does writing essays really help students learn?

Question

Im am writing a argumentitive essay for my English class and I was wondering, do essays really help students learn? Those who are skilled at writing and enjoy it will get the better grade than those who don't, so is it really fair to have students write to show what they learn or does it even help them learn? Facts and statistics would be nice.

Answer 1

Those who are better at math get better grades. Those who are better at sports get better grades in PE. It’s just the way it works.

But do essays help? The truth is that writing, in any form, helps you develop writing skills. Whether you are writing letters, chatting online, talking in forums, or writing essays, it helps you develop your writing skills.

However, there are theories, which I tend to agree with, that some teachers can inhibit their student’s development into good writers by making them hate the written word. Read “The Writers Way” by Jack Rawlins for a very good discussion of this topic.

Answer 2

I can not give you statistics, but obviously writing essays will help anyone learn!! You, clearly, are able to write literately, but do you often read the incomprehensible questions and answers submitted to this forum? Certainly, as you say, the students who are more capable will do better with the assignment, but isn't that the case with any class at school? Just as surely, too, students with problems expressing themselves in writing will never improve if they are not given assignments requiring them to write; practice definitely is the course of action for becoming more proficient whatever the endeavor. Constructive criticism and corrections of their efforts by the instructor will serve to assist them in becoming competent in spelling and grammar, as well. Additionally, the requirements for an essay (whether it is to be argumentative, informative, persuasive) will entail the writer's researching the topic, thereby gaining knowledge in regard to the theme in supplement to learning the accepted criteria for formating and producing the finished essay. The preceding, though, is somewhat dependent upon the student's desire to do well and to succeed in school, but those should be the objectives of an education!

Answer 3

While they are irritating....

They teach:

1) Patience
2) Writing Skills
3) Perseverance
4) Communication Skills
5) Thinking Skills

Answer 4

yea i really dont know about the facts and stats part, but i do know that essays dont teach you anything for sure....i guess they are nessasary to show what u do know like proper grammer and spelling and all that good stuff, and also whatever you're actually talkin about. well thats bout it :)