Respond to these two links in 300+ total words for your final out-of-class blog task of the year. Hopefully, you are now slightly more prepared for online courses.
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| Argus Leader journalist Jacqueline Palfy Klemond |
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| Poet Anne Sexton |
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Literature blog task--due April 9
Click here to read this link and this one too (written by my former neighbor).
Respond to these two links in 300+ total words for your final out-of-class blog task of the year. Hopefully, you are now slightly more prepared for online courses.
Respond to these two links in 300+ total words for your final out-of-class blog task of the year. Hopefully, you are now slightly more prepared for online courses.
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82 comments:
Burch
Pd. 3
These two articles were thought-provoking and filled me with a feeling of nostalgia. The first article I read was by Annie Murphy Paul. She used the phrases “carnal reading” and “spiritual reading”, which I found to be excellent ways of describing the different types of reading that exist. For many people my age and younger, most reading is done on a screen. Nearly all of my classes are conducted using an online textbook and reading articles on the Internet (calculus is the only class that remains fairly technology-free). I personally do not enjoy the switch to technology over the past few years; I love flipping pages and holding a pencil to paper (probably because I also have a love of handwriting, especially cursive; it is a lost art). When I take care of my younger cousins or babysit for family friends, the kids know how to navigate technology almost better than I! It is an empty source of entertainment and reading and so we always make time to snuggle up in a blanket and read a few books together before bedtime and guess what? The kids love it! They spend a good portion of time selecting the books we read and as we begin, they stop at each page and pore over the colorful pictures. Annie Murphy Paul was spot on when she pointed out the difference between reading on a screen and reading a good book. The second article by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond was equally as interesting. I completely related to the joy she experiences when reading to her kids. I also felt nostalgia and was sent back a few years when she mentioned the Laura Ingalls Wilder. My dad used to read a chapter each night to my sister and I. Even though we had separate beds, we would pile into the same one and snuggle up to my dad while he read. Since then, I have loved adventure books that involve a fight for survival and take place in the outdoors. “My Side of the Mountain” is my absolute favorite, along with “Swiss Family Robinson”. Reading is an absolute joy and adventure in itself.
The first article, “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” was written by Annie Murphy Paul. It talked about the difference between deep reading with a book versus superficial reading on the web. I believe todays society sees physical book reading as unsophisticated. It seems like in todays society we are encouraged to use the latest technology for educational reading. In school a lot of things are done online and I personally do not like this transition. In church for example the pastor will say get out your bible and people will get out their phones and tap an app rather than turn a page. They are not getting the physical interaction of a book. It seems like our future generation may not even know physical books exist. I have witnessed this first hand with kids I babysit who seem to be more interested in ipads rather than playing outside. Books were not always important in my life because I had better things to do with my time. Now after I have taken this class I realize the enjoyment they can bring and are well worth the investment of my time. The second article, “The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” was written by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond. This article was not so much about the content of the books Jacqueline read but a timeline of her life as it related to each book she read. I could see this in my life, for example when I see a Dr. Seuss book I think back to second grade when we had Dr. Seuss week. We read Dr. Seuss books and the teachers made a fun assembly relating to a current TV show incorporating Dr. Seuss books. At my internship in a second grade classroom I was able to witness Dr. Seuss week and help creature a memory for the students.
Chmela 2
Both of the articles do a great job in explaining how reading can affect how we interpret things as well as how we act towards other things. The first article explains that books help us retain memories and give us a sense of both accomplishment and keeps us entertained. The author explains that there are certain books that make you feel certain ways. Books for plainly entertainment make you examine stories and events that have taken place in your life. Where meaningful books make you realize choices you should or should have made. Books are powerful and analyzing different books will give you different feelings and make you act certain ways towards certain things. The second article goes into the brain side of reading. It explains right away that books do not make us socially or emotionally better, however they can change how we make choices and how we interpret things. I believe the best fact in that article is the one explaining that fiction makes people more understanding of others and less judgmental. I believe that understanding what more people go through in exaggerated circumstances, like in fiction, we will act more civilized when these events occur because we will have understanding on how to deal with them. Books give us understanding into events that we would not normally be apart of. They make us more aware and will help us if we ever get into such situations. These articles offer great analysis into what books give us and what they do not. I agree that books do not make us socially better, however books can change us especially in things like religion, understanding, and certain situation that we will encounter. A book is fiction but not all fictional books are totally fake. They can remain real in many senses. Books are meant to make us analyze and interpret them in many ways. If the reader does not analyze there is no point in reading the book except for entertainment.
The two links The power of literature will last through life by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond of the Argus Leader and Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer by Annie Murphy Paul of TIME are two articles that have opened my eyes to a deeper meaning of literature.
Jacqueline had a great perspective about literature. It’s not just because she has an English degree and has been “learning how to read” for five years, but because of her own personal life experiences that have taught her about literature. Jacqueline states “that every book serves a different purpose”, I agree with this statement because behind every cover is a different book. Whether the book serves its purpose based on its genre or if its purpose is to entertain, inform, or educated us. In the article she describes books like potato chips, “ just kind of junk food that you gobble up and love even though the only point is to entertain.” This statement entertained me while reading this article because it provided me with a new way of looking at books. Jacqueline also talks about how books can make you want to jump into the book and be part of the world that they are living in. I have had this happen to me a majority of the times that I am reading books. I feel as though I just want to become a character of the story and be part of the lives they are living.
Annie’s article didn’t have personal connections with literature but rather more scientific looks at literature. The article starts out with a debated topic of whether literature can improve people or not. She tells us about a study that was done by Raymond Mar and Keith Oatley who reported in their 2006 and 2009 studies that it is possible. They state “individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective.” There have been similar results in other studies. Annie also talks about
deep reading and how it is becoming endangered and that we need to preserve deep reading. As well as preserve it so our children can experience deep reading, and that we can take our children someplace they have never been. Annie also makes a great point about the difference between reading from print verses reading on a screen. It is said that for those who read print are more likely to enjoy what they are reading. Reading on a screen can cause various distractions such as ads and links that you can click on. I can see how there is a difference between the two. When reading books/print I like the experience and I feeling like reading on forever, as with reading on a screen like we have had to read our short stories, the screen hurts my eyes and I can’t stand reading on the screen for very long. Annie’s article helped me understand literature more from a scientific standpoint and has taught me more of what I didn’t know.
Jacqueline and Annie have opened my eyes to aspects of literature that I was unaware of. I hope to use what they have taught me as I go into college.
Breitzman 3
Both articles show how reading can affect our daily lives and how we as humans react to what we read. The first article by Jacqueline Klemond relates books to different life instances and everyday items in our lives. For example. Klemond related some books to potato chips; books that we gobble up and love even though their only purpose is to entertain us. Klemond also mentions how some books are so enticing and powerful that we just want to live in the setting of the book. Klemond also mentions that literature has the power to show a lot about people, for the books that we read help show the type of personality that we have. Klemond also mentions how literature can have the same type of effect as music, if not greater and how reading a book can take her to a certain memory of her past or how literature can inspire her to do greater things just like music can. For Klemond, opening a book is like entering a whole new world...a world where time slows down and the world expands.
The second article by Annie Murphy provides evidence that contradicts a previous study showing that literature has no effect on our lives whatsoever. However, the article displays research by Raymond Mar who found in studies published in 2006 and 2009 that individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective. This was intriguing to me for I had never looked at literature as having that type of power and effect on people. I knew literature could affect people, but I always thought it was by entertainment and the pleasure people get from reading a book. After thinking about this claim for some time, I do believe with Mar that literature affects the way we look at people and helps us better understand the way that they behave and conduct themselves in public. Mar’s studies also show that the more books that children read at a young age, the keener their minds are. This I do find accurate, for I believe reading has nothing but a positive influence on young children. It helps their brains develop and introduces them to real-world situations at a young age.
