<p>This article has certainly hit a nerve. The writing level of middle/high schoolers is appalling. I can’t imagine the horror that college freshman comp teachers face. The problem begins quite early in our district. Once a student passes 4th or 5th grade, little writing is assigned. Basic grammar and syntax is just not taught. </p>
<p>As many posters have observed, the only way to learn is to write. Edit. Rewrite. Rinse, repeat. How do we achieve this? Through small class size. One educator cannot adequately teach and edit 45 essays per class. I also believe that the college board should abolish AP English credit. AP Lit, sure. English, no. Every student should have to take college freshman writing courses, unless they can test out of them.</p>