Introducing a new research report, the Pew Internet and American Life Project observes that:
“Teens write a lot, but they do not think of their emails, instant and text messages as writing. This disconnect matters because teens believe good writing is an essential skill for success and that more writing instruction at school would help them.”
The report is based on a national phone survey of 700 Americans aged 12-17 and their parents. It was conducted by Pew and the National Commission on Writing.
Co-author Amanda Lenhart comments in a media release that “There is a raging national debate about the state of writing and how high-tech communication by teens might be affecting their ability to think and write… Those on both sides of the issue will see supporting data here.”
Richard Sterling, executive director emeritus of the National Writing Project, said “We think these findings point to a critical strategy question for all educators: How can we connect the enthusiasm of young people for informal, technology-based writing with classroom experiences that illuminate the power of well-organized, well-reasoned writing?”
Full text of the Writing, Technology and Teens report is available online.