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Pooka Fey

(3,496 posts)

132. Are essay tests also obsolete? An honest question...

Sun May 31, 2015, 04:59 PM

May 2015

When I was a student, we had essay tests - 6-10 pages of handwritten cursive text was normal production in a 50 minute test session in high school.

We were given blank "blue books" as a part of our test materials. These were timed tests, and handwriting is a faster writing method than printing. We all were taught handwriting, so we were all came to the test equally prepared. Someone who could only print would be at a disadvantage.

Does this not happen anymore in the USA?

I studied in a French University in 2011, and this is the system still in place. Blank "blue books" are required to take exams, but with the extra security measure of the blue books being sealed when purchased, and only broken at the exam, in the presence of the test monitor. Final exam sessions last 2-3 hours, and you are writing non-stop. One exam session for an EU recognized diploma was a 4 hour exam of non-stop handwriting- no computers, no cellphones in the room, one test monitor for every 5 test takers.

My exam for a USA teaching credential in 2004 required extemporaneous essay writing.

For all those arguing that handwriting is an obsolete skill, evidently educational institutions no longer require extemporaneous writing. That would be very sad, if true.

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Cursive writing a DEAD SKILL??? [View all] packman May 2015 OP

So I guess when they need to write, they just print? treestar May 2015 #1

I'm 54 and have forgotten most cursive lettering, especially the capitals. kentauros May 2015 #6

Way easier to forge printed letters then cursive yeoman6987 May 2015 #9

Let me put it this way: kentauros May 2015 #12

Wow. I haven't used a thumb print except at Disney. yeoman6987 May 2015 #18

I've used them at banks, kentauros May 2015 #22

Good point treestar May 2015 #114

Same age; same situation. Block caps always. cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #37

Same here -- all caps, with smaller letters for "lower case". Codeine May 2015 #55

Yes, there are a lot of forms you can do online now treestar May 2015 #112

52 here, and gave up cursive in high school TheTimmer May 2015 #113

I was watching my girlfriend text in pinyun and watching the machine translate it to characters Johonny May 2015 #15

I have only printed for the last 30 years. nt Logical May 2015 #158

They're stopped teaching it in school here. Avalux May 2015 #2

Why do you think it doesn't bode well? Blue_Adept May 2015 #3

Because complete dependence on technology is folly. n/t Avalux May 2015 #8

Agree. nt cwydro May 2015 #17

+1. AngryOldDem May 2015 #44

Yup. nt Nay Jun 2015 #178

So, should we all learn to cut quills... Adrahil May 2015 #48

And in that moving on, we must not abandon teaching our kids to be self-sufficient. Avalux May 2015 #52

Of course they'll be able to function without them. Codeine May 2015 #65

100, 000 Detroit residents experienced water shut-offs in 2014 Pooka Fey May 2015 #101

Learning an obsolete writing system is not "self-suffiecient" Adrahil May 2015 #105

You have a point but then treestar May 2015 #115

Very short sighted to abandon a "Green" no-energy input skill like cursive writing. Pooka Fey May 2015 #74

Why? Codeine May 2015 #82

Oy vey. Pooka Fey May 2015 #95

Oy gevalt TheTimmer May 2015 #103

Did I write or communicate in the slightest way that it was? No. Pooka Fey May 2015 #104

Yes TheTimmer May 2015 #118

I'm sorry, who are you, exactly? Have we met? Pooka Fey May 2015 #127

Yes, I know what "Green" means, oh Insufferable One. Codeine May 2015 #107

Well, "She Who Knowest Not How to Conjugate a Compound Verb" Pooka Fey May 2015 #111

That would be ""He Who Knowest Not How to Conjugate a Compound Verb", actually. Codeine May 2015 #116

You do realize that creating ink and paper burns a whole lot of energy, right? jeff47 May 2015 #131

What? Adrahil May 2015 #106

I've lost track of the link, but there were one or more studies that showed that it helped the brain Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #10

You said this much better than I did, thanks. Avalux May 2015 #21

betty edwards- drawing on the right side of the brain. mopinko May 2015 #29

That's a good point. Some things are worth learning treestar May 2015 #120

Your brain uses two different parts when writing versus typing. Writing has shown a more Exilednight May 2015 #121

Writing does not require cursive. (nt) jeff47 May 2015 #136

Cursive vs printing vs typing all use different parts of the brain. Exilednight May 2015 #138

Creativity doesn't require cursive. jeff47 May 2015 #142

Here's the thing, the more computers are used, the more people Exilednight May 2015 #144

The genius of Hemingway or Twain wasn't in handwriting, Codeine May 2015 #146

I have no idea who that picture is of. The majority of scientist don't Exilednight May 2015 #150

Well of course that's written down, but it's also not cursive Codeine May 2015 #151

Scientific equations are a combination, and the notes that go with them Exilednight May 2015 #153

