Does writing matter?

Question

I'm a computer science student and plan on working in robotics after I graduate. I had to take a mandatory writing class, and I don't see why. I can write pretty well, I just don't think it's worth my time and energy because there is more important and interesting work for me to do in robotics. The professor said writing is useful whatever field you work in because it helps us communicate. I'm having a hard time seeing how writing means I will be better at communicating in ways that don't involve writing -- cause my job won't really involve writing. I guess my question is why should I care about writing if I'm not going to be a writer?

Answer 1

You make good points. Certain fields definitely require less writing. But by becoming a better writer you simultaneously become better at verbally articulating arguments. The two are separate skills but overlap. I'm also not sure writing won't at least be one factor, no matter how small, in helping you succeed. You sound like you're going into a creative field. You'll be making verbal pitches and writing proposals for your ideas and later selling the value of what you've completed. I'm sure you do this already in some form. You will have to convince superiors (and your peers) of why you're deserving of responsibility and their resources. This all happens both verbally and in writing. No matter what, you will constantly communicate with colleagues via email. The ability to communicate clearly and succinctly is invaluable, particularly as you begin to manage people. And while I'm sure you do write well, there is no point at which one will no longer benefit by improving.

Answer 2

Good question. The issue you're having here, it seems, is that you're limiting the benefits that writing provides. In a way, writers and literary types (myself included) may be responsible for the narrowing of people's minds: when writers discuss writing they get fired up and passionate and make writing sound like a noble endeavor, perhaps the most noble on earth, one that touches the depths of the human experience and soul. To one who doesn't have the natural inclination towards writing, the fervor sounds ludicrous and warrants merely a roll of the eyes. But what if we broadened the definition and purpose of writing?

Dr. Jordan Peterson, the Canadian clinical psychologist, urges people to write, not because it's fun and fluffy and will change the world but because to write is to think, it shows us what we are thinking, it allows us to see our thoughts more clearly, and the way we assemble those thoughts. Dr. Peterson encourages everyone, in every career, to write for at least an hour every day, on whatever you want. Write about your robotics -- if you've come to a snag in the coding, writing about how you tried to fix the problem and what other solutions might be available could reveal an option you hadn't thought of before. Or if not, it can show you that you have tried all of your options and you now need outside assistance to help you solve the problem.

One last benefit is this: the more you write, the better you will understand how you think, and you will be more balanced and able to understand that other people think differently than yourself. When you are one day working on a robotics project with a dozen other people and one of them forgot to tell you an important piece of information, your mind might leap to the conclusion that they're being a snob or rude -- but you might also pause and consider that maybe they don't see it that way, that maybe they thought it would overwhelm you given your current workload and so chose to withhold information. This example, I believe, is what your professor meant when they said writing helps everyone communicate.

Answer 3

Let me keep my answer short and simple. You want to work in robotics. I wanted to be a Hollywood celebrity. Didn't work out that way — life is unpredictable. A good basic skill set will mean you're always employable, no matter what strange twists, tricks, and turns life plays on you. Writing plays a role in almost any career you end up working in, to a greater or lesser extent. You don't have to be the next Charles Dickens, but you should know how to write a professional letter, email, business document, and in your case, scientific papers and journal articles.