Argumentative Essay: Texting's Effect on Student Writing Skills

This essay presents an argumentative analysis of the impact of texting on writing skills, examining both its positive and negative influences. The essay begins by summarizing the views of Michaela Cullington, who argues that texting enhances writing abilities by encouraging concise expression and providing a platform for informal communication, while acknowledging the concerns of those who believe texting negatively affects formal writing. The author agrees with Cullington, highlighting how texting has improved their ability to express thoughts and feelings comfortably, and how the practice of texting uses simple words. The essay further discusses how texting habits differ from formal writing, emphasizing the use of abbreviations and shorthand in texting versus adherence to academic standards in formal writing. The essay also uses evidence to prove points and uses topic sentences to make points clearer. The essay concludes by supporting the argument that texting can be a beneficial tool for developing writing skills, as it encourages concise expression and provides a comfortable platform for communication.

1. Michaela Cullington in first paragraph opined that texting is more like a revolution and has
made life more convenient as one can send a message to anyone while waiting in a queue,
walking up to the classroom or while sitting with parents without having to call the person.
However, parents and teacher opposes texting as the use of abbreviations is adversely
impacting the writing abilities of the students. As per the National Centre for Education
Statistics, only 25% of high school seniors are proficient in writing. John Rema, author of
‘Keep it Short and Simple’, would blame the use of acronyms for the bad writing skills of
students.
2. In defence of texting, Cullington provides rebuttal of the points against texting. She says that
texting saying inculcates the habit of using simple English as in conversations. Texting helps
one to generate topic sentences in writing. Texting motivated students to write formally.
Cullington employs evidence to defend the use of texting the way it inculcates writing skills
amongst teenagers. In her argument she quotes David Crystal who has stated that texting
enables students to summarize and express cautiously. Cullington is persuasive in her
defence of texting as it offers personal insight and develop individual voice.
3. Cullington uses the quotes of experts, particularly the author of popular books, in support of
her argument that texting is beneficial in writing skills. While quoting Dennis Brown,
Cullington explains that students keep the use of abbreviations only till texting and does not
let it spill in their writing assignments. Brown has rubbished the claim the youth hardly uses
abbreviations anymore now claiming that they consider it childish to use textspeak.
Cullington decided to prove this claim and interviewed few high school student who agreed
that they seldom use abbreviation sin texting art from few popular ones like ‘LOL’ and ‘gtg’.
4. In my opinion, Cullignton would rebuttal the concerns of Turkle. Cullington would defend
texting and state that it facilitates communication. Texting uses simple words as one does in
real conversation. Texting encourages even the introverts of the lot to converse with people
as they do not feel shy on the other side of the phone. People also learn to become more
expressive through the process of texting as they find their own voice.
5. I do agree with Cullington that texting has helped me to become more expressive. Through
texting I feel more comfortable to express my thoughts as I am not face to face with the
person and could not gauge at the expression of the recipient, even though he or she is not
liking my views. While texting I use more of abbreviations and shorthand typing, which is not
evident in my formal writing. Further, while texting I have a tendency to go precise in my
thoughts and use less number of words to express myself. However, while writing formally, I
follow the structure of proper academic standards which encompasses an introduction,
body paragraphs and conclusion. The use of evidence to prove my point is also present in
the formal writing. The body paragraphs also uses topic sentences to make my point more
clear.