Both of these articles were extremely insightful. I enjoyed reading them and reacting to them here during this blog task.
House 2
One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day is to curl up with a good book, a fuzzy blanket, and a cup of tea to find myself lost in a story with characters I could only dream of meeting in real life. Like Jacqueline Patty Klemond in “The power of literature will last through life”, reading and books have been a part of my life since I was little. Oftentimes when I was younger I could be found sitting in front of my bookcase with an open book in my lap making up the story because I had not yet learned to read; or there were multiple times where I could be found fast asleep in my bed books completely surrounding me. I strongly agree with Klemond’s statement that “every book serves a different purpose”. Books can be used to entertain, teach, explain--they can do whatever the reader wants them. “When I think about my favorite books, they take me to a moment in time as much as a favorite song”--I can really relate to this! My favorite books transport me almost more than some of my favorite songs do. Every book has its own story, own message, and own author with a backstory. I like how no two stories are identical because no two authors are the same. I cannot wait to someday sit with my children and read them some of my favorite stories like my dad did for me.
In Annie Murphy Paul’s “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”, she focuses on the difference between reading online and reading an actual book. Paul discusses how deep reading occurs when you read a book but oftentimes when you read on the internet it is only superficial. Deep reading draws the reader in emotionally allowing them to make connections to experiences in their life. The phrase “Humans beings were never born to read” really caught my attention. How did the first humans learn to read if that was never our intent? When people enjoy reading and becomes engrossed in the story being told, their reading becomes slower and they begin paying attention more intently. However, the point of reading is to take readers places they only dreamt in their mind: “We need, rather, to show them someplace they’ve never been, a place only deep reading can take them.”
The first reading that I read was about "Deep Reading". At first I didn’t really understand what deep reading was, but eventually I learned the true meaning of what it means. This article really spoke to me and even my Mother, whom I made read it also. Naturally I have a difficult time finding an interesting fiction book I like. From time to time I will start three or possibly four books until I finally find a book I particularly enjoy. This article on deep reading provides insight on reading electronically versus reading on a hard copy. I actually understood the difference. After reading on my nook or iPad I find that my eyes become tired, and hurt sometimes because of the screen. I prefer to read on a hard copy most of the time now.
The second article really moved me as a reader. Reading about how Jacqueline Palfy Klemond was taught to read as a three year old by her older sister reminded me of my older brother and I. Tyler is only two years older though, he was still learning at the time I was. I remember my brother and I with my parents learning how to read and do other homework. My Dad has always expected a lot out of us academically, and he strives us to do our best. Back to the books, I found it very interesting when she talked about her home. The way she talked about the books laying every where in her home. I have many books, but honestly I have not read all of the books that I own. I have learned that it takes time to read and enjoy a book, and I haven't had much time recently. I really like that she also uses hard copies. She never once mentioned the use of a nook or E-reader. I like the idea of a classic book.
Guthmiller 6
In “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer,” the writer comments on a statement made that there is no evidence that proves that reading makes us better people. The writer goes on to refute this point by referencing studies done that have shown that people that read fiction are more receptive to others and what they are going through. I think this can easily be related back to what we do in class. We have are very lucky to have the access to these books and to be able to express our thoughts on them openly without being wrong just because we interpreted it different then someone else. By stating these different interpretations we are opening up a different perspective to another person.
This article is a good reminder to keep up with my literary endeavors after I am done with classes as to keep opening my mind.
While reading “The power of literature will last through life,” I was reminded of how I became someone who likes to read. I am also reminded of books that I have read during my life that have affected me. Her experience with learning to read was a little different than mine. It was not always my favorite thing to do because I would get bored quickly into a few pages. I tried to start the Harry Potter series before I could actually get into. After that, I began to love to read. Her last sentence, “For the slowing down of time and the expansion of the great big world that can happen when you open a book” is a brilliant explanation of what can happen when you get really into a book. You become enthralled in the book so much so that the reality of life is not relevant anymore while your mind and ideas expands with every word you read.
Both articles were a great way to end a wonderfully literary year!
Kuehn 2
Both of these articles are pro-reading. In “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”, Annie Murphy Paul discusses studies that show reading books increases a person’s ability to empathize with others. Many people today read often on the internet, but that does not involve the mind the same way as reading a book. Paul believes that instead of meeting kids where they are with technology, parents and teachers need to continue to teach kids the importance and value of reading actual books. I agree with much of this article. Books are important, and they help shape people by how that person learns to think. Actual books engage a reader more than web articles, and therefore help the mind more. I do not remember ever hearing or reading before that reading can help you empathize more with others and understand other people’s feelings, but I believe that it is true. It makes sense that you can understand people better after reading, because every time you read, it is like living another life, gaining new experiences. The article “The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond was interesting to read. I liked how she told stories about her own experiences with reading. I think this shows that the interest and motivation to read starts at home with one’s family, and is not solely based off of school experiences. Klemond began reading at a young age, she says she learned from her sister at age three, and this helped shape her character as she grew older. Now that she has a degree in literature, it is shown that the way her family taught her to enjoy reading affected her life. Klemond is writing the article to talk about her favorite book, but she cannot choose which book is her favorite, because she has enjoyed so many. I relate to this, as I love to read and have difficulties picking my favorites as well. I believe reading is beneficial to readers, scientifically and emotionally.
Darrington 7
The first link about deep reading and the benefits for children was an interesting read. It directly relates to what I am writing about for my manifesto, so it was not only thought provoking, but also beneficial. The article discussed the importance of reading deep. Reading is not an inherent human skill, such as walking or speaking. Reading takes time and repetition to learn. Once learned, reading can be very advantageous to a child. Studies have shown that children and people in general who deep read more will better understand human interaction, and have empathy towards others issues. “Emotional situations and moral dilemmas” help an individual with problem solving skills and complex thinking abilities. Deep reading is where the person focuses immensely and searches out for symbols, themes, and has personal reactions to the book. It has been shown that those who read paper benefit more than those who simply read online sources alone. Reading deeply is a skill that must be worked on, and if mastered could lead to incredible happiness and near spiritual experiences.
The article written by your former neighbor was a compelling tale of her learning to read and her love for books. She discussed how books can take you to another place and seemingly slow down time. I find it interesting how no person will take away the same thing from a book. Everyone has their own opinions and things that are more important to them. Even a single person will have different reactions to a book at different times in his or her life. The number of books that have been written never ceases to amaze me. The author discussed how some books have more quality than others, but she did not discredit the books that are solely for entertainment purposes nonetheless. There are books about every subject and nearly infinite knowledge to gain from them. From physical knowledge, to spiritual understanding, to controversial world issues, books do a splendid job of addressing all aspects of the human life that we live.
To read is to gain knowledge. Reading, however, isn’t an easy skill to learn. Kids are trained in their younger years to string twenty-six different letters and their sounds together to make thousands of words. In the first article, cognitive psychologists are arguing that deep reading is able to make a person more empathetic and understanding. I agree with this argument. I think that with all the different types of reading material, one is able to broaden their views. With reading novels, one can travel the world, or back in time while never leaving their couch. With experiencing other’s stories, it can help one be more open to new ideas, and feel the emotions of the author or character. Another topic of the novel is how teens are not reading as much anymore. They spend more of their free time on social media, reading on a screen, than reading a hard copy novel. The article says that only 28% of teens read printed material every day. If deep reading does make one nicer and smarter, this is not good for our generation.
The second article is about a woman’s favorite types of books and how she started to love reading. She describes different types of books, like the potato chip books, and states her favorites from each category. She writes that potato chip books are the junk food books that are for entertainment. Others have a more complex story, which are equally as beneficial. as the potato chip ones. I can relate to her enthusiasm for reading. I remember being excited when the book fair came to school and wanting to get them all. I enjoyed her ending quote when she states that books can help you slow down time and expand the world right at the touch of your fingertips.
