Question: In this new media era, reading as a pastime is no longer important. Do you agree? American academic, former Harvard President, Charles William Eliot once wrote, “books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers,” highlighting the importance of reading. Reading is a complex comprehension of decoding symbols to distinguish meanings. It is used as a tool for language acquisition, communication, sharing information and ideas. Reading requires critical analysis, understanding and creativity. There are now many forms of media - magazines, leaflets, ebooks - available for someone wanting to indulge in reading. While some may argue that Eliot’s claim about books is outdated, there are many reasons why reading as a pastime is still important in this new media era. Even now, reading is still one of the cheapest forms of entertainment and leisure that benefits readers; through reading, one may gain knowledge and information and simultaneously strengthen his command of language Reading allows the freedom of creative and analytical thinking. One begins to obtain a complex understanding of the text and gain the ability to think in depth. When reading, an interaction is created between the reader …show more content…
New media gives access to all content, anytime, anywhere, on any digital device. The convenience of handheld technology allows an individual to obtain information or the latest news, instantaneously, due to new media’s prompt and varied technology. Unlike books, that only provides content in one medium, new media provides information not only in text, but also through the interplay of images, sounds, videos and forums. With new media technology and with its easy accessibility, reading seems too laborious and outdated to the majority of new media
Despite, the changing, deploring effects alternating and hinder our cognitive reading habits, Carr suggest technology has proven our society reads more today than in past history (Carr 317). Of course in past history, television was a medium, however, their cognitive ability to read on deep levels appeared not to be altered. In addition, the internet is the largest, continuously streaming pool of knowledge ever built in the world which adequately supplies you with the ability to seek, research and surf more information than one brain can process. Inadvertently, causes reverse comprehensive engagement thus, leaving concentration of long pieces of writing the thing of the past (Carr 315). In agreement with Carr, Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist with Tufts University, narrative of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain also, suggests we are “mere decoders of information and our ability to interpret text … form mental connections from deeply reading is disengaged” (Carr 317).
Reading and writing let us as humans share a vast range of facts and opinions that can help us build new and greater things or help us achieve our personal goals. Fredrick Douglass learned how cruel the world was once he was able to read about slaves and his position on life
Because, nowadays, e-readers are developed enough, her article could play an important role in making e-readers a significant tool for education. Moreover, the author is motivated to write the article as the number of the articles which discuss the impact of e-reader on reading practice of children is low. In addition to choosing the right time, Larson shows credibility in her article because of her experience as an instructor in the field of learning technologies. Furthermore, the case study, which is done by the author, makes the information believable. Also, the author is fair and respectful by not attacking people who read printed books to show the pros of e-reader.
The decline of reading has consequences to it and one of them is people will have a lower set of mental skills. He says, “ the ability to create emotional and emotional ability,” will disappear if we no longer read. This should make the audience think and reflect on the point that he has proven
Doctor Seuss once said: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." To paraphrase the quote, it is saying that books are the perfect source of knowledge and they open up many doors in the future. People who read books are constantly enhancing their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. When reading, individuals are exposed to new ideas, concepts, and perspectives that can broaden their understanding of the world and improve their ability to analyze complex issues.
The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more `literary' you are.’ ” (83). The information that books supply show the real features of life. Unlike TV, which just displays the sugarcoated, happy version, books reveal the good and bad about the world. Books bring expression to humanity making people think about why things are happening.
Knowledge is Power Dana Gioia makes a compelling case in his essay "Why Literature Matters," that society would suffer as a result of the reduction in reading in America. Former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Dana Gioia argues that literature has the power to educate, inform, and inspire, and that the loss of emotion and intellect could have severe consequences for society as a whole. In this essay, I will analyze how Gioia builds his argument through the use of rhetorical devices, statistics, and personal anecdotes Gioia starts his essay by emphasizing the significance of literature in human history. He observes that "literacy is a form of human expression" and that it has been critical to the advancement of civilization.
The ability to read and write is both creative and destructive. This ability opens your eyes to the world and how beautiful it can be. It also has the potential to destroy your entire grip on reality and expose you to the actual world you live in. It imprisons you yet, releases you from your mental confinement. Some people never escape from this confinement, some do; and those who escape sometimes go on to do great things in life.
This provides a time period in how fast our minds and patience can be affected by what we decide to do. Our brains are not to be played with, as we have billions of neurons to keep creating connections to; by learning and expanding our knowledge as their food source. Reading can expand our imagination and thought, as we should be questioning how the author provides information or detail, because there is a purpose to why the author places certain words and sentences to create such a piece. There was once a traditional way of reading which was simply understanding what was read. Now, we are learning a modern way, “our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged”.
Reading exposed me to many different situations and outcomes, and it broadened my vocabulary. In a way reading helped me prepare for the real world. People usually
Reading and writing influence the way that I interact with the world. I learn new things from reading and writing, which in turn help me communicate with others because I am learning new facts and skills. My relationship with literacy is a very close one. It's helped me in many areas of my life, such as being more social. Without literacy in my life, I don't know what I'd do.
This outlook is reflected in national surveys, the number of literary non-readers in the United States is starting to outweigh the number of readers and, this has slowly been proceeding over the past 20 years (Gioia 421). Reading is a fundamental part of life. It’s a major way of expression, imagination, learning and being the best person
Science has proven that reading can provoke positive changes in us as human beings. Annie Murphy Paul is the author of the article ‘Your Brain on Fiction’ published on March 17, 2012. Annie explains how researchers have discovered that reading can initiate different parts of the brain, this is the reason why sometimes literature can make the reader so engaged and attached to a piece of writing. Research also explains how reading has the ability to produce activity in our brain’s motor cortex. Finally, Annie explains how reading fictional pieces can change how you interact with other individuals.
There has been reading since the alphabet was first created thousands of years ago, but just recently, reading has taken on a new purpose. Reading in the modern day is a way to escape from a realty, good or bad, that people live in. People all over the world are suffering in their day to day life but now reading book especially fiction book allows them to escape. This helps people get over many problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thought. Many people have written about this such as Tim Gillespie.
Everyone knows that reading is important, but have you ever asked yourself why is that so? Reading is one of the most beneficial and practical activities that a human being can do. Unfortunately it is a disappointment that people these days read less. As we know, books were the main source of entertainment centuries ago, but with the widespread of technological advances such as the cinema, television, internet, among others, many people left their books on the bookshelf. The purpose of this speech is to present the benefits and the importance of reading.