{"id":376,"date":"2025-04-17T16:37:20","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/thinking-about-writing-prompts\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T19:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:43:19","slug":"thinking-about-writing-prompts","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/thinking-about-writing-prompts\/","title":{"raw":"Success Skills: Background You'll Need","rendered":"Success Skills: Background You&#8217;ll Need"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Understand why writing skills are important<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Importance of Writing<\/span><\/h2>\r\nRecent surveys highlight that employers highly value strong communication skills in potential hires. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2024 survey<a id=\"return-footnote-98-1\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"Job Outlook 2024. NACE.\u00a0https:\/\/www.naceweb.org\/docs\/default-source\/default-document-library\/2023\/publication\/research-report\/2024-nace-job-outlook.pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-1\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a>, more than 70% of employers seek candidates with strong written communication skills, and about 68% value verbal communication abilities.\r\n\r\nSimilarly, a 2023 survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&amp;U)<a id=\"return-footnote-98-2\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"The Career-Ready Graduate: What Employers Say about the Difference College Makes. AAC&amp;U. https:\/\/www.aacu.org\/research\/the-career-ready-graduate-what-employers-say-about-the-difference-college-makes\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0found that 64% of employers consider oral communication skills very important for new hires, yet only 34% believe recent graduates are well-prepared in this area.\r\n\r\n<span class=\"s1\">In addition, several of the other valued skills are grounded in written communication:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning: 60% of employers rate these skills as very important.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Problem-Solving Abilities: Approximately 54% of employers prioritize complex problem-solving skills.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Teamwork: 62% of employers value the ability to work effectively in teams.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span class=\"s1\">This emphasis on communication probably reflects the changing reality of work. Employers also reported that employees will have to \u201ctake on more responsibilities,\u201d \u201cuse a broader set of skills,\u201d \u201cwork harder to coordinate with other departments,\u201d face \u201cmore complex\u201d challenges, and mobilize \u201chigher levels of learning and knowledge.\u201d<a id=\"return-footnote-98-3\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"Hart Research Associates. Raising the Bar: Employers\u2019 Views on College Learning in the Wake of the Economic Downturn. 20 Jan 2010, p. 5.\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-3\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>Emphasizing these skills in educational curricula can better prepare graduates for the expectations of today\u2019s employers.\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The pay-off from improving your writing comes much sooner than graduation and entering the workforce. Suppose you complete about 40 classes for a 120-credit bachelors\u2019 degree, and\u2014averaging across writing-intensive and non-writing-intensive courses\u2014you produce about 2,500 words of formal writing per class. Even with that low estimate, you\u2019ll write 100,000 words during your college career. That\u2019s roughly equivalent to a 330-page book.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">Spending a few hours sharpening your writing skills will make those 100,000 words much easier and more rewarding to write. Even your non-English professors care about and appreciate good writing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">This video explains why those writing skills are so sought after in the workplace, and their importance especially in remote work environments.\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/iframe_api \"><\/script>\r\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><iframe id=\"tpm-plugin-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0\" class=\"cc-media-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AY_FYpIb3h0?enablejsapi=1 \" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"3p-plugin-target-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0\" class=\"p3sdk-target\"><\/div>\r\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/ajax.js?cc=1&cc_minimizable=1&cc_minimize_on_load=0&cc_multi_text_track=0&cc_overlay=1&cc_searchable=0&embed=ajax&mf=13387232&p3sdk_version=1.11.7&p=20361&player_type=youtube&plugin_skin=dark&target=3p-plugin-target-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0&vembed=0&video_id=AY_FYpIb3h0&video_target=tpm-plugin-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0'><\/script><\/p>\r\nYou can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/Why+Are+Writing+Skills+Important+in+the+Workplace%3F+-+The+Language+Library_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \u201cWhy Are Writing Skills Important in the Workplace? - The Language Library\u201d here (opens in new window).<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Understand why writing skills are important<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Importance of Writing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Recent surveys highlight that employers highly value strong communication skills in potential hires. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2024 survey<a id=\"return-footnote-98-1\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"Job Outlook 2024. NACE.