Misconceptions of Writing

Some students believe that writing is an inborn talent: Either you have it, or you do not. They believe that some people inherit a so-called writing gene, while others do not have this "gift" and will never be able to write well. Contrary to this belief, no gene has been identified that gives some of us the ability to write well and is missing in others. It is true, however, that some people have more of a flair for writing, or a "way with words," than the rest of us.

linguistic related to languageIn the early 20th century, most psychologists and educators thought that intelligence could be measured by a standard IQ test. The result of this test was a single number that was supposed to measure a person’s intellectual capacity. Later theories of intelligence suggested that two types of intelligence were most important: a person’s verbal/linguistic capacity and mathematical/logical ability. In his 1983 book Frames of Mind, Howard Gardner proposed a view of intelligence that is widely accepted today. He suggests that there are not just one or two ways to be intelligent, but multiple types of intelligence (cited in Barrington, 2004).

I am sure you know people who just seem to have a knack for electronic or mechanical devices, while others of us have great trouble figuring out how to operate our computers, DVD players, or cell phones. Other people seem to have inborn athletic ability, a talent for music, or a natural artistic bent. Gardner (1983) initially identified the seven intelligences, but other intelligences have since been suggested for addition to the list (Figure 1.1).

Many researchers who have studied the theory of multiple intelligences believe that everyone is born possessing all of these intelligences to some degree. However, some intelligences are more dominant than others, and each person has a unique set of intellectual strengths and weaknesses. These intellectual sets determine how easy or difficult it is for that person to learn information when it is presented in a certain way, and they determine the person’s learning style (Understanding the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, 2005).

Although some people have a strong innate intelligence, more commonly, a specific intelligence becomes dominant because they develop it. Good writers are generally not born; they are made. Some people may have a "head start" by having stronger linguistic skills than others, but they must still learn the fundamentals of good writing, develop their talents, and continually practice their writing. No matter how much or how little natural linguistic intelligence you have, you can develop writing skills. You may not become a prize-winning author, but your intellectual intelligences can change over time, and you can strengthen your weaker intelligences if you work on them (Barrington, 2004).