Opinion: Why Americans can’t write
By Natalie Wexler, Washington Post
It’s no secret that many Americans are lousy writers. Just ask any college professor or employer, including those at prestigious institutions. With theadvent of e-mail, writing ability has become more important than ever, and writing deficiencies have become increasingly apparent.
Surely one reason so many Americans lack writing skills is that, for decades, most U.S. schools haven’t taught them. In 2011, a nationwide test found that only 24 percent of students in eighth and 12th grades were proficient in writing, and just 3 percent were advanced.
If students get writing assignments at all, they’re usually of the “write about how you feel” variety. There’s value to that kind of exercise, but it doesn’t provide kids with the tools they need to write analytically.
Watt dew thay no? Americans is grate at wrighting.
This article about American writing skills did not address smart phones, hand held devices, etc and how the younger generation is a generation of symbols, abbreviations and acronyms.