The article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” by Annie Murphy Paul brought to my attention an idea that I had considered before. Paul believes that deep reading can cause one to have more empathy. When reading books, you often get to see the characters thoughts, know their motivation for their actions. It gives you a better understanding of why people do things. For example, in Life of Pi the main character is on the boat for a very long time…he reverts to cannibalism in order to survive. At first glance, we immediately chastise Pi for being inhumane and downright disgusting; however, getting inside his head allows us to consider his situation. We suddenly form empathy with the character because we think “What would I honestly do in that situation?” In some stories, you form empathy with a character because they are relatable to you. Paul states that deep reading is “an endangered practice, one we out to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art” and I believe this is completely true. With today’s technology, people are able to have the world at their fingertips. People become so infatuated with their phones that they lose the ability to converse with other people. In time, I may actually be considered an extrovert compared to other people.
The second article titled “The power of literature will last through life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond talks about junk food books. As in the books that really don’t serve a purpose other than to entertain. I can admit to reading books that just sounded interesting to me. They really gained me nothing of value. In school we are introduced to books that actually have educational value of sorts and it tends to be boring to us because we are so used to being entertained. Junk food books are not healthy for you, but they are very addicting; whereas healthy books make you feel like a vegetable because you do not feel entertained. Klemond believes there are ‘healthy’ books that do actually give you some education…and we should seek them out in order to get the best of both worlds. The main thing I have learned from these articles is that the world of reading is way more complex than what I had originally thought. There are books that we read that can teach us so much about other people and the world around us, we just have to take the time to look for them.
Annie Murphy Paul wrote "Reading Literature MAkes US Smarter and Nicer", and I agree with her. She was aiming to argue with Gregory Currie, a professor at the University of Nottingham, and I applaud her. He said there was no evidence supporting that people are morally or socially better for reading literature, but the opposite is actually true. People who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them,and view the world from their perspective. This is not only evident in adults, but also children. If they were read more stories, they were more likely to have a keener theory of mind or mental model of other people's intentions. I find this highly interesting. My reasoning for this phenomenon is that reading allows people to become the narrator or the protagonist. They envision what the author wants them to envision from the perspective the author wants them to perceive. This allows people to walk in other people's shoes. They get to realize that other people have very different views form their own , and if they begin to care for the characters they read of, they are more likely to empathize with people who are similar to their familiar characters. I like that this article highlights the importance of reading fiction. Many people believe there is no gain from reading fiction, that it is only a waste of time. OBviously, Annie Murphy Paul disagrees, as does her evidence.
The other article, "The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life", by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, talks about Klamond's life with books. Her older sister taught her how to pronounce some words, and she was hooked ever since. Her taste in books has evolved. She also talks about the different kinds of books, some, which are brain candy, and some, which make the reader ponder. I agree that literature is meant to be loved and fostered over a life time. It helps one respond to the outside world and provides entertainment.
Hillestad Period 7
The two links talk about literature and how important reading can be to people. The first article compares “deep reading” and “superficial reading.” I thought it was very interesting because I noticed that what it said about deep reading is very true for me. I have noticed that when I read paperback books, I tend to be more involved in the story, I always want to read more, and I tend to remember the story better. For example, I read the Twilight saga on paperback and the Harry Potter series on my kindle. Even though Twilight is a book that is often made fun of, I enjoyed reading it more than Harry Potter. Perhaps it is because I read on paper. I read really like the quote “Human being were never born to read” in the first article. Even though I knew reading is not something human are born knowing how to do, the quote really stuck in my mind. It made me think back to preschool and elementary school when I had a lot of trouble learning to read. I also found the second article very thought provoking. I really enjoyed her story of how she learned to read and always loved reading. I also thought it was kinda funny how her parents loved reading and learning but did not educate themselves past high school. The story makes me want to find more time to read. Both articles overall make me realize how important literature can be to people, especially children. After reading the articles I really want to read more paperback books rather than e-books. They have also inspired me to read more to my little siblings to help them become better readers and learners. If I have children of my own someday, I will probably read to them too.
Williams 2
Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer:
This article from “Time” Magazine disproves the myth that reading does not make anyone any more or less smart. In fact, it proves the opposite. The article states, “Actually, there is such evidence. Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, reported in studies published in 2006 and 2009 that individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective.” Also, this article analyzes what “deep-reading” is and how and why it is important. Deep reading is when a reader is deeply analyzing a piece of literary and may read it slower than normal so it can process in their mind and they can fully think about what they are reading. Finally, the article bashes on reading things online. The article states that students that read physical books are more likely to be above-average readers and to have a favorite book.
The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life:
This article is written by a woman who is describing her life as it relates to books and other literature, “...[she] had a lifelong love affair with books.” She talks about how reading has been such an important thing her life and how she can remember exactly what was happening in her life as she was reading a certain book.
My Thoughts:
I definitely think these articles are true in the fact that literature is very important to shaping how each person is and how they learn and develop. Also, regarding the first article, I agree that it is a lot harder to analyze and read a book or poem online rather than in a paper format. I hope real, physical pieces of literature never go away for that reason. Regarding both the first article and the second article, I found it interesting how both said that it is essentially the parents’ responsibility to read to their children and if you do then they too will fall in love with reading and be better people because of it.
I would certainly have to agree with the article. “Deep reading” print has become far less common than it is now. I admit, I spend more time reading on the internet now than I spend reading physical books. Mostly, reading on the internet has become much more convenient because I can pull my iPhone out of my pocket and read almost anything I want. However, I spent numerous hours each day of my elementary and middle school years sitting in a comfy chair and delving into novels ranging from entertainment such as Harry Potter and historical books on the Civil War. I can honestly say that I am far more involved with reading when it is in an actual book. For example, I could vividly imagine the scenes from Harry Potter , however I have difficulty concentrating, let alone visualizing, any sort of internet article. Actual printed books, to me, make the reader far more involved because there are less distractions. I would also agree with the article in that I feel books have helped me relate to other people better. Books have helped me interpret many emotions, and they have also, simply, made me a stronger reader. Just like anything else, one becomes better at reading with practice, which is an important asset for anybody.
The author’s line “Other books are so well-written, the words and the story so perfect together that you want to move right in between the covers and live there as long as you can” is definitely one in which I can relate to. Especially when I was younger, I would spend entire days during the summer reading an entertaining book from the time I awoke to the time I fell asleep that night. After a particularly enticing novel or series, I remember I would feel empty for a time because I truly felt involved in the stories. Besides their entertainment value, I have also learned much from diving into some of the most interesting and exciting novels, such as S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders . Many different emotions played into the book, and I was unsurprised to find the author of the second article had also read what I would consider to be a classic.
These two articles really stress the importance of literature. I could not agree more with these articles. Great literature has always held a special place in my heart. Although according to Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, the books I enjoy would fall into the category of potato chip books. I was raised on books such as Harry Potter or the Alex Rider series. These books do not contain super deep messages, but have a very entertaining plot. I feel as though these books are just as important as the classics. Literature will have a different effect to whoever you ask however. If I asked another person, they may hate these books. What makes a work of literature like A Tale of Two Cities or The Great Gatsby stand out is that multitudes of people have praise for these books. These books should also be appreciated just as much as current books are appreciated. Annie Murphy Paul discusses the future of literature in her article. The main point is the emergence of online books and books on tablets. In a study, children who read only books on tablets did not enjoy the literature as much as the children who read from a hardcover copy of that book. There is something different about a book that an electronic device can not compete with. A book has a different feel. When someone picks up a book, they escape from their world and enter a completely new one. By reading a book on a tablet, the reader is reminded that they are not really in the story with the characters. For this reason, I prefer books to electronic books, however, electronic books seem to be the future of literature. I am not against electronic books, I believe they make things easier, but they are slightly less enjoyable to read. Regardless of what I am reading on however, I will always enjoy a good book.