\u00a0https:\/\/www.naceweb.org\/docs\/default-source\/default-document-library\/2023\/publication\/research-report\/2024-nace-job-outlook.pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-1\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a>, more than 70% of employers seek candidates with strong written communication skills, and about 68% value verbal communication abilities.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, a 2023 survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&amp;U)<a id=\"return-footnote-98-2\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"The Career-Ready Graduate: What Employers Say about the Difference College Makes. AAC&amp;U. https:\/\/www.aacu.org\/research\/the-career-ready-graduate-what-employers-say-about-the-difference-college-makes\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0found that 64% of employers consider oral communication skills very important for new hires, yet only 34% believe recent graduates are well-prepared in this area.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">In addition, several of the other valued skills are grounded in written communication:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning: 60% of employers rate these skills as very important.<\/li>\n<li>Problem-Solving Abilities: Approximately 54% of employers prioritize complex problem-solving skills.<\/li>\n<li>Teamwork: 62% of employers value the ability to work effectively in teams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">This emphasis on communication probably reflects the changing reality of work. Employers also reported that employees will have to \u201ctake on more responsibilities,\u201d \u201cuse a broader set of skills,\u201d \u201cwork harder to coordinate with other departments,\u201d face \u201cmore complex\u201d challenges, and mobilize \u201chigher levels of learning and knowledge.\u201d<a id=\"return-footnote-98-3\" class=\"footnote\" title=\"Hart Research Associates. Raising the Bar: Employers\u2019 Views on College Learning in the Wake of the Economic Downturn. 20 Jan 2010, p. 5.\" href=\"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/writing-in-college\/#footnote-98-3\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>Emphasizing these skills in educational curricula can better prepare graduates for the expectations of today\u2019s employers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The pay-off from improving your writing comes much sooner than graduation and entering the workforce. Suppose you complete about 40 classes for a 120-credit bachelors\u2019 degree, and\u2014averaging across writing-intensive and non-writing-intensive courses\u2014you produce about 2,500 words of formal writing per class. Even with that low estimate, you\u2019ll write 100,000 words during your college career. That\u2019s roughly equivalent to a 330-page book.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">Spending a few hours sharpening your writing skills will make those 100,000 words much easier and more rewarding to write. Even your non-English professors care about and appreciate good writing.<\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">This video explains why those writing skills are so sought after in the workplace, and their importance especially in remote work environments.<br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/iframe_api\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><iframe id=\"tpm-plugin-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0\" class=\"cc-media-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AY_FYpIb3h0?enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"3p-plugin-target-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0\" class=\"p3sdk-target\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"cc-media-iframe-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/ajax.js?cc=1&#38;cc_minimizable=1&#38;cc_minimize_on_load=0&#38;cc_multi_text_track=0&#38;cc_overlay=1&#38;cc_searchable=0&#38;embed=ajax&#38;mf=13387232&#38;p3sdk_version=1.11.7&#38;p=20361&#38;player_type=youtube&#38;plugin_skin=dark&#38;target=3p-plugin-target-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0&#38;vembed=0&#38;video_id=AY_FYpIb3h0&#38;video_target=tpm-plugin-ffgaadab-AY_FYpIb3h0\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>You can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/Why+Are+Writing+Skills+Important+in+the+Workplace%3F+-+The+Language+Library_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \u201cWhy Are Writing Skills Important in the Workplace? &#8211; The Language Library\u201d here (opens in new window).<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Thinking About Writing Prompts\",\"author\":\"Audrey Fisch for Lumen Learning\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Icon of head and thought bubbles\",\"author\":\"OpenClipart-Vectors\",\"organization\":\"Pixabay\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/vectors\/bright-contemplation-idea-1296538\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/license\/\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"Why Are Writing Skills Important in the Workplace? - The Language Library\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"The Language Library\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AY_FYpIb3h0\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"arr\",\"license_terms\":\"Standard YouTube License\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":88,"module-header":"background_you_need","content_attributions":[{"type":"original","description":"Thinking About Writing Prompts","author":"Audrey Fisch for Lumen Learning","organization":"Lumen Learning","url":"","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":""},{"type":"cc","description":"Icon of head and thought bubbles","author":"OpenClipart-Vectors","organization":"Pixabay","url":"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/vectors\/bright-contemplation-idea-1296538\/","project":"","license":"other","license_terms":"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/license\/"},{"type":"copyrighted_video","description":"Why Are Writing Skills Important in the Workplace? 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