Hello:
To get the ball rolling for next week, I want us to consider some important questions currently confronting the world of writing. First of all, do you think universities should teach composition or writing? Many universities (including DMACC) teach website design, brochures, PowerPoint, and other visual media under the guise that "composition" can take many forms.
However, there are people who feel this leads to a form of illiteracy since the focus is not on writing. Therefore, the assumption is that spelling, grammar and mechanics, and students' vocabularies suffer as a result.
What do you think universities and colleges should be teaching students--composition or writing? Would you prefer to have more focus on vocabulary, spelling, and grammar? Explain.
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34 comments:
I feel that colleges and universities should teach composition instead of writing, because throughout life you will need to know how to do more then simply write essays or business letters. Many students will graduate and need to know how to make and use PowerPoint presentations, make brochures for their company, make websites or editing them, or even other things that they will have to use correct grammar for and be able to use correct mechanics. I feel that the students should be taught a variety of things in a composition class, through writing essays, and being graded accordingly.
This is Amber Conzemius. i feel that colleges and universities should teach composition because now in these days need to do more then write. The computer is getting to be more important. Companies are looking for people who know how to use computers. So the don't have to train you in everything. Maybe you can help other who don't know how to do it which makes you a valueable employee. Thats what people need in the work force.
I believe that colleges and universities should teach both. Companies want people to have good computer skills, as well as good writing skills.I think that companies pay people more money who have more knowledge in computers. On the other hand, companies are spending millions of dollars to teach their employees how to write.I think that I need to focus more on writing, but learning composition would be helpful. Composition and writing are like two separate gears; they have to work good together.If one doesn't have them working together, then that person probably won't be successful in the job market.
-Shawn Martin
I Believe that students should have the option to take both courses if needed. Some people like me for instants could use a little refreshing when it come to the basics of writing. I would not say take the writing class for a full year just a semister maybe, then go into composition classes.But if i have to pick one i would stay with the composition courses because You can still learn more about the correct way to write, plus it has a broader amount of thing to teach.
I would like to see universities teaching both, but I see writing being more of a benefit to me. My high school didn't do a great job on teaching proper grammer and punctuation. Knowing how to properly write an essay or a business letter will help some people, and knowing composition stuff will help others. I also think it should be optional to take either one because some people already know and understand how to design websites and do powerpoints, and others may know proper grammer and punctuation. My main point is that neither one will hurt anyone. Knowing how to do more will always be a benefit.
~Samantha Duryee
Well, not to have the same opinion as everyone else but, I do think colleges should teach composition instead of writing. My reason for thinking that is, "how many jobs are going to want you to write all day everyday and that's it?" The odds are not with that. Yes, their are some jobs where that is what they want from you. We need a class that is going to teach us a variety of things not just writing. Composition will make you better in many ways. Job's are looking for people who have options and that's what composition is. I think it will teach more and be more successful when trying to get a job. In composition you still learn about writing just, not as in depth as if you were taking writing. So, that's where i stand on that subject and i think it's whats best.
Hi, everybody! These are all great answers! Please remember to sign your name to your post (type it into this little box), if you did not set up a username account. Otherwise, I'm impressed by the quality of the responses so far.
I believe that universities and colleges should teach composition classes. Students can get more out of out composition, which they can take with them to their jobs later in life. All though it just depends on the student, some students need more help in writing then in composition. Many employers look for people who have skills in brochures, website design, and PowerPoint. Students also should be taught grammar, to help with their writing skills. Through learning a variety of skills it will help students throughout their lives.
Jenny Evans
Though the impact of technology and computerization has had significant impact upon everything in our world, including institutions of higher learning, I think that it continues to be important for universities to teach composition and writing. The foundational education that courses like these provide is invaluable and I believe that they are essential building blocks for an educated society. Thus, they should never be replaced by contemporary trends that do not facilitate the same level of foundational education. If we are not careful, we will allow technology (text messages etc.) to "dum down" an entire generation. So I think that it is not only a good idea for universities to continue teaching composition and grammar, but rather it is a societal obligation.
Ilsa S. Evans
I believe universities should teach both because you need to know the principles of writing before you can compose a unified work. Writing and composition work together you need to know how to do the basic grammer before you can go on and write essays. IF i didn't know basic grammer my long essays wouldn't be worth reading. Teaching both will help college students in school and in everday life, for example trying to find jobs.
