Description
Nenagh Kemp (“Text-messaging Isn’t, like, Ruining Young People’s Grammar,”) and John McWhorter (“Txting Is Ruining Language, JK!”) both consider the effect that digital communication tools and modalities such as texting affect people’s use of formal writing.
First, explain Kemp and McWhorter’s conclusions about texting in your own words. Then pick one point from each author/speaker that interested you. What did you like about it, and what does the author mean by it?
Next, describe your experience with using or reading textisms (luv, ltr, thx) or initialisms(lol, tty, omg). Do you frequently use them or do they annoy you? Have you ever been confused by someone’s textisms or initialisms on social media or other internet text and had to ask someone or search what it meant? Do you think you always aware of using texting shortcuts, when you do? Have you ever seen them creep into your writing (such as using i when you mean I)?
Last, what do you think you will do when this class is over in order to keep improving your writing skills?
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to practice writing an academic response to an assigned reading, to explain Kemp and McWhorter’s main points, and to compare their arguments and research to your own experience and ideas about continuing your writing practice.
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