Why Reading for Pleasure Will Make You a Better Writer
Many students come to the Centre for Academic Success because they want to strengthen their writing skills. They often report feeling a lack of confidence when it comes to writing and worry about their grammar. Some have received feedback from tutors and from previously marked work telling them they have a problem with grammar. Others are international students having to write in a second language. While the tutors at ASP can certainly help identify grammatical errors, and can teach students how to identify and fix them, often what is needed is regular practice. There are hundreds of websites and workbooks students can trudge through to learn about grammar, however one, often overlooked, method of improving grammar is simply to read for pleasure. What? Read for pleasure to become a better writer? Yes! In fact the National Literacy Trust found that reading for pleasure includes many academic benefits. Their report explains:
When children read for pleasure, when they get “hooked on books”, they acquire, involuntarily
and without conscious effort, nearly all of the so-called “language skills” many
people are so concerned about: they will become adequate readers, acquire a large
vocabulary, develop the ability to understand and use complex grammatical constructions,
develop a good writing style, and become good (but not necessarily perfect) spellers.
Although free voluntary reading alone will not ensure attainment of the highest levels of literacy,
it will at least ensure an acceptable level.
You can read the whole report here: Literacy Trust
