Slang in Writing
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Avoid Slang Slipping
Into Students' Schoolwork
(ARA) - Plz practice your writing B4 U head bak 2 school. C U in a few wkz.
Millions of children (and adults!) use language like this to chat with friends,
make weekend plans and stay in touch with out-of-town relatives via e-mail and
Instant Messaging (IM). As students head back to school, it's important that
this informal writing style of shortened words, improper grammar, lack of
punctuation and use of "emoticons" such as smiley faces, does not follow them
back to the classroom.
"As more state proficiency and college entrance exams like the SAT include
writing components, it's important that students be able to communicate as
clearly as possible through their writing," said Richard E. Bavaria Ph.D., vice
president of education for Sylvan Learning Center. "Formal writing on important
exams likes these must be grammatically correct, with full words and sentences,
and none of the slang and shortcuts we all find acceptable in e-mail and IM."
To avoid IM and e-mail style language making its way into schoolwork, the
experts at Sylvan Learning Center offer parents the following tips to help
children boost their effective writing skills:
* Talk to children about using different writing styles to communicate with
different audiences. Describe the importance of personalizing messages and why
it's important that students know their audience. While it's okay to close a
letter with "C ya" to a friend in an IM, it is not okay to include this slang in
homework assignments. Remind them that formality is required in school.
* Have fun with writing. Provide children with enjoyable ways to practice their
writing. Involve your child with writing grocery lists, thank you notes, dates
on calendars and messages. Or play games like Blurt!, TriBond and MadGab that
help build language and vocabulary skills.
* Review schoolwork for IM and email style language. Encourage your children to
write properly and take the time to carefully review assignments several times
before submitting to the teacher. Review your child's homework to make sure they
aren't using shortcuts or slang.
* Talk with children to establish ground rules for using IM and e-mail. Work
with your child to develop a plan for using IM and e-mail to make sure other
responsibilities such as completing homework and chores are met before going
online to chat with friends. Discuss time limits with your children and make
sure they are kept. Consider putting your family rules in writing and posting
them near the computer.
* Create a writing zone. Whether writing on a computer or with a notebook and
pencil, it's important that your child has a well-organized place to write. Set
up an area in your home for writing -- a desk or table with a flat surface and
good lighting. Make sure the area is free from potential distractions and that
writing tools, including a dictionary, paper and pens, are at your child's
fingertips.
* Encourage your child to read. Read with your child at least 15 minutes per day
-- or one hour per week -- since reading will help teach them about sentence
structure, grammar and vocabulary. Reading and writing support each other and
good readers become good writers. The more your child does of each, the better
she will be at both.
Sylvan offers parents a variety of tools to help children practice and have fun
with writing, including a free online writing journal, complete with suggested
topics and decorative pages, at
www.educate.com/activities . For additional information on sharpening
children's writing skills visit
www.educate.com/ tips or call (800) 31-SUCCESS.
Courtesy of ARA Content
