Why Write (in English)?

            Writing in English is important for a variety of reasons.  Firstly, it gives students a voice that they may not have – or believe they do not have – otherwise.  Personally, I find writing to be more intimate than I sometimes do speaking; I write things that I would typically not say out loud.  As a result, writing allows for an even safer environment than a typical classroom, as each person’s writing is his or her own and is protected.  Secondly, writing develops other areas and skills, such as oral communication and reading.  By becoming a better writer, I believe that a student n can also become a better speaker and a better reader.  He or she will use skills developed in writing in other areas, just as skills developed in those areas will be used in writing.  Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, writing is a form of identity creation in which students can not only express their voices, but also mold their opinions and character.  The ideal process of writing is not simply copying pre-formed ideas onto a piece of paper, but rather exploring those ideas in a safe space that allows for creativity, challenge, and change.  By putting a part of yourself on a piece of paper, you can then analyze it, evaluate it, and decide if or how you are then going to improve it.  Writing is more than a representation of a person’s skills, but rather a representation of the person him or herself.