March 23, 2026
By Nicolle Alvarez
Editor
With the ubiquity of technology in classrooms, handwritten essays continue to prove their value.
Handwriting engages the brain in different and more effective ways than typing. It is slower than typing, which naturally forces them to take their time and think more carefully about each sentence.
According to the magazine Scientific American, handwriting helps students remember what they write better than typing does. This is because forming each letter requires more effort and attention, creating stronger memory traces in the brain.
Likewise, the National Library of Medicine reports that handwriting engages a wider network of brain regions involved in cognition, motor control and visual processing, supporting deeper thought and reflection, which are key to good essay writing.
At a time when technology threatens ethical work, handwriting ensures that work is the student’s own.
For students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dysgraphia, handwriting, especially cursive, can be beneficial. Its continuous flowing strokes reduce letter reversals and foster brain engagement. It can also boost fluency and memory, according to The 74, a nonprofit news organization covering education in America.
In an era where handwriting is declining, it is essential for students to maintain this valuable skill. Only 24 states, including New Jersey, require cursive instruction, according to Education Week, a news organization covering K-12 schooling. Therefore, young people rarely use handwriting in their daily lives, causing the skill to fade from lack of practice. This is unfortunate because regular handwriting strengthens motor skills and preserves a unique writing style that no one can replicate.
Furthermore, typing often comes with built-in distractions, including notifications, social media and open tabs. Handwriting eliminates these digital disruptions, allowing students to focus.
At a time when technology threatens ethical work, handwriting ensures that work is the student’s own. When students write by hand without access to devices, they cannot copy and paste from artificial intelligence tools. Likewise, when students handwrite essays, they lack access to spell-check and grammar tools. This requires students to rely on their own abilities, motivating them to make a greater effort to further develop their writing skills.
Handwriting is not just a method of writing but a way of thinking. If schools abandon it, they risk losing one of the most effective tools for meaningful education. Luckily, the solution is simple.
When teachers require that essays be written on paper, they restore a practice that strengthens critical thinking and protects academic integrity.
