The Reading-Writing Connection

The Reading-Writing Connection

It has been argued that reading and writing share a significant connection. This may provide the key for successful learning of multiple languages, but how? In order to answer this question, we must know exactly what the connection is, and means. It has already been determined that reading and writing are important life skills, and yet, though many articles and papers discuss this importance, few choose to explain the claimed connection. To narrow down, the same principle may apply with mirror writing, Does the ability with which one can write affect the ability with which one can read? It is the purpose of this paper, and the project it is based on, to answer this question. This problem’s solution could dramatically change how language is taught in school.

According to a study by Lexile, students from grades one through twelve read about 300 points above what they write on the Lexile scale. This suggests that reading helps writing, but not necessarily the other way around. Lexile also states that in real world practice, reading and writing are rarely connected. Whether this is a bad thing remains to be seen. Perhaps insight into the inner workings of our brains could help determine an answer, but it simply has not been deemed important enough of a question to use so many resources on. A similar problem has been seen in the learning of languages. Very few can explain what it is like to learn a first language, and though this is obviously the most effective way, it cannot be used for that reason. However, the writing and reading connection has not lost attention.

Some people have the special ability to mirror write without prior practice. It is noted that this is probably inherited, but nothing has been confirmed. Something of interest could be that there are more left handed mirror writers than large ones. It is also suggested that an unusual brain connection creates this effect, perhaps much like the way we understand language. This is essential, as much of the real life application of the science project upon which this is based depends on this similarity. Excitement surrounded a project concerning this in 2004. Since then, it has fallen out of favor. However, the general topic, of which this paper is based, is still a popular subject for discussion between linguists.

It can be considered ironic the tone linguists had toward writing in the 1960’s, as they explicitly forbade writing until a good foundation had been built in reading first. Of course, now writing has been seen to have a very central role and often dominate writing. Phonetic awareness is only one plus of using writing in the parts of early reading, and such can be applied to second, third, and even fourth languages. It is this argument that is commonly used to attempt to explain a connection between reading and writing. This is used in conjunction with other examples. This often includes statistics in the development of such skills. Other times it simply shows questions that have been asked and attempts to explain them. Overall, it is rather hard to tell if the connection is real and important, or if it never really existed.

Does the ability with which one can write affect the ability with which one can read? In order to answer this question, we must have a better understanding of what the question means. It has been argued that reading and writing are complementary, and should be taught side by side. This argument may provide the key for successful learning of multiple languages. It has already been determined that reading and writing are important life skills, and yet, though many articles and papers discuss this importance, few choose to explain the claimed connection. It is the purpose of this paper, and the project it is based on, to discover if there is any truth to these arguments. The findings could dramatically change how language is taught in school.

Bibliography

Cooper, Sharon. "If One Learns to Write Backwards, Can One Then Read Backwards?" Education.com. Education.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.

Pearson, David. "Thinking About the Reading/Writing Connection with David Pearson." National Writing Project. National Writing Project, Mar.-Apr. 2002. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.

Salleh, Anna. "Mirror Writing: My Genes Made Me Do It › News in Science (ABC Science)." Mirror Writing: My Genes Made Me Do It › News in Science (ABC Science). ABC, 2 June 2004. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.

Smith, Jane. "Want to Speak a Foreign Language Better? Learn to Write First!" Want to Speak a Foreign Language Better? Learn to Write First! Simon Ager, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

Smith, Malbert, III. "The Reading-Writing Connection." Lexile, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Bibliography: Cooper, Sharon. "If One Learns to Write Backwards, Can One Then Read Backwards?" Education.com. Education.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2013. Pearson, David. "Thinking About the Reading/Writing Connection with David Pearson." National Writing Project. National Writing Project, Mar.-Apr. 2002. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. Salleh, Anna. "Mirror Writing: My Genes Made Me Do It › News in Science (ABC Science)." Mirror Writing: My Genes Made Me Do It › News in Science (ABC Science). ABC, 2 June 2004. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Smith, Jane. "Want to Speak a Foreign Language Better? Learn to Write First!" Want to Speak a Foreign Language Better? Learn to Write First! Simon Ager, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. Smith, Malbert, III. "The Reading-Writing Connection." Lexile, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.