Literature is important. Whether we like to read or not, literature is important. It helps the developing mind open to new experiences and ideas. Literature is important at all levels. Whether you are reading for fun, instruction, or simply because you have to, literature is important. An example that leaps at me is reading for instruction. If someone did not have the ability to comprehend what they were reading, an action would not be carried out. For example, if someone was reading instructions on how to assemble a basketball hoop for their kids but did not understand it, the result could be catastrophic. The hoop would not be assembled properly and would probably fail. This failure could result in injury which, depending on the lacerations, could cost someone a lot of money. Money that could have been saved if the person understood how to comprehend instructional literature.
Another example that stands out to me is using deep reading to understand historical documents. Without people examining these documents, our world would be a wreck. There is a saying that states, “History repeats itself.” Though this statement is true, imagine the ramifications being ten times worse. Without people reading and studying older literature, history would repeat itself at a much more rapid pace. This would cause even more desperation among the masses and the result would be catastrophic.
These two readings emphasize these two points. They state that literature is important to study because it allows people to expand their knowledge and become more accepting. If deep reading was taken from the people, the result would be negative and society would degrade very rapidly. Though computers are good, the authors argue that there is still nothing like the written text. Free from distractions, written text allows the reader to fully engage themselves in a story and get the best possible outcome a book has to offer.
Huizenga 7
One of my favorite things to do with my free time is curl up and read a book. Because of this, I have a tendency to agree with these articles. In Jacqueline Klemond’s article “The Power of Literature Will Last through Life,” she writes about her own experiences that have come to her love of reading. While describing this she mentions falling in love with S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, which hit me personally, because that was the book that cemented my love of reading. I really enjoy that her articles is less of a presentation of facts and more of a testimonial about her and where her love of reading grew from. Too many online writings are purely informative and do not allow for “deep reading” as the other article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer,” by Annie Murphy Paul discusses. I believe also that Paul is correct in her assessment that we should not simply “meet children where they are” and comply with them reading only for information and solely online. I think that children should be shown from a young age that reading is for more than just information gathering and can be a very rewarding use of a person’s time. Not only can reading be a way to enter a magical world studies in 2006 and 2009 found that people who read more fiction may have a larger capacity for empathy. Reading for pleasure is a practice that should be continued for many generations to come, but it is slowly and unfortunately becoming endangered. Until the eighth grade, I was one of those children who would rather do almost anything besides reading, then I discovered that reading has no restrictions (even if Accelerated Reading did) and that anything I could possibly imagine was at my fingertips to enjoy for as long as I wanted. Because of this, I have become an avid reader and agree wholeheartedly that all children should be shown recreational reading.
I really enjoyed these two articles! Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. As a child, my bookshelves were always overflowing with books.I have many childhood memories of snuggling under a blanket with a good book for hours and hours until I could no longer keep my eyes open. When it comes to reading, I am very old fashioned. I believe that one must always have the physical book in their hand in order to get the full effect of what the author wants you to get. In today’s society, many people rely on tablets, e-books, and digital books to read instead of the paper book. I feel like reading actual physical, paper books is starting to become a lost art that needs to resurface.
In the “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” article, I really enjoyed how Annie Murphy Paul says that deep reading is a distinctive experience. A person doesn’t fully get the deep emotions and the rich sensory details when they don’t deep read. For some people, the only reading they are exposed to is the quick online everyday research. Online reading doesn’t allow a reader to engage fully with the characters nor allow the reader relate with the characters emotions when they are quickly reading articles online.
I really related to “The Power of Literature will Last Through Life” article. I enjoy that Jacqueline Klemond relates books to potato chips. It makes so much sense! Sometimes we read books for fun. Books that have only the sole purpose to entertain. We gobble down these books because they are fun to read. In this article, Klemond talks about her love of reading. Everybody’s love of reading has to come from somewhere or begin somewhere. A person’s love for reading is influenced by their surroundings and the people around them. Books can move a person. I really enjoyed these two articles. They really opened my eyes to literature and the existence of books in today’s society.
Palmer Pd. 3
Both of the articles shared with us express the importance of reading. By reading, they do not mean flipping through magazines, skimming over online articles, or scrolling through twitter. They are talking about deep reading, where the reader becomes immersed in novels, poems, or short stories. The first article, written by Annie Murphy Paul, explains how reading can help make us more empathetic and can also increase intelligence levels. According to the article, we are much more distracted when reading online. There are articles, ads, and other distractions which prohibits the reader from becoming as involved or immersed in the reading. In fact, as I was reading this very article, I was distracted by a link placed between every couple paragraphs, or by a pop-up ad on the side of the screen. There were several times when I became distracted during the reading and began to only skim the contents of the article. According to Paul, fiction can specifically help to make people more empathetic and kind through reading. In a fiction novel, there will often be real-life situations, and the reader gets drawn into these situations as if they were there themselves. Then, the book either teaches the reader a lesson (in turn teaching them the importance of kindness, selflessness, etc.), or the author experiences some emotion in finding out the outcome of the situation. This article focused on analyzing the science behind literature and the importance of reading from a psychological aspect. The author encourages people to teach their children how to “spiritually read” rather than being a “carnal reader.” The second article is titled “The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” and it gives the reader an excellent example of how literature can be life changing and emphasizes the importance of reading. The author, Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, explains certain instances when reading changed her life and how literature has shaped her into the person she is today. From reading these articles, and from the English classes I have taken in my high school career, I have learned the importance of literature and “deep reading.”
Following my reading of “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”, I realized that this is completely true! I enjoy having books to read in class being as it is difficult to motivate myself to read due to my busy schedule. I’ve always found a great interest in setting apart time to read each day, but steered away from it after the ending of the Accelerated Reader program. I found it interesting when the article described “Deep Reading” where it is a completely different experience from the simple decoding of words. The emotional appeal allows readers to place themselves into the novels that they read. In this day and age where technology continues to rise, it is a great fear that one day books could be nonexistent. Obviously, there will always be reading within schools and the education system, but beyond that I hope it remains prevalent.
Next, in Klemond’s post, I found interest in her characterization of books. The “potato chips” which I seem to associate with Captain Underpants. I always found myself reading the series without any goals besides keeping myself entertained. At a younger age, I could read them over and over despite their meaningless content. I found it interesting how she believes we need to preserve deep reading. I agree. It seems this technology filled generation could leave things in the past that were vital in earlier eras.
Overall, both articles seem to give information towards the power of books. Some literature is simply for entertainment purposes, while others hope to teach a lesson or theme. Regardless, I feel books are intended for analyzing. I sometimes find myself puzzled at the hundred’s of hidden symbols and meanings found in stories such as the literature we read this year. Yet, the author intended for that very puzzlement!
In response to the first article, I have come to realize things that have never occurred to me previously. I found it extremely intriguing when the article discussed the difference between deeper reading and artificial reading. As I reflected this idea onto my own personal experiences, I came to recognize that when I am forced to read pieces of material that don’t interest me, such as many pieces of work assigned in school, that I quickly finish them and therefor do not understand what the main goal of the author was. In contrary, when I am allowed to pick a book of my own choice in a genre I enjoy, I find myself emotionally attached to characters more easily. Also, in reference to E-Books vs. paperback books, I very much agree with the articles ideas. Personally, when I read a tangible book I feel as if I am living the story page by page as I am able to physically turn the paper. I feel a sense of accomplishment and closure upon finishing the novel. This is not the case with E-Books. I believe that due to our society being so technologically savvy, a story on a screen blends into the artificial readings of websites like Twitter, therefor not benefiting the reader to the same extent as the hand held book.
