The bad idea is that reading and writing are not connected. The bad idea that they have been
taught in a way that appears like they are different when they are connected and the focus on
writing versus reading. This idea is bad because reading and writing are the skills we need in
order to communicate and practicing the two can improve the way students become stronger
thinkers and come up with ideas. In Reading and Writing Are Not Connected, Ellen Carillo
explains her better idea of reading and writing being connected and how the two should be taught
together. In Sofia Westin’s essay, “Social media eroding skills?” She explains that social media
could be the problem to why students aren’t able to write as coherently as they should be and
why students are seen lacking in vocabulary and critical thinking. Carillo and Westin believe that
reading and writing being taught together is the better idea and the two skills are how students
can create ideas and focus on other skills like grammar, vocabulary and writing.
Carillo’s better idea that allows reading and writing to be taught together is what she believes
will help students become better thinkers. She thinks there should be an equal focus on both
reading and writing because there is a connection made when learning the two. She explains
writing as an output to what students read and students being able to write better is connected to
how well they can read. She explains reading and writing is about creating ideas and in “Reading
and Writing Are Not Connected”, Carillo explains this idea saying “When one writes, one is
creating meaning by putting words and ideas together. When one reads, the same thing is
happening” (Carillo 40).
Westin’s better idea is reading and writing skills being fundamental for students to have better
critical thinking skills, vocabulary, and grammar. Her idea focuses on social media being the
reason students are not able to progress in their writing, and that is because they don’t spend
enough time reading. She explains students’ use of social media often affects their grammar and
vocabulary which can make students’ writing become less effective. In her article she presents a
source that shows the effects social media can have on students’ literacy skills “The five major
areas students felt a deficiency in were concentration, cursive writing, spelling, reading a printed
map, and grammar, respectively” (Westin 8). This supports her idea of why social media affects
students in all areas relating to reading and writing.
Carillo’s better idea of reading and writing being taught together focuses on students being able
to develop ideas of their own and become better thinkers. She also targets this idea to college
students in order to progress in any subject, it starts with reading and writing. Carillo suggests “if
students are not given the opportunity to continue working on their reading throughout their
college careers, they may struggle analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating all that surrounds them
since comprehension is a crucial step toward these more advanced interpretive practices” (Carillo
39). She believes that students may struggle in the future with analyzing, interpreting, and
evaluating if there isn’t an equal focus around reading just as much as writing.
Westins’ better idea focuses on how reading is a fundamental skill needed for students to be able
to write. If students read more, they can have better grammar and vocabulary but because we are
in the digital age and everything is technology, social media makes everything harder for
educators. She explains how social media has become students’ main source of “writing” and has
become harmful regarding communication skills. She believes for students to become engaged in
wanting to read and write it’s important for them to see the harmful effects social media could
have on their reading and writing skills and put communication skills before social media skills.
In conclusion Carillo and Westins ideas are important to think about for students to become
better thinkers. Practicing reading and writing together and providing strategies for students is
what students need in order to improve literacy skills. Also, being aware of the effects social
media has on communication skills that are harmful to students reading and writing skills. It’s
better to focus on the idea that there is a connection between reading and writing and the benefits
of practicing both at once to become a successful reader and writer.