Topic: College Graduates and Writing

10-second review: In 1965, this research showed that 10% of college graduates in the Naval Officers Training School were seriously deficient in writing. I wonder what the percentage is today, 2009?

Title: “English Proficiency at the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School.” College English (November 1965), 140-144. A publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Summary: 10% of college grads attending Officer’s Candidate School are seriously deficient in composition. There is no significant correlation with other selection test scores, size or location of college, major field of study or number of hours in which English has been studied. The conclusion: Colleges are graduating 10% of their students who are seriously deficient in writing.

Comment: Whenever someone says students can’t write, I wish they would define their terms. In what way, exactly, are the students deficient in writing? And don’t tell me they can’t write a good sentence. If you say that, how do you define “a good sentence”? Show me some examples of writing that is deficient. I think we have to be more precise in identifying what is wrong with the students’ writing if we are ever going to help the students correct their problems in writing. RayS.