-Jay Jensen
I feel that it would be more beneficial to students if universities and colleges would teach composition instead of writing. Also I prefer that there would be no focus on vocabulary, grammar, or spelling since that was one of the main focus points of high school English classes. When a student graduates from their college or university that knowing how to write a well composed paper will be more beneficial to that person than having a huge vocabulary and knowing how to spell big words, I feel that it would be more beneficial because there is always a thesaurus or dictionary not to far away.
Kris Edwards
I think grammar, spelling, and punctuation are very critical in the basics of writing. I believe composition is more of a creative compilation of thoughts, expressions, proper grammar and spelling. Colleges and Universities would be better off teaching composition instead of basic writing while keeping in mind that spelling, punctuation, and basic fundamentals of writing are important also in composition.
Heather Haskins
Since nobody wants to go out on a limb and be different I am going to play devil's advocate. I don't think either should be taught, because as a technology controlled society physical writing on paper and composition are rather obsolete. There are hundreds of millions of web pages and maybe several thousand newspapers. Which out numbers which? And typing is a faster way of writing, allowing users to type twice as fast as they can write. Grammar should be learned in elementary school, not in college. If you need to learn grammar in college than you don't deserve to be there! Only if it teaches you the typing etiquette, like two spaces after a period. That is it. I'm done ranting on here. Bye.
---Tyler Lurvey---
I see both sides of the story and i am stuck in between. Because i really enjoy writtin papers, it relaxes me a lot. However, i do believe it is neccesary to learn all types of english comp. because not everyone wants to be an english teacher, they might want to be someone in the business world that has to show a lot of powerpoint presentations. I just believe that there should be an equal balance between the two. ~Sheyla Zegarra
It is very important to know how to compose your writing. So i think that both are very important to learn. However, students should already know grammar, spelling, and composition from high school. College is a good opportunity to leanr more vocabulary, and expand on what you already know.
You can learn how to do important things. For example, proper composition of a job application, or buisiness letter.
Megan Howard
I think college should teach composition because students will be better prepared. If universities only focus on writing when students won't be as prepared as they should be. When students get into the work place they might not know how to do something. If students are working for a company they might need to make a power point, but they won't know how because the universities didn't teach them composition. I think universities should focus on teaching composition because students will use that more in the real world than just writing essays.
Jovan Creighton
I think it would be wise for colleges and universities to offer classes with a balance of both composition and writing. I agree with some of the other students views that proper grammar should already be common knowledge if you are attending college, but some people take breaks between high school and college and it would be beneficial for them to have a refresher course. Composition is probably the more important subject of the two since it is more used in the workplace. But on the other hand, if one doesn't know a thing about writing, the composition is going to be weak. Composition and writing go hand in hand to create a well put-together piece of work.
--Candace Daiker
I believe that colleges should teach both, as both are important to students. Writing and composition both allow us to effectively communicate our ideas to others, however there are times when one is better than the other. By knowing how to use both effectively it will make us, as students, that much more ready for the real world.
-Kimberly Sego
I feel that colleges and universities should give students the option of both. Some students may be good at writing and computer skills but not as good at composition. By giving them the option the students should know which one to take to better help themselves in the future in their career. I feel it is very benificial to know how to use and make a PowerPoint, brochure, and to make and search a website. Companies should not have to be paying so much money to teach their employees how to use certain computer programs and how to write that is something that a college should teach them while they are studying their major.
-Alysen Sly
I think that colleges should offer both composition and also a writing course. Colleges should look into what kind of career the student is going into, then decide what they should be expected of. I feel that composition is going to be more helpful to many students because it prepares the student for the real world. Grammar, spelling and vocabulary (what you use in your everyday life) would be better focused on in the composition class, time wouldn’t have to be spent on writing papers. I think students would feel a lot better knowing that If their career didn’t expect them to write a three page story then the colleges shouldn’t expect them to either.
This is Ho Soung. I think college need to teach composition and writing both. Because i think these two skills helps each other. And also both skills going to help you later. Many companies want to people who has computer skills and writing skill. i don't know which one is more benefit but if you finish these two skills now, it't going to boe really helpful in your future. So my main point is if you wnat to have success life after graduate college, you should know about these both skills.
This is a very good question. I sit here thinking which is more important and I truely believe that they should offer both to to the students. The student should be able to pick which one they want to take. Teaching composition will help the student improve computer skills and powerpoint presentations and so on. While teaching writing is also important so you can work on your grammer and punctuation. Either way, you will improve on some type of writing. So, personally, I think you win either way.
