Irshad Hameed
It is frustrating that writing which is a very basic and essential foundation of schooling has been exclusively accessible to the privileged students in Pakistani education system. In fact, writing is a crucial mode of critical thinking and creativity. In other words, it is a process of managing information and polishing one’s thoughts through penning them down. It is a systematic and technical process that every student is supposed to be taught properly. Students would hardly be able to utilize their quality of critical thinking if they have not been provided with a productive environment and facilities to polish their writing skills. Worrisome to express the fact that our education system has created little room for the nations’ children (majority of the children) to enhance and utilize their quality of writing. For instance, ordinary students are deprived of being taught the various modes and technics of writing from nursery to graduation whereas the privileged students, on the other hand, are being very precisely and comprehensively taught writing as a process in Cambridge School System (O and A levels education). It is truly no justice to the majority of the children who are unable to afford and join the elites’ oriented schooling system. However, there are many examples of ordinary students who have earned esteemed titles as influential and effective writers. But the system does not deserve a credit for their successes as they have voluntarily put their consistent and energetic efforts in winning their respective titles. It is a fact that one’s growth and improvement is always subject to his firm belief and hard work, no matter whatever circumstances he goes through. Students, with lack of opportunities, who are competing with the other privileged students in competitive and other examinations, are proving this claim. But the state should not ignore its responsibility of providing equal educational opportunities to all students. Since our education system is not paying sincere heed to the area of writing, students need to voluntarily but responsibly learn and practice the fundamental principles of effective writing. Some basic methods and principles play essential roles when it comes to learn effective writing, especially, the three important modes of persuasion introduced by Greek Philosopher, Aristotle. The principles of the Greek Philosopher on modes of persuasion include Ethos, Logos and Pathos (Greek words). Ethos means character and it is an essential tool in convincing one’s audience. More explicitly, it is helpful in convincing one’s audience through his writings by quoting and referencing experts, highly qualified and credible personalities in regard with the subject matter of the piece of writing concerned. For instance, quoting John Locke on social contract theory and likely giving reference of prominent religious scholars on religioustopics make the readers/audience satisfied. Pathos means sympathy. It is another tool of writing with regard to attract readers. Since humans cannot escape emotions, they can easily be win over to one’s viewpoint in his writings by using sympathetic and emotional sentiments. A piece of writing would probably get the attraction and attention of the readers if the author uses emotions as tool to attract them, be the emotions affiliated with religion, relationship, nationalism etc. Last but not the least important method is Logos that means logic (facts and figures). Absolutely, facts and figures are essential elements in proving any claim.This method is highly effective and mostly used in different writings to attract the readers. Actually, writing inseparable from reading. Since writers have the knowledge of any topic they write on, they must ensure presenting various facts and figures in proving what they claim so as to satisfy their readers. It is a fact that creative and professional writing activities have become victims of neglect in our education system. But this deficiency can be overcome if educational reforms are ensured by introducing writing courses and trainings as aformal and mandatory part of schooling curriculum. Prioritizing writing and giving it a considerable amount of importance in our educational system would not only stimulate creative thinking, but would it also create a culture of reading more and more general books amongst the students. The state is supposed to provide the students with the space to grow to their natural heights by exposing them to their natural skills such as ability to think and creative writing. The writer is a former teacher at Challenger English Academy, Quetta and a student of Law at Punjab university, Lahore. He can be reached at irshadhameed72@gmail.com
