Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” What Hemingway did not note was that, for the average person, writing expressively and clearly is one of, if not the most difficult, skill to master.
In 2021, the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that about 75% of students in varying grades could not write at a basic level. Research was then conducted to analyze the writing abilities of teens specifically, with much data to prove that the quality of student writing has been continuously declining in terms of grammar, clarity, and organization since the early 2000s.
As part of attending an academically rigorous and highly prestigious school, BCA students are constantly faced with the challenge of writing. Writing well, writing originally, and writing a lot. Haeun Jung, a sophomore in the visual academy, remarked in an interview that writing as a whole “has and probably always will be difficult” for her. She noted that, as a Korean immigrant, English is a subject that requires additional effort and concentration, making writing less enjoyable. When asked about recurring corrections received from teachers on writing assignments, Haeun recalled being asked to “relate the topic more to the real world,” despite finding evidence and an array of real-world connections.
On making the writing process more enjoyable, Haeun also stated that significant stress is created by a lack of time when completing in-class assignments. She recalled “spending a lot of time [figuring out] what [she] wants to write about and making [her] work sound good,” often resulting in unpolished material and unfinished thoughts. Haeun added that to make writing more fulfilling, she would prefer working with “deep, psychological questions,” which offer numerous perspectives and potential interpretations. She said that “writing down [her] own opinions and hearing what others [have to say] helps [her] to write and stay motivated.”
Ms. Kaba, a teacher of English at BCA, offered another viewpoint on students and their writing. When asked to provide a helpful tip for writers in any discipline, she advised that “students should take the time to really read and understand teacher feedback from previous assignments.” That way, “they can avoid [repeating] mistakes and start breaking bad habits.”
Ms. Kaba also noted that developing “clear and concise” writing techniques “reflects and builds on strong communication skills.” She firmly believes that “good writing is a foundational skill for better speaking, thinking, and listening.”
Despite Hemingways wise words, good writing is not something everyone can “bleed”. It requires tremendous concentration, work ethic, and complete, insightful thoughts, and if you happen to enjoy it, well I suppose that’s fine.
