expansion of the mind and soul, not the wallet and patience.

Regardless, writing is a progressive form of communication when you navigate through the negative energy held by many people. Proper education allows writing to be looked at in a positive way, making it enjoyable for both the reader and writer. "Students’ writing should be constantly critiqued so the learning process will continue." "Writing is also a form of art in which the writer gains skills and techniques that allow their writing to improve with practice." There is no escape presently or in the future from a world which periodically demands our ideas be displayed in print and subject to scrutiny.

"What do [we] gather from this? You fried [our] brain[s], you bastard."

Composed by Craig, Burda, Kim, Kara, and Monica.

Steph responds: In Defense of Writing