Don’t take this the wrong way at first glance, essays serve as a crucial introduction to writing and debate during school years, but they have some issues that I would like to discuss. These “problems” are, by far, not negligible at all; these are thoughts that are shared by most, if not all, of my peers.
Essays represent a critical moment in an educational transition, from being able to express opinions and analysis vocally, to be able to conjure words on paper that dictate a point. They, without a shadow of a doubt, contribute to major brain development and advancement during younger years. Papers serve as a way to introduce children and teenagers to a world where the written word can document anything.
I will attempt to make this critique article short and succinct, I would not like to present bestrewn information that is convoluted and confusing.
Rigid Structural Integrity
The basic skeleton of a paper is recognized by most, if not all students, who have entered high school. The classic introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion dictate most of the writing done in school. The scrupulous structure of an essay may represent a helpful guide when first introduced to writing, yet as time goes on, it more represents an obstacle in the face of creativity.
As much as creativity is preached in the classroom, it is often ignored and detached from the educational curriculum; most teachers do not leave much room or leeway for creativity in writing or assessments. The structure of an essay must be sternly followed, or else points would be taken off. This harsh skeleton of a paper prevents any creativity to break boundaries and discover different writing styles.
Additionally, writing essays mostly encompass analytical, argumentative, or informational work. Although this is definitely useful for the future, it does not allow further research and in-depth dives into actual resources because the typical structure of an essay limits the amount of writing that can be done. Some teachers even instate page limits, to avoid reading writing that may be too long. This is very reasonable, though, since teachers have to go through many essays in one sitting; but the wrong aspect of this is that they do not understand how much this reduces creativity. The entire prospect of writing a paper is for students to express their own opinion on a specific topic, yet these endless barriers restrain the ability to fully assert their beliefs and ideas.
Unequivocally Counterproductive (to the major portion of a class)
The firm style of an essay essentially endorses writing that sounds impressive, instead of learning how to demonstrate a point and carry it out in a concise manner.
They force the writer to focus less on the big picture and place an emphasis on attempting to prove facts or inform an uneducated audience. Through this mentality, students learn inefficient writing strategies and are unable to create worthwhile content that actually advises, informs, or argues a topic.
Forced organization is also a very prevalent factor that all students need to adopt in order to be successful; this style of writing is barely used in the future (when has anyone been required to write a 5-paragraph essay in their adult years?).
These students, writing on topics that do not interest them, exhibit a passive voice that remains throughout their writing, and can dominate their future creativity. Without passion for what they are writing, the whole process can feel contrived and unproductive.