Once again this comes rolling ’round again and eventually academia will have to notice (via Writers Blog):
SHRM Online reports on a study by Communicare Inc. that found that poor writing in the workplace wastes time."The average cost of employer-provided training is about $950 per employee across industries, according to the report, but it can range from online tutoring programs to full-scale writing workshops."
Unfortunately, the finger pointing from the endpoint of the business world to the universities results in a turnaround to point to the high schools, etcetera, probably all the way back to daycare.
It’s funny, I would have guessed that writing skills were improving as so many now use the computers for just about everything and with spellcheck and grammar check so available at a click, I’d have thought that not only were more people of all ages writing, but writing better.
Then again, we have computer shorthand easing its way in to help out the lazy: LOL, that’s where ur wrong!
As an older student, I had noticed some of the greatest ideas coupled with the lousiest grammar and spelling filling up the papers of many of the younger students on my recent adventure in campusland.
When I first signed up, I could not comprehend why there were so many classes in Composition and Academic Writing and Reading scheduled on the curriculum. By the time I’d gotten out of eighth grade I pretty well had most of the rules right, and dragged myself and my sore knuckles into Freshman English with no further study offered but rather corrections when I forgot (I think of rulers every time I think semicolon).
What I’m also noticing now, looking back at the past five years of college (part-time, honest!) is possibly a lack of enthusiasm or support of writers and writing in this day and age of multimedia events with the emphasis and show of strength going largely to computer graphic design studies. At one time I felt for the artists when handdrawn and painted visuals fell easy victim to the software technology. But there is a strong need for graphic arts and so the career hopes that might have been dashed instead–if one was willing to learn the new ways–have opened wide up again. This is great news. And, there still will be the wielder of paintbrush and pencil, or molder of clay who will create treasures.
And the poor aspiring writer? Where to display his work, where to share and show his love of words–never mind looking for reimbursement. The publishing business for individual work is in a sadder state perhaps than ever. Nowadays it could be the poor starving writer that becomes the metaphor for hope within hopelessness.
But hey–aren’t they screaming for good writing skills? Oh, so they noticed…
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