DIRECTED WRITING Text messaging is a common activity nowadays, and...

DIRECTED WRITING
Text messaging is a common activity nowadays, and many new words and new spellings have been developed to help people to send texts more quickly. However, many people are worried that these new words and spellings are causing damage to the English language and to communication in general. In the debate on the following page, J.B. Doyle, a mother with professional experience of the computer, and Roberta Colby, a 16 year old student give their opposing views of this question. You are a journalist. Write an article on the effect of text messaging on the English language and communication. In the article you should:
discuss the positive and negative effects of text messaging;
persuade readers to take a balanced view of text messaging.

Base what you write on the two texts below.
You should write between 600 and 700 words.

Debate: Is text messaging causing the destruction of the English language?
Yes - J. B. Doyle
I worked at a computer company for seven years. I didn't allow employees under me to write emails or handwritten notes using numbers and letters for words, explaining the importance of professionalism in our line of work. Of course, I had to help them spell a lot of words, but I didn't mind. I cringe when I receive e-mails using such sentences as "U can C4 URself". I sometimes feel that the writer doesn't consider me worth the time of actually spelling. Sometimes I'll hear people speaking in text language without even realising it. That's something that people need to be aware of, if they care to be understood. "Textese" should never be allowed in classroom work or workplace correspondence. To me it conveys laziness and a lack of sincerity. What must the receiver of such language think of the sender? How can such work be taken seriously? To stay ahead in today's job market, effective communication and perception of intelligence and professionalism in the workplace is vital in these days of layoffs and cutbacks. I have no issues with texting language, as long as it is limited to text messaging. But it must not spill over into everyday writing. Text language use in commercials and signs is becoming disheartening and annoying. Advertisers seem to feel this type of language will result in irresistible catchphrases, thus raising the revenue of businesses. I strongly disagree. However, we seem to have encouraged this type of behaviour ourselves. Shortening words or medical terms into abbreviations doesn't encourage spelling or understanding of the English language. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. Attention deficit disorder is referred to as ADD. Fast food restaurants are often referred to by initials; does anyone really believe that makes them "cooler" to young people? My firm belief is that we can all take the time to say the actual words. We need to convey that ability and importance of speaking and writing well to upcoming generations. Do I think people will forget how to speak the English language? No. But I also can't imagine future works of literature filled with text words. That's what I want to avoid. I was grateful to see the invention of mobile phones with entire tiny keyboards to allow us word nerds to text comfortably. Kids need to know how to avoid lowering their grades by using text language in papers. People need to know how to write and speak using actual words. So, let's make sure we all keep text language where it belongs, in texting.

No - Roberta Colby
As a teenager, I personally love to text. But I am going to try not to write this as my point of view. I'm going to try to see it from a view of, let's say teachers, or people that have to read what I write. I think the "LOL", or "BRB" for texting is just so you can type it faster. And get more words in for the number of characters in a text message you're allowed to have. I use the texting slang every day, me and my best friend text each other when we're sitting right next to each other, just so we can. The text slang that's so often used in text messages doesn't mean that the people sending those messages can't write with correct English. They choose the smaller, easier to text words. It's just so they can send more words in one text message, rather than typing it all out correctly in the text message and sending two or three to get out what you could say in one if you used the slang. My mum found one of my notes from my friends, and it was all written in 'texting' slang. I don't do it to hide stuff from my parents, like some people may think that's what it's for, because if you think about it, probably more often than not, parents use them in texting too. I think adults seem to think that the text messaging is ruining communication between them and their kids, or grandkids, but they don't look at it this way. Most of the adults and elder people I know also have phones. They also text all the time. My best friend's mum texts her all the time, that's pretty much their only way of communication. It's fast and easier. So why not use it? When my friend Amanda comes over to hang out, she's always texting her boyfriend, but he lives about forty-five minutes away, and she doesn't like talking on the phone. So she is always texting. But I've seen her work in English class, and she does pretty well, for always constantly texting. And using the texting slang. I was at a restaurant the other day, and my mobile phone started to ring. Everyone was staring at me. I thought I had a phone call, but really I was getting a text message, and I hadn't turned my phone on vibrate. So I quickly opened my phone and read it, and all I typed back was: "TTYL, Im busy." And that was it. I turned my phone down and put it away. If you look at texting as a bad thing towards talking and ruining face to face communication skills, then let's take a look at that. If they're texting you, but won't talk to you face to face, maybe they haven't had very good confrontational skills to begin with, maybe that person wouldn't be talking to you at all if he/she didn't have texting as a way to talk to you. Texting isn't ruining the English language, or communication skills. I think it's helping it. The more they text and then read a book or something, the more they realise the correct language, it stands out to them more. I think that helps them make the change from texting to writing an important English essay.