By Dr. Randy Nelson
Professor Emeritus of Education
Editorial Contributor
Writing is an important skill all people should have. When we write with clarity and precision, we inform, inspire, and challenge our readers. The writing must be grammatically correct and nuanced. If a writer hopes to strike the readers’ nerves, each sentence must be meticulously crafted and refined. Anyone who is educated should have the ability to write with force and accuracy.
Society expects high-school graduates to have the skills needed to write an essay of at least a few paragraphs. Likewise, we expect college and university graduates to possess the skills needed for longer essays. Those essays frequently contain advanced thought, rich vocabulary, and a style that captivates the imagination and sometimes provokes readers to action.
Over the years, I have read the writing of many Liberian high-school and university students. Some of Liberia’s graduates are indeed able to write clearly and correctly. They and their instructors should be commended.
Unfortunately, too many high-school graduates struggle to write a paragraph, and when they do, misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and underdeveloped ideas dominate. At times, the writing is incomprehensible.
I am aware of college and university graduates who struggle to write a job application letter. Many of their documents are riddled with errors. When they are asked to write a short paragraph to demonstrate writing ability, they flounder. These graduates are indeed intelligent people, but too many of them simply do not know how to write.
The roots of this problem can be traced to Liberia’s civil war. After many of the educated people were killed and schools were demolished, Liberia found itself with a shattered and dysfunctional education sector. When peace returned in 2003, the people who remained did their best to educate the population. Many were insufficiently prepared to be teachers, but they did their best under nearly impossible circumstances. I give them my full respect for serving their fellow citizens as Liberia struggled to rise from the ashes.
Since those years, people have fought doggedly to strengthen Liberia’s education system, but the fight is far from over. Among its goals, the education sector must establish writing instruction as a high priority. Unfortunately, too many schools face the logistical and financial challenges that make writing instruction seem complicated and unwieldy.
High-quality writing teachers must meet three fundamental requirements: First, teachers must have a thorough knowledge of English grammar, correct sentence structure, and the standard essay framework. Second, teachers must know how to write. They themselves must be able to compose clear, correct, and cohesive essays. And third, teachers must understand writing pedagogy because knowing how to write and teaching others to write involve two different skillsets.
Sadly, too many educators struggle to write and do not possess the skills and knowledge needed for writing instruction. If these limitations are compounded by teachers who use incorrect English, writing instruction suffers. Students invariably pay the price.
Because many students have not learned to write, plagiarism runs rampant in many schools. Copying from the internet has been largely supplanted by artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI. Relying on any form of plagiarism to complete an academic assignment or an educational program is an act of self-sabotage.
The negative consequences of plagiarism are many. For example, if people are asked to write without the assistance of an electronic device, they will likely expose themselves as incapable. People have lost university admission and scholarship opportunities because they could not compose the requisite application essays. Others have been denied employment opportunities because their writing lacked sufficient correctness. When academic dishonesty is discovered, students who have let AI compose their papers will either fail the course or face expulsion. In either case, they will have forfeited their integrity.
Writing skills are expected among educated people. Those graduating from Liberia’s high schools must have sufficient skills to write an essay of three or four paragraphs. Those graduating from colleges and universities must possess the skills to write complicated papers about advanced topics. Anyone holding a degree must be able to put pen in hand and write correctly, coherently, and decisively.
Emphasizing writing instruction is crucial if Liberia’s graduates are to leave their institutions ready to compete in the broader world. Excellent writing skills will serve them for the rest of their lives. Their writing will be focused, engaging, and penetrating. Every Liberian graduate deserves such empowerment.