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Are you kidding? The US system is completely devoted to writing. All my English classes were centered around writing essays (usually about the books we read).

Are you kidding? The US system is completely devoted to writing. All my English classes were centered around writing essays (usually about the books we read). In fact, I'd argue the opposite. The French system places a big emphasis on learning grammar, conjugations, spelling and things like that - which frankly is a waste of time. I don't think I ever took a grammar course in the US. I couldn't tell you what a prepositional phrase is, but I can write a good essay.

eropple 13y ago
> The US system is completely devoted to writing. Writing, perhaps, but not good writing. Most of good writing is the ability to synthesize ideas and construct prose people want to read. Nobody wants to read your average student's five paragraph essay. On the other hand, I spent a large part of the weekend bingeing on Michael O. Church's blog, because the dude can write.
saraid216 13y ago
I can write a good essay, too, but I don't really attribute that to my schooling. Learning to write a good essay has one essential ingredient: you have to care about what you're trying to express. If you're just writing to the specification, you won't improve at anything except creating filler content. I learned how to write a good essay because I thought I had something to say and I wanted people to hear it and understand it. Same with other facets of communication, like public speaking.
- temp453463343 13y ago
  My personal experience hasn't been the same. I used to be really bad at writing, but through the school system forcing me to write I got significantly better. I think I'm pretty good now-a-days, though I'm a bit rusty. Sure you get better at things you actually enjoy doing, but sometimes you need to force yourself or - in the case of children - be forced to do something over and over to learn. I think teachers try to make writing more interesting, but it can be a pretty hard thing to do. Most kids will hate it no matter what they write.

eropple 13y ago

> The US system is completely devoted to writing. Writing, perhaps, but not good writing. Most of good writing is the ability to synthesize ideas and construct prose people want to read. Nobody wants to read your average student's five paragraph essay. On the other hand, I spent a large part of the weekend bingeing on Michael O. Church's blog, because the dude can write.

saraid216 13y ago

I can write a good essay, too, but I don't really attribute that to my schooling. Learning to write a good essay has one essential ingredient: you have to care about what you're trying to express. If you're just writing to the specification, you won't improve at anything except creating filler content. I learned how to write a good essay because I thought I had something to say and I wanted people to hear it and understand it. Same with other facets of communication, like public speaking.

temp453463343 13y ago
My personal experience hasn't been the same. I used to be really bad at writing, but through the school system forcing me to write I got significantly better. I think I'm pretty good now-a-days, though I'm a bit rusty. Sure you get better at things you actually enjoy doing, but sometimes you need to force yourself or - in the case of children - be forced to do something over and over to learn. I think teachers try to make writing more interesting, but it can be a pretty hard thing to do. Most kids will hate it no matter what they write.