In "The Writing Revolution," Peg Tyre traces the problems at one troubled New York high school to a simple fact: The students couldn't write coherent sentences. Express / Weekend Express The papers and book reports we wrote in high school came back with pithy red pen comments pointing out even minor grammatical errors. You will need a thick skin for this, as the ego gets bruised. Generations X-Y-Z) who are seemingly preoccupied with other pressing matters of importance. Embarcadero Media Take civics -- how can students know much about all that is happening in our country when some tests show they can't identify the three branches of government, know little if anything about the Supreme Court and how it functions, and as for the Electoral College -- perhaps a key element in the Nov. 3 election, they ask "What is that?" This generation does not seem to understand how to get past demonstrating and protesting to the serious work of policy-making which requires an understanding of governance. Perhaps you could brainstorm with some teachers and peers, and advocate within the school? Being a family that values both the STEM and humanities courses, we would love to see more resources put into developing stronger writers (increase writing and provide teachers with some paid readers?). You bring up a very important problem that has been with us several years. Mountain View Voice Good work, Jessica! Lastly, there should be no exceptions for a weighted written score that favors ESL students. Waste a Lot of Time Essay writing is a challenging task itself, but the other most import thing is that the topics you select for your essays. A&E We need our schools to fill that gap. Suggest you work through "Legal Writing in Plain English" by Bryan A. Garner, a well-known writing guru in the legal world. There's much on this thread I agree with...including the need for stronger civics education. Something is very wrong. Writing problems may also come to light as high school students prepare for the writing portion of standardized tests. ... How to Teach Students to Write A Thesis Statement. you need to log in. The Almanac By Douglas Moran | 5 comments | 2,196 views, Premarital and Couples: Trump Paid $750 in Taxes By Chandrama Anderson | 1 comment | 1,171 views, Home Though student SAT/ACT scores may be on the rise, a Pass/Fail composition test should be required of ALL high school seniors in prior to graduation. College didn't help much due to STEM emphasis, but by the time of my first professional job, I somehow could write reasonably well (letters and reports), and it greatly aided my career. TownSquare A thesis or dissertation is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings. Mobile site. A thesis can be a wonderful culmination of your entire college education. Sports I don't understand why JLS can be so excellent at writing and then Gunn just drops the ball. According to BLM English grammar is full of racism. High School Research Paper Topics Ideas. Advertising Info Still, if you can't write a sentence, you can't write, and too many of today's students just can't write sentences. Special Pubs We still need teachers with those values. And it’s that complexity that makes it tricky. At school, I like writing articles and being with my friends. It's not rocket science...(1) start with a clear & concise thesis sentence, (2) support the thesis, and (3) add a conclusion. It might be worth comparing the climate and opportunities in humanities offered at Paly. For those impeded by the obstacle...offer summer school writing & communications classes. Everything a high ... About this blog: I’m Jessica Zang, a Palo Alto-born, slightly cynical Gunn High School student who’s passionate about linking high school life to the bigger picture. After a few hundred such critiques, you will make good progress. In order to encourage respectful and thoughtful discussion, commenting on stories is available to Sign up to be notified of new posts by this blogger. High school teachers do not teach rhetoric because they haven’t learned it. Excellent writing skills are rarely taught anymore. Civics is an important course of study for every future voter. Can we count on you? On these tests, students are asked to write an essay, which involves reading and interpreting a writing prompt, selecting the appropriate form of writing to use, and completing an error-free essay within the test’s time limit. Why do administration priorities change so drastically between middle school and high school? Sponsored content Subscribe And the comments could also criticize whether or not we'd developed our paragraphs so as to come to the desired conclusion. This is America & English is the predominant language. The opening section will also assist the readers to have a clue of the position that the writer is supporting; this is possible by writing a thesis statement. Grace Hopper, one of the great figures of early computer history, taught at Vassar and elsewhere. I'm sorry to hear you have been unlucky in the draw so far. Obituaries About this blog: I’m Jessica Zang, a Palo Alto-born, slightly cynical Gunn High School student who’s passionate about linking high school life to the bigger picture. Jessica, do your peers read much long-form content? If you are already a registered user and the commenting form is not below, Everything a high schooler, parent, or incoming student needs to know about high school life. Thank you for your thoughts Jessica. Students who routinely wait until the last minute to complete assignments will submit substandard efforts and achieve poor performance on exams. Promotions Privacy Policy Get to know me more and email me: We need your support now more than ever. My kids had a few that I thought were extraordinary (and I majored in English in college). Contact Us Her English teacher this year said she was going to do only a small amount of writing this semester out of concern for workload and/or mental health. What’s really going on in our high schools in Palo Alto? This is a sad state of affairs. Many students complained, but she was adamant that they be able to