There is no doubt that there is a connection between reading and writing. But to what extent do you need to be immersed in literature for it to influence students' writing experiences? Some ideas to help formulate answers and support this connection can be found in the following two articles in which the authors address the relationship between reading and writing. In the first article entitled The Reading-Writing Connection, author Olness (2005) offers insight into this connection by bringing together extensive information from teachers and researchers on the connection between reading, writing and the value of quality children's literature. Olness provides examples and ideas on how to successfully combine reading and writing in the classroom. In the second article entitled Literary Borrowing: The Effects of Literature on Children's Writing, Lancia (1997) examines the frequency and diversity of independent ways in which children use ideas from literature when they compose. Lancia illustrates the active relationship between reading and writing through a study he conducted in his second grade class. These two articles address the close connection that reading imposes on students' compositions and how writing inexorably affects all aspects of reading and language use. Olness (2005) begins his article with quotes from prominent teachers and researchers to support the connection between reading and language use. writes and states: “the main reason for exposing children to quality literature is its aesthetic value; a secondary benefit is its influence on student writing” (p. 1). Olness goes on to explain how students develop their literary skills and awareness, expand their vocabulary and overall literary experience by listening to the middle of an article......articles provide solid evidence in which students should be immersed to a high degree in meaningful, useful, high-quality literature for his writing to be influenced. Additionally, students must not only be immersed in high-quality literature, but that literature must be discussed and integrated into a community of writers to nurture and foster the development of readers and writers within the community. In summary, these two articles address the necessary connection between reading and writing in relation to compositions and students' growth as readers and linguistic communicators. Works Cited Lancia, P. (1997). Literary borrowing: the effects of literature on children's writing. The Reading Teacher, 50(6), 470-475.Olness, R. (2005). Writing using literature to improve writing instruction. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.