Is your HS student a good writer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine are beautiful writers, both creative writing and analytical papers. Reading a lot helps I believe, as they both read independently before the 4th birthday and are avid readers outside of school. Their k-12 prep is partly the reason: research papers start in middle school, by high school they are writing 8-10pp with ease. We were amazed when advisors shared the google doc portfolios at the end of each semester. Peers help each other edit starting in middle too, which adds to learning. I was not a great writer compared to peers at my ivy and I do believe it was my rural WV public school system that fell off the mark. They are excelling in college, coming in more prepared than the average, though rest assured others catch up and learn writing college, it will work out

where did your kids go to HS?

[Anonymous]

Mine is surprisingly good. I edit writing of lawyers for a living so I see a lot of writing. I hadn’t read my DD’s for years until college essays which she started near the end of 11th grade. I was impressed.

I thought the AP writing course in MCPS was excellent. There was a lot of self evaluation and good teacher feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is surprisingly good. I edit writing of lawyers for a living so I see a lot of writing. I hadn’t read my DD’s for years until college essays which she started near the end of 11th grade. I was impressed.

I thought the AP writing course in MCPS was excellent. There was a lot of self evaluation and good teacher feedback.

What AP course is that?

[Anonymous]

On grammar— can anyone offer a specific source from which to learn?

On reading— agree that high quality literature and more of it is needed. Read every night before bed. No phone. If they start now, it will help them to write better and learn self-discipline.

[Anonymous]

My kid who is a great school essay writer had a very hard time writing the common app essay. There is a ton of pressure to be creative and unique and that is trickier for some than a standard research essay. Introspection is tough for some too.

[Anonymous]

My son is a very good writer. Has adhd and needs help editing but is generally very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who is a great school essay writer had a very hard time writing the common app essay. There is a ton of pressure to be creative and unique and that is trickier for some than a standard research essay. Introspection is tough for some too.

Honestly the common app essay is getting ridiculous and so much harder to write than most high school assignments.

[Anonymous]

Both my boys are good writers. DS1 is an excellent technical writer-- his writing is very well-organized and clear, but I don't think there's a lot of "personality" to his worryi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my boys are good writers. DS1 is an excellent technical writer-- his writing is very well-organized and clear, but I don't think there's a lot of "personality" to his worryi

Sorry, hit submit too soon:

But I don’t think there's a lot of personality to his writing. DS2 has a real voice, but is not quite a technically good as DS1.

DS1 is a voracious reader. DS2 doesn't read much at all, much to my disappointment. But I read to them both every.single.day until they were in high school. (I love to read aloud so this was no chore.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my boys are good writers. DS1 is an excellent technical writer-- his writing is very well-organized and clear, but I don't think there's a lot of "personality" to his worryi

Does this even matter in a professional or business context?

If he's going to write op eds, persuasive articles, or novels then "personality" is important but otherwise "well organized and clear" is perfect.

[Anonymous]

Obviously reading for pleasure is everything. If they're not reading, they're not writing well.

I have two very different kids. Type A and Type Nerd. The first one is always full on and grinds and is the leader of everything and pays attention to social stuff and is always go, go, go. The second is more contemplative and chill and reads for amusement and edification. They both go to top 20 colleges now. But type nerd was a much better writer. Genuinely enjoys books and it shows.

[Anonymous]

My older son is an amazing writer. Has a real "voice," grabs you on his intros, memorable kickers. My younger son...it's painful.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a very good writer. She reads for pleasure, both fantasy novels and 19th century classics, and she does debate. Both help with with writing.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids are excellent writers. Their writing has better flow and rhythm than a lot of what I have to review at my law office. I am sure it's because they have always been avid readers. And a lot of what they read as children/young teens was not even especially good..I truly believe quantity is more important than quality when ot comes to kids and reading!

[Anonymous]

I'm a writer and both my kids are excellent writers. I'm grateful for that, but wish I'd had more lucrative genes to pass on to them!