Why are americans bad at writing essays?

Question

Why are we as americans, incompetent at writing long papers or essays?

I am an American, I am a American composition major at Florida State University. Many of my classmates write very bad papers, and many of the undergrads' papers that I review are not the best. I am making a generalization. In high school, I was barely taught to write papers, and I was in Okaloosa County; We had the best school system in the country at the time.

Answer 1

Because American High Schools only require that a student learn the base minimum in any given subject that will let them pass an exit exam designed so that any normal person could pass it with a minimum amount of effort. We aim for the lowest rung on the ladder, so we should not be surprised when we hit it. Anyone who has managed to cultivate writing skills has done so by going above and beyond the curriculum set forth by our school boards.

Answer 2

Is this skill still taught in high schools? When I taught college students from 1984-1999, I noticed a big change in the quality of writing of my students. Those taking the tests in the 80s were far better essay writers than those in the 90s. Some could not write a complete sentence! Their spelling was poor and most could not think critically.

However, there were several "gems" among the lot. The essays were well constructed and flowed like a river! (poor use of the language there).

So, I've seen the best and the worst.

Answer 3

Not all of us are. I have a learning disability and I manged to get an A on my high school essay, which we worked several months on. And the teacher I had, isn't an easy teacher to get an A from.

As long as we all proofread our paper and have other read it, and keep revising until it can be revised anymore, we will write good essays.

Answer 4

They never learned how to read or spell. Schools haven't taught reading since someone invented multiple choice tests. All the school nonsense has eliminated the basics of sound basic education. If children are taught basic reading and writing principles and basic math they will progress well into higher levels. If not they will be eternally lost.

Answer 5

You would do well if you wrote a story showing an example of one of the virtues taught by the Lakota, Humility, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom. Perhaps you could write a story on Respect and show how "mimicking" another culture is extremely DISRESPECTFUL. Native storytellers often use animals in their stories. You could write a story about a cat mimicking a skunk, and the consequences of such behavior.

Answer 6

Poor educational system at work. They spend more time on syntax and grammar and less time on content. If they would focus on content, then polish up the grammar, it would be much better. Most jobs today require email, and the ability to put your thoughts down in a coherent and organized fashion. They don't teach that in school.

Answer 7

Because some of us don't give a damn. Others of us do care. Your question seems to be an example of the former-at least in writing short sentences, anyway.

Answer 8

Dennis:

Go to: www.writing.com and get some help. It is not too late and it is FREE!

BTW:You Always capitalize" American" and British, French, Dutch, Swiss, Iraqi, Italian, German; see what I mean, Jellybean??

Answer 9

You seem to be incompetent at typing short sentences, as well.

Answer 10

I write great essays