In response to the second article I feel I can most definitely relate. Klemond mentioned Jodi Picoult and how her books relate to potato chips, “just kind of junk food that you gobble up and love even though the only point is to entertain.” This particular quote jumped out to me. It helped me realize that although a book may not be informational with facts and statistics, it is informational in a way of teaching emotions and empathy. The entire article as a whole truly made me understand her love of reading and mine as well.
According to the two authors, Ann Sexton and Jacqueline Palfy Kelmond, reading is a classic “practice” that is being lost in the hype of electronics.They both talk of the “slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity — is a distinctive experience”, also both were incredibly thought provoking and enlightening. To prove her point, Sexton uses science to explain to people reading from a printed source made people smarter and more submissive to the enjoyment of reading. Also the hard copy of the text takes away the thought and decision of clicking on hyperlinks. It almost creates a moral dilemma of passing over the hyperlinks; would it lead to something very interesting or would it provide a distraction? Those who read on e-readers were less likely to admit to enjoying reading and did not have the psychological connection to the book. Books exercise our imagination and imagery in our brains by targeting the regions of our brain that would be affected if the scene was being performed in real life. In a different approach, Klemond uses childhood memories to enlighten readers of the important practice. She explains how much it meant to her to be taught how to read from a childish perspective instead of with science. Kelmond lists her favorite books, briefly described what they were about, and where she was when she read them. This not only gave people a list of good books to potentially get them hooked on reading but informed readers again of her fond memories. Each tactic different but both are successful in the point that is trying to be reached; reading is a necessary skill in life that can not be skipped over or forgotten.
I completely agree that literature should be a life long love. In reading about the time article on the study, I found the science and reasoning completely believable and fact based. I have realized that no matter how much I don't like it, my time would probably be better spent reading a book than watching a movie or TV show, or playing a video game. This is because in both movies, shows, and games, your brain is not coming up with it's own information. Instead, you are interpreting a set of information given to you by the algorithm, or director. Reading, on the other hand, engages both the visual acuity of reading the words, along with mental acuity, or the conversion of written words into meaningful and imaginative works. A book is also much more personal, in my opinion, than a show, movie, or game, because a book requires the reader to fill in the spaces that are left by the author. In a movie, show, or game, everything can be conveyed by the cinematography and objects in the spot. That is, there is less personal inferences and interpretations in visual media than there is in books.
I really enjoyed reading these two articles. I feel as if I could agree with what both articles are saying about reading as a whole. The first article talked about how we need to keep reading books for a spiritual reading not just on the internet for a quick reading, which I agree with. I feel like if you are going to read a book, you need to become completely immersed in the book and feel as if you are part of the books plot and are an actual character in the book. It also talked about the distractions there are on the internet and that is true. I can not remember the last time I was reading something short online and an ad did not pop up. There are always pop ups that distract me and make me forget what I was just reading. I also always want to look up more things while I am on the internet. But, when I read a real paperback book I can keep focussed on the book and not have those distractions I would have while reading on the internet. In the second the author talked about the different types of books there are and how she described each type of book fit the way I feel about certain books. She talks about the books you read for enjoyment. She compared those books to potato chips and that is definitely how I see them too. Books like that are the books that you can not stop reading and want to read more books from that series and read more books by that author to get the same feelings that the first book gave you. When reading these two articles it made me realize that there are people out there with the same views that I have and that make me feel as if reading is just as important to me as it is to them.
Annie Paul’s article was definitely eye opening to how reading online with ebooks can ruin the overall effect of the reading experience. Readers do not connect as much with online reading, instead a physical hard copy of a reading can help enhance the flair of the book/novel/poem. I do agree with society that reading online has made it easier but I have to agree with Annie’s article that online reading is not as intense as a hard copy book. Over all of the school years students pass through every english teacher says reading helps us learn or reading makes us better speakers. After reading this article I will most certainly agree with everything that was presented.
Jacqueline Klemond’s article reminded me of how passionate I am of my favorite author, Nicholas Sparks. I could read his book A Walk to Remember over and over, each time crying as I read the last few pages. Yes the movie is impactful as well but reading it makes it so much better, I feel like I am part of the book when reading. I guess I am not as passionate of a rader as she is but I do enjoy reading adventure books, it could be because I am going off on my own adventure called “life”. Some days I wish I would read more and be less busy in order to fit in a reading time.
Reading both of these articles opened my eyes, reading is more than just a weird hobby. Reading is a way to learn how to speak and how to interpret a piece of work. If only I would have understood that more in elementary school, I can only imagine the great difference of intellectual improvement I would have. I suppose reading is a good way to figure out spelling so that would have helped to read more as well.
These two articles were very intriguing and also got me to thinking about my own life and how I read books. I never truly thought about the difference between plain reading and deeper reading. I never enjoyed reading so I tended to avoid it at all cost and if I did have to read, I relied on others to fill me in on what certain things meant because I didn’t engulf into the book. Yet, now in class we have to read books that I actually enjoy. I find myself picking out small details and symbols that I would not have before. This deeper reading is something that I have come to enjoy through paper back books. I tend to dig deeper into these books instead of skimming like I do through E-books. Social media is so highly praised now and readers are used to skimming anything online and this is why readers do not soak up all the details of books on a computer. I thoroughly enjoyed the books we read and I do think literature makes us smarter.
The one line in the second reading that stuck out to me was how she compared some readings to potato chips. This made me think of my pal Reid. He devours chips (I respect him greatly for this ability). Some books that I have read in the past are books that I have “devoured” because they were so good and addicting just like chips are addicting. Once you have one, or read one book by the author, you want more and nothing satisfies you until you eat more or read more. She has fun reading and makes reading seem like a light topic, yet still very informational at the same time. She puts her emotion for reading on her sleeve and lets everyone know how passionate she is about books while still writing a phenomenal article about the power of books.
Before reading Annie Murphy Paul’s article I never truly thought about the difference in understanding level between reading printed materials and reading on electronic devices. I was particularly surprised to find out they there have been multiple studies proving that readers better understand what they are reading on printed materials. In this era computers and smartphones are growing exceedingly popular so it was immensely disheartening to learn this information. This is also exceptionally disheartening because many schools are getting rid of all textbooks and switching to doing everything electronically. So does this mean that students will not understand what they are reading as well and not learn as much? Personally, I would much rather read out of a textbook than read from a computer screen. I like having pages to turn and having a printed book to physically hold. Annie Murphy Paul’s article really opened my eyes to how much the world is changing and how reading literature is exceedingly important.
Reading “The Power of Literature Can Last a Lifetime” I could tell how much the writer, Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, loved books. She talked about how each book serves a different purpose; some might be solely for entertainment, while others might be read to inform/educate the reader. A smile came to my face while reading this article because I could tell how passionate Klemond was about reading. I found it fascinating how Klemond could remember what her life was like while she read each book; she could remember the exact place where she was sitting while reading each book. Reading this article made me think of some of my favorite book and what it felt like reading those books. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article because it reminded me how enjoyable sitting down and reading a good book can be.
The article “The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” ,stirred up old memories with my mother and I reading together. It was a tradition to read together and talk about how we felt what the characters were doing was right or not. I remember when she first introduced me to Little Women we would have endless discussions and I would have endless questions. Leading me to have a passion for reading books. She tells us that one person made her passion for books what it is. Much like what my mom did for me with The Chronicles of Narnia. In Klemond’s writing you can feel the passion and wonder she holds for each book she writes about like an old friend who you admire so much.
