Writing, Technology and Teens

Teens' basic definition of writing is looked at, the various kinds of writing they do are explored, their assessment about what impact e-communication has on their writing is sought, and their guidance about how writing instruction might be improved are probed.

Abstract

What, if anything, connects formal writing teens do and informal e-communication they exchange on digital screens? A considerable number of educators and children's advocates worry that James Billington, Librarian of Congress, was right when he recently suggested that young Americans' electronic communication might be damaging the basic unit of human thought -- sentence. They are concerned that quality of writing by young Americans is being degraded by their electronic communication, with its carefree spelling, lax punctuation and grammar, and its acronym shortcuts. Others wonder if this return to text-driven communication is instead inspiring new appreciation for writing among teens. This report looks at teens' basic definition of writing, explores various kinds of writing they do, seeks their assessment about what impact e-communication has on their writing, and probes for their guidance about how writing instruction might be improved.