*Nicole Hunter
I believe colleges and universities should be teaching composition. Companies want people to know how to do power point, brochures, etc. As far as writing the computer itself has programs to help you with spelling and grammar. It also has sample document letters to help. So I believe that composition is more important.
I believe Universities shouls be teaching composition. Because we write everyday. It teaches you to be more compotent and makes you smarter. Nobody would want to read what you have to say if you dont know how to write. I think there should be more required english classes-Shayla Stephenson
I feel that colleges and universites shoudl teach composition, because my whole life I have been taught writing and now that I am at the higher level, I should be taught how to produce written works. I feel that at my current level I know enough about spelling, grammar, and all of that other stuff. I think that being taught composition will help me more in the future than learning more writing will. The things that can be learned through composition, in my opinion, are more important now, than continuing to learn how to use punctuation properly or spell words correctly. I would have liked to have been able to be taught composition in high school because I feel it would have helped me then, but now that I am in college I feel that it will help me and others.
--Jordan Troup--
First of all colleges shouldn't need to teach composition, but with the lack of writing skills students come to college with, composition classes should be required. Yes powerpoint is helpful, but when giving a speech while using a powerpoint students still need to alaborate on the slide. With a firm foundation in composition, giving a speech will come more naturally, while also expanding the students vocabulary and spelling skills. Personally I feel like I have a creative side which helps me in composition. Unfortunatly my spelling is not quite up to par. So I would prefer to have more of a focus on spelling.
-Bonnie Mills
Drew Peterson
I feel that colleges should spend time on both composition and writing. These are both important concepts. Students need to be able to write papers, and letters, and essays. Also students need to have some knowledge about other things like powerpoints(things that are newer ideas). But if the students don't know how to use correct grammer, then learnig anything else is kind of pointless.
I think composition and writing are both valuable life skills to have. I actually thought writing skills were much more important, but last semester most of my teachers' lesson plans were done on power point. I plan on being a teacher so I now see the value in composition AND writing skills. Making brochures, presentations or websites will all involve writing, and if you're giving a presentation to the head of the company proper grammer will make you look even better. I think composition and writing should both be mandatory classes.
I think that colleges and universities should teach composition as a broad area of study which would include brochures, powerpoint, websites, but also formal letter writing and essay writing. In the same way that good communicaters can choose the way they talk to friends and co-workers, students should know a variety of writing styles in different situations.
-Caity Mills
I believe that colleges should teach both types, composition and writing. I also believe that it should depend on the major that you are pursuing. If the major that you desire to go into is more writing based, then its obvious that writing is what you should take. But, in contrast if you major field of study is more presentation style communication then i believe that composition. So, in conclusion, I feel like it is up to the college (eg. ISU College of Business) not the university (eg. Iowa State University). They should be able to plan the curriculum to best fit the needs of their students, and to best prepare their students for the workforce and what may lie ahead of them.
-Aaron Dooley
I believe that universities should teach both composition and writing because it’s important to be a good writer, and it’s also important to know how to design power-points and that kind of stuff. I think that without good writing skills a person wouldn’t be able to develop good presentations and it would be kind of sad to see that his/her grammar and spelling aren’t what they should be. I think that these are important concepts and that both should be important in a students future. Composition and writing will be helpful throughout life, so why not just consider learning both, and be prepared in life. Many companies want their employees to be good with both of these concepts, so knowing both would be a great thing.
Composition and writing should both be taught in colleges. Both are necessary because both are important but different ways to communicate. Technology is not always an available means of communicating, so people should be prepared to do both. If education focuses on only one style of written communication, students will lose important skills. Written communication is used in many settings, therefore learning to be a skilled communicator in any situation is important.
-Andrea Harken
Writing is essential to almost any occupation, and I believe that a writing class shouldn't be substituted by a web design class or something like that. Those classes could definitely come be nice for some students who will need specific skills being taught in those classes in their future careers. Some students are not interested in writing at all, and would prefer to take one of those other classes. Lack of interest shouldn't be an excuse for poor grammar and writing techniques, and that won't be attractive to future employers. So I do think that students should have to take a writing class, it's for their best interest! And this is definitely late! I figured it couldn't hurt posting anyways.
-Becca Peterson
I think composition is more important and usefull to students now a days than just writing. Our world is getting more complex by the day and learning to use composition for everyday things is more useful than just knowing how to write a letter.
- Kenny Rugg
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