The second article I read was about how reading does make a person smarter and nicer. Ms. Paul explains to us what deep reading is, ““Deep reading” — as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web — is an endangered practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art.””(Paul). I find this amazing that there are just two types of reading but the way Paul describes it does fit. The way I look for information is much different than when I slow down and read for fun. It is also cool that the difference between screen and paper is what can affect how we connect to the author and/or the characters. Personally I have never read an ebook, because I love the smell of books.
In addition to how I grew up with books in my house I did work in a Library as a job my junior year. I was amazed at how many books I had to put back each day and not just by myself, but I did notice it was the older books, and the young children's books. I maybe put away 10 YA books in three days. I think that in growing up as digital natives some people my age have missed out on the adventures that are offered for free with no passport needed.
Today, I was enlightened by the articles we read. Being someone who does not read often and especially being someone who does not like to read. Its interesting that Jacqueline loves to read like I love to play tennis or focus on science. Its easy to stay focused and she enjoys doing it. Its also fascinating that psychologically, just reading science articles isn’t a good excuse for say, “I read every day,” because they are informative. They aren't for an emotional experience. Once Senior year dies down, starting in the summer, I will begin reading Tom Clancy novels again which I do enjoy, but always have an excuse to use my time elsewhere. In life, one should always be looking to improve him or herself, and deep reading is an opportunity to make myself a better person, a more sympathetic person. Even though starting to read is the tough part that will seem dry and boring and a huge hassle, if I just develope a good habit this summer, it will become easier to enjoy over the long term while making myself smarter at the same time. Partially, I could see that a problem with our education system is that when we are young, we are taught to read so many books. We arent taught to just read for enjoyment. We as students see it as a hassle and a chore in elementary school. We read books that we honestly do not enjoy, they just get us a grade. It relates to our education system as a whole I think too. In America, it seems as if students are taught to get a grade, taught to get stuff done. We aren’t taught to learn. We are taught to memorize a test, memorize a book just for a grade. Not because we find enjoyment. Not because we want to learn. We just like being lazy and doing the bare minimum so we can go socialize on our phones or watch TV. Hopefully America changes.
My initial reaction after reading through both articles was that you must enjoy reading to get something out of it. I have always wanted to have the privilege to feel like I have taken something from a reading. Although, I have never had that moment where I truly felt moved by any certain novel. Personally, I just do not believe that I am a reader. We all have our own passion and we do not all experience the same things. Those who have a passion for reading are going to get more and more from each novel they read. Those who have a passion for athletics are going to get more and more from each athletic event. Our growth in our life comes from events in which we truly experience. Events in which we truly experience are going to be the events that we have to most passion for.
I strongly disagree with the fact that allowing people to read from paper rather than electronics increases the chances to experience deeper reading. Honestly, I believe it is solely a personal preference. Once again, we all have different passions just like we all have different ways of doing things. We all enjoy different things. I do not enjoy reading therefore I do not read. I do enjoy athletics therefore I participate in athletics. Simple as that. I think that for someone who has a passion for reading this article would make complete sense. For me, it is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo of a passionate reader.
I believe that finding your passion in life is something that not everyone experiences and I hope that someday we all find our passion. Whether you passion be reading or running, dancing or drawing, swimming or skating...I hope we all have that privilege.
I have really enjoyed my second semester as this class has guided me to a better understanding of analyzing novels. I hope to further use these skills. Thank you for an incredible semester!
The first reading by Annie Murphy Paul is about the theory or study of how people who read are smarter. My parents have also claimed this. I am not a big reader by any means but I too could buy into it. If you enjoy reading, you more than likely read a variety of books. This means you could become enlightened of far more things than someone who does not. We as the readers have lots to learn from every book. You could learn how to better understand different kinds of people because you have simply read about them. This holds especially true if you like to read any sort of historical or scientific book, there are millions of things to learn that the rest of us will never be able to comprehend all because we did not take the time to sit down and read the book. My grandfather is quite board in his old age so he reads dictionaries and encyclopedias, the man is a genius because of this. He could throw out a random fact for you on just about anything. The reading also touches on “deeper reading” Vs. reading on the web along with how in a way, reading helps us learn our own language.
The second reading by Jacqueline I believe, was also about the importance of literature but with a different view. She talked about how all types of books can fit into your life at different times. She also discussed how books can take you to another place and seemingly slow down time. She goes as far as calling a certain type of book potato chips. They are essentially junk, but we just eat it up right away. There may not be any sort of lesson or value in the book at all but it seems so interesting at the same time. When asked what her favorite book is she struggles to think of just one. “When I think about my favorite books, they take me to a moment in time as much as a favorite song.” This could hold true for everyone, it doesn’t have to be a book. Along with this, it is very cool how three different people can all read the same book and pull something entirely different out of it.
These two reads “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter” and “The power of literature will last through life” have deep meanings to them that opened my eyes! These two writers love to read and they love it because they gain a meaning from it and it is the way they live. In the article written by Annie Paul had a lot to express. The quote, “Human beings were never supposed to read” really stuck out to me. Reading makes you evolve as a person, to become smarter and wiser. Reading makes you more intelligent and you have to work at it to be able to do it. We make our brain learn to read but we don't need too, but through the years reading has become a more interesting part of our lives making us want to read and teach others how to read. An example of this is given in the second article we read by Jacqueline Klemond. When she was three her sister took the time to teach her how to read, did she need to? No, but she knew that reading was important. This makes me think of when I learned how to read, I don’t really remember much but I do remember sitting in my brothers room reading the books by Dr. Suess. I will never forget that because even though I didn't understand it my brother still helped me because he knew if I wanted to grow up intelligent I needed to know how to read. When Klemond talks about book being like potato chips that sticks out because it is funny but true. Some book that our out there serve no purpose to an education or anything they are just “fun” books to read. But thats reading is all about right? To have fun while reading and enjoy it. When I think of potato chip books I think of 50 shades of gray, that really has nothing to do with real life scenarios but it is intriguing and exciting to read. Reading these two articles showed me that reading makes the world go round in a way because without we would not be as wise. Reading this boosted me up a little bit about reading in a way! Im so happy that I was taught how to read and have the privilege of being able to also.
Both of these articles had my mind turning. The first article by Annie Murphy Paul was
about how reading literature actually affects your brain. As technology advances, most of our reading will be off screens as books become a thing of the past. Who knew that deep reading actually gives the brain a workout. Personally, I hate reading books off of the internet or a kindle. Something about seeing the number of pages and flipping every page till the end is much more relaxing. I also like seeing the cover of a book. Sorry to say but I do judge books by their covers. It is also hard to flip back pages if you want to review something on a kindle where as a paperback you can just bookmark anything. The study in Britain that found 39% of the children read online and they found that they did not enjoy reading as much or have a favorite book was surprising. I could not imagine my childhood without books. Today’s generation of kids are experiencing a drastic change as most kids already have an Iphone by the time they are six it seems like. “The Power of Literature will Last Through Life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond had me reminiscing over all the books I read. You could say I read a lot of potato chips. As a child I was really into the Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne. I tried to read the Harry Potter series but I was too young to really understand all the plot twists. Another favorite of mine back in middle school was the Hardy Boys. I was obsessed with mystery books and the Hardy Boys were always cleverly written. At the moment, I am reading the Game of Thrones books and trying to watch the HBO series as they coincide.
After reading each of the two articles, I could not agree with each of the writers more. More and more kids in America are straying away from reading literature and moving towards skimming literature. Here lies the unfortunate truth. Of course there is the small percentage of the youth population that enjoys reading for fun. These kids plant their educational seeds through books and grow to become smart, thoughtful trees of knowledge. Annie Paul mentions in her article a problem caused by the internet. The imperfect transition from physical books to online text is leaving students behind. “Those who read online only were three times less likely to enjoy reading very much.” I wonder what is the driving factor behind this statistic, as I am able to read literature online or in books. My preference remains hard cover books, although.
