Writing in the 21st Century by Kathleen Blake Yancey

      When I took my first glimpse at this article, I was thrilled to see that it was composed by Kathleen Yancey, an instructor at Florida State University. The fact that I could associate this article and the writer close to home made me even more enthused to read in than normal. The title in itself, "Writing in the 21st Century", caught my interest, as I figured it would cover the topic of writing online, which I believe to be a main part of this WEPO course.
      So as I began making my way through the article, a quote jumped out at me that I found very interesting and inspiring. "Writing has never been accorded the cultural respect or the support that reading has enjoyed, in part because through reading, society could control its citizens, whereas through writing, citizens might exercise their own control."
      The absolute truth in this quote caught me a little off guard, especially as I consider myself more of a reader than a writer. And while in books such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 it was always books and reading that were banned to control society, the thought of writing instead being banished seems it could cause even more harm.
      The rest of the article kept up it's captivating whit and sense of urgency in it's ideas with great finesse, accomplishing what I figure was intended: Getting the reader to understand how writing came to be looked upon as just a means of testing, but can now, with the cooperation of English and writing teachers and willing to learn students, become a more common and positively viewed means of communication.
      Another quote that jumped out at me in this article was, "Through writing, we are." These four words hold such profoundness, and when read intently, cam make any person thoughtfully consider a profession or even a hobby, as a writer.
      I would be honored if I ever actually got the chance to meet with Yancey. Her writing in this article caused me to think about writing and the type of connotation it withholds, and how a better understanding of it’s necessity could do great things in our society.