Response to Clive Thompson by Daelynn

            Many people might have the idea that because of how technology has taken a large part in our lives, that we aren’t writing as efficiently or in a way that is killing our literacy.  Because of the constant evolution of technology, we are using new ways to communicate with others and new ways to write completely.

            In his recent work, Clive Thompson implies that these new evolutions of technology have actually increased our use of daily writing and the use of communication through writing.  Thompson states, “It’s almost hard to remember how big a paradigm shift this is.  Before the internet came along, most Americans never wrote anything, ever, that wasn’t a school assignment.”

            When we were first introduced to the internet, we had no idea that Facebook and Twitter were going to become such a big part of our lives.  But the internet became more than any of us thought it would be.  Now people write pretty much everyday; even the use of the common cell phone has become a social networking device. 

            Thompson also states, “The fact that students today almost always write for an audience (something virtually no one in my generation did) gives them a different sense of what constitutes good writing.”

            From this, Thompson implies that this evolution of literacy has become a good thing; it introduces students to the real life scenario of writing for a real audience.  Thompson also implies that because this constitutes good writing that students are now going to be more skilled than writers from previous generations.  He implies that with these advancements in communication and social networking that students are learning what writing is good and what writing should be directed to whom.

            “Of course, good teaching is always going to be crucial, as is the mastering of formal academic prose.  But its also becoming clear that online media are pushing literacy into cool directions,” states Thompson.

            Although Thompson doesn’t say directly, he apparently assumes that this constant evolution in technology and social networking is a good thing and will continue to be a good thing for young writers.  Thompson also implies that without good teaching when it comes to writing, that we cant just rely on students to use technology to advance themselves in writing; there still needs to be proper teaching of writing that isn’t personal and ongoing between students.

            My own view is that we cant stop the constant evolution of social networking.  It has become something that most people use in their everyday life; it has become something that is just part of our lifestyles now.  Although it may seem obsessive and tedious, this is just another way we communicate through writing.  I agree with what Thompson implies about how before the internet, we communicated a lot differently.  If you think back to about 20 years ago, if we wanted to get in touch with someone, we would pick up the phone and call, now we text, twitter, or facebook them.  I think that since we have this technology, we can use it to make writing easier and more understanding for students; and more enjoyable while the whole use of technology changes throughout the years to come.