communicate what they knew. But my 8th grade class had to diagram sentences on the blackboard. Developing good writing skills can be difficult, and is not something that most kids are enthusiastic about. That said, the emphasis on STEM, driven largely by anxious parents has caused the school to invest more in that area and less in humanities. College professors do not have time to instruct students in logic and rhetoric because they have a course of study to present. Most teachers know when a student has rushed through a project or essay. My kid doesn't read books and the school doesn't seem to require much. Hi, Jessica--You sound sincere and willing to learn. He goes on to write how in previous studies of high school dropouts, the main focus was how demographics was the main cause of students dropping out of high school. Find some articulate attorneys to work with. Like any large organization, Gunn has teachers with varying skill levels. Poor Time Management Skills and Procrastination. Get important election coverage sent straight to your inbox daily. Both tired parents took time to review my drafts--no slack granted. Does it matter if students can’t write? News The blame/accountability rests with the teachers and lax state educational mandates regarding proper writing technique(s). Circulation & Delivery, About Us PR MediaRelease Home & Real Estate Our toxic popular culture, and Visitor Info, Send News Tips In some contexts, the word "thesis" or a cognate is used for part of a bachelor's or master's course, while "dissertation" is normally applied to a doctorate, while in other contexts, the reverse is true. There are some excellent English teachers at Gunn, and hopefully their voices are being heard too. University of Chicago English Department declared that they will only accept "Black Study" students for the coming year. > "According to BLM English grammar is full of racism. My favorite subjects include English, French, and chemistry. However, there are a plethora of reasons as to why a student drops out of school. The school uniform and school clothes avoid discrimination between students that may involve the use of certain brands and clothing. Well said, Jessica. Why can't high schoolers write? Print Edition/Archives McNeal discusses the effects what is occurring with students who work while attending grade school. Singapore's Killiney Kopitiam opens in Palo Alto to long lines and much excitement What’s really going on in our high schools in Palo Alto? social media, are also destructive. I'd stress that. Try to read mainly well-written publications--The Wall Street Journal? Academic writing is a complex business. those who are registered users. And like, ease back on social media. See our announcement about requiring registration for commenting. Universities must incorporate "linguistic diversity", "critical grammar", and de-emphasize "traditional" English. Blogs My daughter saw your headline and laughed in agreement. Back to you: Due to de-emphasis on teaching of writing and emphasis on PC and wokeness, you will need to be your own best writing critic, continuing throughout your professional life. Today's college writing is a big, knotted mess, decades in the making, and I don't know for sure how to untangle it or what sword will cut through it. Uploaded: Sep 12, 2020 ... and spelling errors are commonplace in the writing of middle and high school students; despite being well-versed in … She demanded that her math and science students be able to write, and write well, about what they had learned. Although not an attorney, later I wrote for lawyers--attorneys tend to be articulate and good writers (and perfectionists), and working with them is like attending writing grad school. Jessica, thank you for your blog. Universities must incorporate "linguistic diversity", "critical grammar", and de-emphasize "Traditional English"." TheSixFifty.com, © 2020 Palo Alto Online This particular pandemic is already running rampant among some of our younger citizens (i.e. When in high school English, we had lots of writing. STEM has become tantamount. Don't be snarky or belittling. It's a real shame and a loss for the kids. Jessica -- Science may use a "language" of numbers, but the foundational skills to advance any scientific or social science research--to observe, analyze, interpret, communicate, influence, and accurately summarize field data--intersect language development (and possibly visual arts?). Good luck -- and thanks so much for bringing this up. Nationally, poor writing skills are the result of a lack emphasis, as well as a lack of rigor and lowered expectations from treating students like "customers" whose demands must be accommodated, rather than forcing them to develop the skills they need. All rights reserved. Students have heard the term thesis statement hundreds of times by the time they reach high school, yet have only a vague understanding of what one is. In my spare time, I like playing volleyball, reading low-quality Kindle Unlimited books, and hanging out with my friends. All postings are subject to our TERMS OF USE, and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate by our staff. Find the fairest but most critical reviewers you can, wherever you are. Terms of Use Follow this blogger. Writing in "traditional" English will be out of fashion soon, I guess. By Diana Diamond | 24 comments | 2,630 views, Why I mind my own business here. Diana Diamond. In an environment that bridges the gap between adolescence and young adulthood, where the most rapid growth occurs, I try to understand what it means to be a high schooler, and how it connects to life later on. Community Calendar ... group of 97 US masters and doctoral students did no better in a diagnostic writing test than the typical college-bound high school senior. Students are ill-prepared to write, and the result is mediocrity. The problem is nation wide, and includes many students who perform dismally in STEM. Difficult, and chemistry through a project or essay thanks so much for bringing this up know back. 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