Inspired was I after reading Jacqueline Klemond’s article. It was personal. The only thing I thought about while reading her article was the feeling of being lost in a good read. It is important to read literature you may not enjoy because of the deeper meaning touched upon by Paul. I would argue that it is more important to read literature you enjoy. Enjoying my reads has played a large role in my development. I began reading children’s books gradually reading more challenging books as I aged. Once I knew how to read well, I could push myself to peruse through challenging/unengaging reads. Reading literature of all sorts is like weight lifting for the mind, preparation for the challenging reads.
I thoroughly enjoyed both of these articles as I have always loved to read. The first article that I read by Annie Paul Murphy is called, “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer.” This article discusses deep reading versus the light reading that many of us do on the Internet. Ms. Paul also cites a number of studies dealing with reading. One study completed by Britain’s National Literacy Trust found that 39% of children and teens read daily with the use of electronic devices. However, only 28% read printed materials such as newspapers, books, and magazines daily. This is not a high percentage. I, for one, enjoy reading printed materials better than online materials, because I like the feel of having a book or a magazine in my hands. Also, I am able to concentrate more if I have the printed material. Another study done by York University and the University of Toronto found that, “individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective.” This study shows that reading is important if you want to be successful in the real world. Overall, Ms. Paul’s article is a great example to show that reading is important.
Of the two articles, “The Power of Literature Will Last through Life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond was my favorite. It brought back many memories of reading books with my parents when I was younger. Every night when I was little, my mom would always crawl into bed with me and read me a story. We read all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, which have now become one of my all time favorite book series. My dad and I both read the Harry Potter series and would discuss the books with each other. Reading has always played an important role in my family, and continues to do so today. Ms. Klemond also mentioned the book The Outsiders, which I remember reading in 8th grade in Mrs. Geerdes’ Reading Class. That was my favorite book that we read in Reading Class, and I enjoyed watching the movie along with it. I believe that reading is crucial for people of all ages. Children especially need to be exposed to reading at a young age, as it helps to develop word recognition and thought process. Just like my parents have done for me, I will make sure to read to my children daily and expose them to all different kinds of literature. I have always enjoyed reading, and I know that I will continue to read a variety of publications for the rest of my life.
The first article, “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer,” miffed me a little bit. First, a tad of egregious sexist language existed, using female pronouns when a gender-neutral pronoun was more appropriate. Second, I failed to find any compelling evidence within the article about how literature made anyone smarter or nicer. I thoroughly enjoy reading, fiction and nonfiction. The author implies that you need to be reading something with a plot for it to be pleasurable and contain morals. I could read a history book and it would be exploding with morals based on real events that occurred, not fiction imagined by an author. I also enjoy reading to obtain knowledge; just as much enjoyment from an online article about new science that I get from any sensory-loaded novel. This article does not iterate whether an e-book is lumped in with digital sources; an e-book can present the exact same content as a paper book.
The second article is more straightforward. The author is passionate about reading, and details her own experiences with reading. I feel like everyone could write an article similar to this; the same concept with different content. I liked a different type of book in middle school than I do now. However, there are still books I very much appreciate now, that I read way back when. I’m still a strong advocate of Mark Twain, having read about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn in fifth grade, then rereading both stories freshman year. I thought they were good the first time, but reading them the second time gave even more depth and understanding. I read The Catcher in the Rye for the first time in sixth grade. Then again in seventh grade. Freshman year. Junior year. And one more time this summer. It’s a novel that speaks to me, emotionally, and is also just downright entertaining. It’s funny and heartbreaking, sometimes all in one sentence. I remember reading the entire Series of Unfortunate Events in fifth grade. All thirteen books in few months. Sometimes, I wouldn’t know some of the words in the titles, like “ersatz,” and I’d look them up. A series of books that expanded my vocabulary and also my imagination. To wrap it up, the movie is never as good as the book it is based on.
Both of these articles spoke to the power of reading and what type of impact reading can have on a persons life. The first article written in Times Magazine discusses the differences between just reading and “deep reading.” Deep reading, according to author Annie Murphy Paul, is more than the superficial reading we do on nearly a daily basis online. This reading not just reading various news articles online while quickly scrolling through. Instead, deep reading is an activity that one has to nearly train their brains to do. It is the way the brain can handle literature and emerge in the deep detail and fascination of words. This is comprehending books in a different way and nearly being in a nostalgic reading state. The point of this article, however, is to inform readers of deep reading becoming almost a lost art. Due to the screen reading that is becoming so large in todays society, reading of books is significantly dropping off in todays society, especially youth.
With this is mind, the second article published in the Argus Leader, simply discusses the power of reading and what it does to open up the mind. This article reminded my of a quote by Yann Martel during our skype. He said that reading is incredibly important as every time you read a book, you gain some sort of new knowledge and see a story through another perspective. This can be extremely important to our society and its prosperity. Author Jacqueline Klemond says that each book is different. Some are like potato chips and you want to just devour them up and you can’t stop reading or flipping through pages. Others are more elegantly written and this draws the reader to not stop reading so they can see what each passage holds. Regardless, one should savor every page of a book they love.
Danny Eitreim
Period 2
Both of the articles linked above provide compelling arguments for the relevance of literature in the modern, digital age. Literature, perhaps more than any other artistic medium, is immersive. It gives the reader a limited amount of information and allows them to create their own connection to it. The incredible pervasiveness of fan-fiction illustrates just how deeply a written work can be taken to heart by its reader. Jacqueline Palfy Klemond’s article is about her experiences taking literature to heart. It seems like learning to love reading is a cumulative process, like riding a bike. Klemond started, like almost everyone, with training wheels. Her sister helped along through her first books until she could read on her own. With the training wheels off, she began to read on her own and found that she enjoyed the places that books could take her, much like the freedom that a bike can give. As the Jojen Reed says in George R.R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
Annie Murphy Paul’s article is about the positive impacts that “deep” reading has over the shallow reading that is favored on the internet. According to the article, the deep reading encouraged by literature is an almost spiritual experience wherein the reader is fully immersed. This spiritual reading works different parts of the brain than reading on the web and can improve the reader’s ability to empathize with other people. Literature provides a way for someone to walk a few miles in the moccasins of someone else.
Both of these articles lay down a case for the survival of literature in a world dictated by 140 characters or less. Literature can have a powerful effect on those who read it, taking them to faraway places and times and literally shaping their brain.
Deep reading is a very interesting topic. At first I unsure exactly what “deep reading” was. I would prefer an e-book over a hard copy any day. Of course there are flaws to e-books such as one can't see the progress in the book, and the electronic screen can become a bit much. However, one major positive to e-books is that they travel a lot easier than normal books, and you can have thousands of books at your fingertips. The second article was pro-paper books. I found it interesting to read both of these articles to gain perspective on both sides of the argument. I love reading paperback books as well. You can never go wrong with just sitting in a comfortable chair and reading a wonderful book. In conclusion, I must say that my overall preference for reading materials would still lie with the e-reader. I am a big fan of technology as well so I may have a biased opinion.
