The "Write" Stuff

Jason Fertig

I applaud my university's monthly magazine for stressing how employers are dissatisfied with many graduates' writing skills (see page 18).  Yet, while I have no interest in biting the hand that feeds me, I do have to call attention to a few quotes from the article that are quite disconcerting. 

While commenting on employers' expectations, one professional stressed the need for students who can "construct a coherent email to the rest of the company."  Another requested that graduates should "be able to write what you mean, and in a format that is understandable and grammatically correct."   Hence, after 16+ years of schooling, students not only cannot write at the college level -  a fair portion of graduates also cannot write coherently. 

That is scary.  Still, every time I hear employers slamming graduates' writing, my instinct is to ask, "why did you hire them?"

  • Share

Most Commented

January 8, 2025

1.

NAS Condemns the AHA's “Scholasticide” Resolution

The National Association of Scholars condemns the “Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza,” which the members of the American Historical Association passed by 428 t......

January 27, 2025

2.

Exclusive Documents: UC-Boulder Breaks Civil Rights Law to Advance Racial Preferences

New FOIA documents grant a window into how the University of Colorado-Boulder, in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, discriminates on the basis of protected class and upholds a co......

February 13, 2025

3.

The Grown Ups are Back: On Gender, Trump Replaces Confusion and Chaos with Clarity and Common Sense

With this administration, the grown ups are back: Trump is replacing confusion and chaos with clarity and common sense—not just for women’s sports but also for America....

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

2.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...

May 26, 2010

3.

10 Reasons Not to Go to College

A sampling of arguments for the idea that college may not be for everyone....