That's Harlan Ellison. He's a master. Codeine May 2015 #152

I've never heard of him. I just looked him up on wiki and can honestly Exilednight May 2015 #156

". . . a watered down version of Joss Whedon". Codeine May 2015 #159

Stephen King and Tom Clancy are best selling authors with tons of awards, but I Exilednight May 2015 #161

He's not on that plane. Codeine May 2015 #162

Says you. Many will call King and Clancy masters at what Exilednight May 2015 #164

I absolutely would. Codeine May 2015 #165

It was a pleasure. Exilednight May 2015 #167

You do realize it's possible to write without using cursive, right? (nt) jeff47 May 2015 #133

I agree - and do not think it is a wise thing to do. inanna May 2015 #163

Or teach them to print, just like they see on their computers, phones, tablets, signs, packaging... NightWatcher May 2015 #4

You mean just like when they taught kids cursive? jeff47 May 2015 #134

You didn't read my post at all. NightWatcher May 2015 #139

I read it as implying they don't currently teach kids to print at all. (nt) jeff47 May 2015 #141

I grew up in the 70's with the heavy focus on it Blue_Adept May 2015 #5

Same here Populist_Prole May 2015 #89

I hated it HassleCat May 2015 #7

Fuck cursive. X_Digger May 2015 #11

Did that "F" bring down your Grade Point Average packman May 2015 #20

I spent a lifetime being criticized for my penmanship, but printing in no better than script. hollysmom May 2015 #83

Anyone who wants to read or write cursive Mariana Jun 2015 #173

Me too. catrose May 2015 #130

As another lefty, I wasn't graded on penmanship, but one of my teachers in particular got on my case raccoon Jun 2015 #171

Another lefty here and I had a difficult time with penmanship in school. RebelOne Jun 2015 #175

My daughter is ten and she learned it. Codeine May 2015 #13

I have gorgeous, clearly legible cursive writing TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #23

You need to take your time with it. AngryOldDem May 2015 #45

I suppose that's true. Codeine May 2015 #53

Cursive is demonstrably easier to learn than printing. It should be taught first, not printing. KittyWampus May 2015 #14

I definitely believe all of that is true TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #25

+1 Go Vols May 2015 #39

Easier for lefties??? Not in my experience Maeve May 2015 #97

Some good points too treestar May 2015 #119

12 consecutive grading periods of Unsatisfactory in handwriting 1939 May 2015 #16

One reason I'm glad to be done with graduate school.... tammywammy May 2015 #96

The old "blue book" exams 1939 May 2015 #109

I taught third grade... 49jim May 2015 #19

3rd grade's where I learned cursive, back in dark ages. Led to earning money. Panich52 May 2015 #54

If cursive is dropped, how will people do signatures? fadedrose May 2015 #24

handwriting experts already know how to identify print phantom power May 2015 #35

Ending a sentence in a preposition is something up with which I will not put. Codeine May 2015 #69

It's legal to start a sentence with a gerund fadedrose May 2015 #86

To Hell with cursive, kids should be taught shorthand Brother Buzz May 2015 #26

Were you as shocked when they stopped making phonograph cylinders? Scootaloo May 2015 #27

I refuse to buy a car until Detroit makes the 8-track deck standard again. nt Codeine May 2015 #72

"Detroit makes..."? I don't understand that phrase n/t Scootaloo May 2015 #76

Archaicisms upon archaicisms. Codeine May 2015 #80

Not until you give me back my betamax i let you borrow to record that special "Family Ties" episode Scootaloo May 2015 #81

That is SOooo COoool!!! I've acquired a secret form of writing!!! HereSince1628 May 2015 #28

There are so many reasons to learn cursive SheilaT May 2015 #30

Some districts teach it. Or, rather, have revived it. Igel May 2015 #31

I blame DU, they won't let me post in cursive. n/t PoliticAverse May 2015 #32

I guess we're on our back to signing by "making our mark" tritsofme May 2015 #33

I mushroom-stamped all my mortgage paperwork. Codeine May 2015 #71

oh codeine! tammywammy May 2015 #98

The text of our country's original Constitution is in cursive!! sketchy May 2015 #34

Really!? Adrahil May 2015 #50

Yes REALLY sketchy May 2015 #88

I certainly hope that some distant day some enterprising individual Codeine May 2015 #58

lets all just become machines olddots May 2015 #36

. . . he said on his machine, attached to other, distant machines by still further machines. Codeine May 2015 #64

Thereby making most (all?) of the founding documents and much of US history Cerridwen May 2015 #38

You don't have to be taught to write cursive in order to read it. Codeine May 2015 #57

It helps; especially with some of the antiquated English and legal usage. Cerridwen May 2015 #61

Fifteen minuters. Ode to Mr. Knight. PufPuf23 May 2015 #40

I know how to *write* in cursive Aerows May 2015 #41

My kid learned it in 3rd grade this past year. We'll be practicing all summer. aikoaiko May 2015 #42

