Is text messaging destroying the grammar and writing skills of students?

          Is txtin affectin ur evrydy writin skills?  Many people believe that text messaging is slowly destroying the grammar and writing skills of many people. Over the years, electronic devices used for communication have developed their own language.  When one is text messaging they shorten words, use abbreviations, and do not use proper capitalization and punctuation techniques.  Although this "language" is shorter and takes less time to write, it is not considered formal writing. This unfortunately is leaking into many students everyday school work.
        Text messaging is hurting many students' grammar skills. As the world wide fad of text messaging increases, grammar knowledge is decreasing. Spelling is a very big problem for many students. It has gotten to the point where students don't even know how to spell words. It is not that they did not learn how to spell in school, but they are never using the techniques that they learned. Shortening words is very common when text messaging. The words “be right back" are shortened to "brb", or “got to go” is shortened to” g2g". In many cases letters are dropped off of words such as "going" is shortened to "goin". Not only are words being shortened and abbreviated, but students do not use proper capitalization and punctuation techniques. In many cases capital letters are rarely ever used. In a conversation through texting, many students will say "i" rather than "I". Also the proper nouns are not usually capitalized when need be. Punctuation is not even used when text messaging. Periods, question marks, exclamation points, apostrophes, quotation marks, etc. are not incorporated into the sentences at all. This is a problem because this means students are not learning how to properly punctuate their sentences. Student’s grammar techniques are not used when text messaging. This is hurting them because they do not know the rules of the English language.
         The text messaging language is slowly making its way into students’ formal writing. This is a major problem. When text messaging, many people talk in an “informal” voice. This is fine, for text messaging. It is not fine for school work. Using the abbreviations and improper grammar techniques in the classroom is completely unacceptable. Text messaging is causing this problem. The students are so used to typing in that informal way, that they start to write in the same exact manner. Many teachers of high and low grades have complained about this problem. They have reported that the text messaging language is appearing in many students’ schoolwork. Some teachers have even reported that students are actually starting to speak the way they would text. Teachers have exclaimed that it is very frustrating when a student uses this text messaging language. It is very difficult to break the students of this habit.
       Text messaging is hurting students’ grammar and writing skills. Many people feel that some students are lacking knowledge in the English language. They do not know many of the rules of the language and are talking in a constant informal way. Many students have let the text messaging language take over their life. It is used everywhere, including school work. Text messaging is destroying students’ grammar and writing skills.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090716/ARTICLES/907165030?Title=Does-texting-hurt-writing-skills-
http://www.edutopia.org/poll-text-messaging-writing-skills

" To Be Or Not To Be " Three ways

              In  Franco Zeffirelli's To Be Or Not To Be, Mel Gibson stars as " Hamlet". In this scene, Zeffirelli decided to put Hamlet into a dark underground room. He is alone in this room  in silence. In the scene, there are many dead casted bodies. I think that  this use of props gives us the image of death.  Zeffirelli chose to use these bodies because they create an eerie  feeling. Also, when Hamlet is giving his soliloquy, he is talking toward the bodies, as if this is a way a connecting with death. The setting of being underground with dead bodies makes you feel like Hamlet is near hell.
              In Lawrence Oliver's To Be Or Not To Be, Oliver himself stars as " Hamlet". In his version of the scene, he has Hamlet sitting alone on a rock on a cliff.  All that is around this cliff is a rough body of water. The scene itself  is shot in black and white which sets a dreary mood.  You are able to tell that the sky is very cloudy. Oliver decided to use a knife in this scene. The knife represents the fact that  Hamlet is about to kill himself.  After Hamlet brings out the knife, he walks toward the edge of the cliff. The fact that we know Hamlet is near suicide gives us the fear that he may jump off of the cliff.
            In Kenneth Branaugh's To Be Or Not To Be, Branaugh stars as " Hamlet". Branaugh chose to put this scene into a very different setting than the other two. In  this version, it is clear that Hamlet is being watched by various people. In the other versions, Hamlet was completely alone. Hamlet is in a very nice house, in a room that is empty other than the people watching from a distance. Hamlet looks at himself in the mirror as he gives is soliloquy. In the beginning of the scene, there is complete silence. As the soliloquy goes on, music beings to play. Branaugh also decided to use a knife as a prop. He has Hamlet bring the knife at himself. He then taps the knife to the mirror. When someone points a knife at themselves, it is clear that they are thinking about committing suicide.
        Each version is takes place in different settings and uses different props. Oliver and Branaugh decided to use a knife in their as, where Zeffirelli chose not too. Zeffirelli and Oliver made their settings in very melancholy places, where Branaugh made his setting in a nice palace. Although all the versions have their differences, they are very much alike. Each version gets the point of suicide across. Despite the props used and the settings, the powerful words of Shakespeare let us know that Hamlet is near suicide.  Each version basically had Hamlet alone, focusing on  his life. They all also used props that symbolized death. All in all, the settings and props created a different feel in each version, but the same message of suicide was still gotten across.