HCHY List: Pew Research on "Writing for Pleasure."

[Mel Tremper]

Writing can be hard work, but it can give pleasure.  I think the art of
writing needs to be taught (or a motivated person may learn it by really
consciously applying themselves).  I also think that to write well, you
need to think well-or at least think clearly about how someone else will
perceive what you are writing.  

My wife uses computers and the lure they hold for kids to teach writing
(one of the sidelines she infuses into her role as media specialist).
With computers the kids are more involved at "being on the computer"
than in seeing the hard work of drafting and re-drafting a product until
it is as polished as the child can make it.  Kids learn they can express
things and get their POV across to others, and they like that.  (not all
of them, some find it just another school task).  

Some may see this as a not so good reason to write, but it a motivator
nevertheless.  Kids learn they can get attention through their writing.
It is another avenue, and a healthier one than some other ways they
could try to get noticed.  

I may be biased, but when she started this project in this school the
6th graders generally wrote things that were not overly inspired.  Now
the 6th graders who have had 3-4 years of experience learning how to
write are doing much better jobs.  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Paul
Olson
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 10:00 AM
To: Mel Tremper
Cc: Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: HCHY List: Pew Research on "Writing for Pleasure." 

 

I read this Pew Research article on teens and writing:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/808/writing-technology-and-teens 

 

It made me think about the fact that while the PSL:A&B asks about
"READING for pleasure," it doesn't ask anything about "WRITING for
pleasure."  

 

I wonder what the implications for youth development are.  

 

Comments?

 

--Paul Olson, LBSW

906-228-8919, ext. 29

www.glcyd.org

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.search-institute.org/pipermail/hchylist/attachments/20080428/0b0c1678/attachment.htm