Yep. It's no longer needed, apparently. n/t AngryOldDem May 2015 #43

Next we'll drop Cuneiform & Carolingian Minuscule, and where the hell will we be then? Orrex May 2015 #46

If cursive is so much better for reading why is EVERYTHING in print? MattBaggins May 2015 #73

That's why prescriptions and emergency exits are labeled in cursive. Orrex May 2015 #78

I found hooking my letters up cursive-style so superior Codeine May 2015 #84

Whoa. Orrex May 2015 #87

cursive is not just a matter of handwriting ProdigalJunkMail May 2015 #47

I'm amused by this notion, Codeine May 2015 #63

How do all those people in other countries ever learn to read? MattBaggins May 2015 #75

cute... ProdigalJunkMail May 2015 #100

well what about THIS? drthais May 2015 #49

This. If teaching cursive dissapears, how long before old documents and manuscrips are lunamagica May 2015 #56

The ubiquity of computers will make cursive in any language archaic in short order. nt Codeine May 2015 #60

Can you read medieval manuscripts? Adrahil May 2015 #108

You can read it without writing it. nt Codeine May 2015 #59

That's simply not the case. Orrex May 2015 #62

I can read things written in Old English and German MattBaggins May 2015 #77

Nonsense..... Adrahil May 2015 #110

You mean like having to learn Latin or Greek in order to decode historical documents? jeff47 May 2015 #137

He could learn it. Same as if somebody wanted to read Chaucer in Middle English--learn it. nt raccoon Jun 2015 #172

Luckily, I took typing about 50 years ago. I can type about as fast as talk and much faster than I Hoyt May 2015 #51

My signature is goddamned joke. Codeine May 2015 #67

what does this do the the value of autographs collected? hollysmom May 2015 #85

They don't train kids to drive a cart with buggy-whips either. backscatter712 May 2015 #66

These kids today don't even know the difference between "Gee!" and "Haw!" Codeine May 2015 #70

I still write in Palmer. It's faster than printing. However arthritic Cleita May 2015 #68

I print. Loryn May 2015 #79

I am sure it will persist as an artform/hobby Bosonic May 2015 #90

So long as people can READ cursive to access old documents csziggy May 2015 #91

It's a problem for modern documents too TexasBushwhacker May 2015 #117

Cursive writing, reading, math etc. quite sad still_one May 2015 #92

I daresay the generation in elementary school now Codeine May 2015 #94

not sure about that. I would say most people I encounter cannot even count change still_one May 2015 #157

Few of those people are in elementary school, however. Codeine May 2015 #160

I had to learn the Palmer method back in the 50's, Greybnk48 May 2015 #93

Hey, remember in the George Zimmerman trial packman May 2015 #99

I find it useful (for writing notes, postcards, the few letters I do write) but my kids never use it Arugula Latte May 2015 #102

I totally disagree with doing away with cursive. Blue_In_AK May 2015 #122

My cursive was always a bunch of crabbed-up bullshit Codeine May 2015 #125

I studied handwriting analysis briefly. Blue_In_AK May 2015 #168

Well the good news is that most of us oldies will have a lifetime career Baitball Blogger May 2015 #123

Actually, I think it's important to balance hard knowledge with creativity and soft skills. Oneironaut May 2015 #124

How exactly does joining my letters together Codeine May 2015 #126

Because it shows that there's more than one way to write something. Oneironaut May 2015 #143

Cursive was taught because its use was expected in both business and social communication. Xithras May 2015 #128

Mine should be dead, it's atrocious Warpy May 2015 #129

Are essay tests also obsolete? An honest question... Pooka Fey May 2015 #132

It only works when the grader can read the essay. jeff47 May 2015 #140

Yeah, the argument that cursive is faster is ridiculous. Mariana Jun 2015 #176

One can, with practice, print very rapidly. Codeine May 2015 #145

I hate to see public school students deprived of a choice in the matter Pooka Fey May 2015 #148

Were you my student? LOL! I used to buy exam Blue Books at the community college to use for my h.s. WinkyDink May 2015 #155

We can check a handwriting sample to find out... Pooka Fey Jun 2015 #169

Writing is a tool LynnTTT May 2015 #135

It's good. Puglover May 2015 #147

Considering it's a worthless skill sub.theory May 2015 #149

Gotta study for the NCLB tests! WinkyDink May 2015 #154

It's obselete, like PE, learning history, state capitals, literature, and 95% of what's taught Chathamization May 2015 #166

With the economic middle class gutted, no reason for middle class social skills Pooka Fey Jun 2015 #170

Cuneiform writing a DEAD SKILL? brooklynite Jun 2015 #174

They've reinstated it here in the Chesterfield Co., VA, schools. My grandson is Nay Jun 2015 #177

I still use it. My penmanship is good, and cursive is way faster than printing. nt Zorra Jun 2015 #179