Data on the writing achievement of 11th-grade students in 1990 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) may help answer the question of who is right: employers and educators who say students are poorly prepared in writing, or parents and students, who are more positive about the results of the writing preparation students receive in school. The data indicates that the employers and educators are right: 11th graders tended to produce minimally developed written work in terms of the tasks required on the NAEP. The 1990 assessment also found that students do not write much. Students may not have a realistic view of how well they write, and they do not have an accurate idea of what constitutes "good" writing. Students need better preparation in writing in high school to be successful in college and on the job. Schools need to: provide students with frequent writing assignments; give students a wide variety of assignments; provide students with examples of good writing and teach students how "good" writers approach writing. Parents should encourage their younger children to: write to pen pals; write letters and postcards to family members; keep a diary or journal; and write and illustrate stories they can share. (RS)