By Bobby Scanlon, Online Editor

If a teacher tells me to take out my writing utensil and get started on an assignment, I automatically translate that as directions to take out my pencil. The thought of pulling out a pen does not even cross my mind, unless the teacher specifically says to, in which case my entire day is ruined.

It may seem illogical that my whole day is ruined just by having to write with a pen for 20 minutes, but if you hear me out it will all make sense. When using a pen to write long assignments, there is so much ink on the page that as you keep moving down the paper, the ink rubs off on the side of your hand, which is extremely annoying. Not only do I mentally have to deal with the fact that it is there (it drives me crazy), but I also have to deal with it getting the ink on all of my other assignments that day, even those assigned by sensible teachers who allow pencils.

Along with the ink getting on one’s hands whilst using a pen, all the marks left are permanent. Sure, there is Wite-Out, and one can easily cross out mistakes, but what if someone messed up on a whole paragraph? They would then have to erase every single line, making the smeared, ugly paper even more grotesque. I, being a student at an arts magnet school, have perfected the art of writing a paper that is aesthetically pleasing; the key is simply to use a pencil. Any mistake can be erased and rewritten beautifully. There are no smears, and the writing can be as dark or as light as the author pleases, achieved by applying more or less pressure to the paper.

My final point should get you to jump on the pencil bandwagon immediately, and I only need to say one word: click.

Everyone has that one extremely annoying classmate who sits at the desk and repeatedly clicks that pen, making the tip go in and out over and over again repeatedly until finally someone snaps and makes them stop.

If you are reading this article and you have just finished writing a paper and your hand is covered in ink, just grab a pencil. If your paper is ugly because of correcting mistakes, grab a pencil. There is only one time when it is acceptable to grab a pen: If a classmate refuses to stop clicking, you may grab his, but make sure you hand him a pencil.

For the other point of view (get it?) on pens from Alex Lawrence, click here.

What is your favorite writing utensil? Why? Tell us below to prove who wins: Alex or Bobby!