I found the first article by Ms. Paul insightful and slightly ironic. It was very true that more and more people are abandoning the literature on the written page for short/funny stories on the web. They lose the lives they could have lived through reading literature and becoming immersed in it. I would agree that deep reading would make someone much more empathetic and able to see from different points of views because that is what books do. They take you to different worlds and into the minds of others. You are forced to read the book from the vantage point of the person telling the story. This could be the character or the author. Either way, you are becoming something entirely different. I found it ironic in the fact that the same things it bemoaned were what it was. For example, it claimed that when there were not readily available hyperlinks, the reader could immerse herself in the book. However, on the side of the page, there were dozens of links to other sites. It also said that superficial reading was less commendable compared to deep reading literature. This article, according to their description, fit the boot so-to-speak for their definition of superficial reading. I related a lot to the second article by Ms. Klemond. I remember being taught by my brother to read one afternoon when I was five. I did not learn to read until a later age. He sat me down in our basement with a worn-out copy of Scuffy the Tugboat. I remember it vividly because this copy had a button you could press to make a “toot-toot” sound. It did not take long before I read all the children’s books we had in my house. After moving to Brandon, I was the first kid in my class to be able to go to the library. My Dad took me to the library not long after and I received my very first library card. I do not know exactly how many books I have read but I would venture to guess in the hundreds, if not about a thousand. I do not know if that is even possible, but I remember reading two to three books every night. I even read a whole box-set of books in one day in the second grade (granted they were Junie B. Jones books). I love reading and I have always been an avid reader when I have the time. The article brought back a lot of memories as I think it was meant to do.
My favorite line in the first reading, “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”,, “Human beings were never born to read”. It stands out to me because it shows how important our parents are to our learning at such a young age. Reading at a young age helps our imagination grow and our vocabulary to strengthen. One important lesson I learned from this article is to read to children and to teach children and my own children one day about books and the importance of them.
In the second reading, I learned that literature is powerful. No matter if the book is just a “potato chip” or has a deep meaning, they all have an affect on each and every reader. Also, some books have great life lessons in them that we can take into our daily lives. Once again, Jacqueline Palfy Klemond also emphasizes how important reading is at a young age. She read all the time as a child and is one of the biggest reasons on why she went to college for an English major. Books and literature has affected multiple families. Just like for Ms. Klemond, reading time is the best part of her day and her children's.
Reading has not always been a big part of my life, but after taking this course and reading these blogs tasks I have learned that reading is important and there is quite a bit more to it then entertainment. I will teach my children about literature and read to them before bed. Just tonight as I was babysitting, I read a book to the little girl. It seemed like reading time was her favorite part of her day as well because I could have read her a hundred books and she would not have became bored. It makes me happy that at such a young age she is already interested in reading.
Reading these two articles was eye opening. I am someone who rarely reads; when I was in grade school and middle school I completely despised it. I wish I had the same love reading as Jacqueline, the way she can connect with them is something I never had. But, when I had a study hall in the library that changed, I began to enjoy reading and did it all the time. I have gone back into a slump though since now I really enter the library for anything. Also, she seems to know what type of books she enjoys to read. While I on the other hand can be very picky and takes quite some time to find a book I enjoy. I hope one day I may be able to enjoy reading at least as half as much as Jacqueline does. The second article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”, was extremely interesting. I enjoy reading studies like this. It was surprising to hear about a professor thinking that reading does not think that affects people morally or socially for the better. After several books I have read I had a different way of thinking a new perspective of people and life. I agree with the article that immersion of reading can be very beneficial in the ability to recreate the words we read into a mental picture, even increasing our capacity for empathy. The difference between online books and print books is something I also agree with. I myself would rather and would enjoy, reading from a printed book than an e-book. It may just be more satisfying turning the page, being able to navigated the book easily, and just have a it in your hands. “Deep reading” is something I do agree we need to try to keep, the ability to have our own thoughts on the book, to think deeper into the meaning giving us the ability to navigate the book more easily. Without this it would be detrimental to our society as a whole, not being able to think deeper into a topic or understand a simple poem. I enjoyed these two articles greatly which has made me start to think about picking up reading for fun again and possible try to look deeper into the books I would just read and pass off as a good story with no deeper meaning.
Regarding the first article, I agree that reading does make one wiser. The deep reading that is. Throughout the course we have taken this year, I not only learned how to analyze, I learned how to read. I did not forget how to read words and form them into legible sentences, but I forgot what it meant to dive into a book, and connect with the characters and feel (my presumption of) what the author meant. As Annie Murphy Paul began discussing the electronic versus traditional methods of reading, I would have to disagree with the bad rating of electronic devices, I tend to read better on an electronic device, and it makes me want to turn the page quicker. I have a favorite book, and it is one that I read on a kindle. I believe that it is an individual preference, and not up to be decided based on statistics.
Beginning the second article, “The Power of Literature WIll Last Through Life”, I most definitely agree with the author in the fact that we read certain things for different reasons. Some novels are read for entertainment, and the joy of reading; while others are meant for deep analysis, with every sentence evoking a new feeling in the readers body. Books can remind us of a time in our life, similar to songs. I remember reading Where the Red Fern Grows in late elementary school, and that gives me a nostalgic feeling. I also remember reading The Divine Dance, a christian analogy book, and letting that book completely change my life and how I saw activities I was in. These two books, even without deep analysis, impacted me, and will remain a memory, and in the back of my mind. A book can make you feel at home or a million miles away, and nothing can replace that traveling at home feeling.
I read both articles and found both of them interesting. The article in Time was interesting because I never thought about deep reading. The reading I do every day is on my phone usually and not in a book. I didn't know how reading a book is more pleasurable for the brain or whatever the article said. I know reading has always been a critical part of learning, but a euphoric experience? I have never had a book move me to tears, but when I was younger I read some cool books. I was scared after reading the first Harry Potter book I don't know how many years ago. I can completely understand how reading a book is better for the mind than reading online. The hyperlinks are distracting and so are side adds and sometimes the little video adds. With a book, you never have to worry about adds. The second article was interesting too. I don't know why she wrote about her life love affair with books. Maybe she wants her readers to read more books. But I found it interesting about how she read in college and as a child and even with her child.
Lundberg pd. 2
The article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” by Ann Paul slightly irritated me. I feel that one point Paul is trying to make is that we should read PAPER books, not something online. According to her, since books lack hyperlinks, it eliminates “the reader from making decisions”. I am sorry, but that is a ridiculous claim. If you are seriously reading a piece of literature, you would click the ‘continue button’ and read the next page. OR if you want to search for a literary work, it is not that difficult to type in the title/author and click on a link. Additionally, if you do find it difficult to type in a few words into Google, you then might also find it difficult to simply turn a paper page. You might even be faced with the decision of whether you should turn the page or just give up. Therefore, reading literature on paper is not more conducive to the mind in comparison to an electrical source.
The second article (“The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond), however, was entertaining to me. She delineates how she has spent 5 years of life in college just to learn how to read. Klemond speaks of various types of literature, such as “potato chips”. Each individual book can bring something to the table that other literary works may not. I think this is interesting because we usually divide books into genres (horror, romance, etc.). But after reading this article, I feel like we should divide books based on other criteria--their purpose. Entertaining, informative, and so on. Certain books make us feel certain ways. I believe this is more important than the book’s genre, and we should focus more on how books make us feel, not what the book is about.
I loved these articles and when I say love I do not mean in the loose sense as one sees a cool idea and loves it, but a love that forms a bond and connection you feel in your bones. I am an avid reader myself and every word I read, every sentence that leaps from my page into the air to dance in pixels and then form vivid portraits is a breathtaking blessing. The first article discusses how important it is to continue to read hard copy books. In this age of technology it can be hard and the lure of the easy ebook is ever present, but the benefits from old fashion books are plentiful. They provide the reader with a deeper sense of connection. I cannot begin to explain how accurate this is. My obsession with books goes so far that when I read a book I like that I do not actually own I go buy it so I can read it again and have a deeper connection. Folding pages down, highlighting, writing quotes down, everything I do forms a deeper connection. This deeper connection felt with physical books gives the reader a deeper sense of enjoyment and so they enjoy reading books more. The second article was about a woman, Jacqueline Palfy Klemond’s love for books. I enjoyed how she captured the difficulty of picking a favorite novel. She explained how picking a favorite book puts her on the spot because there were different favorite books for different points in her life. I feel the same as I have many favorite books, just as she explained and each are my favorite for different reasons, each gave me something I can never forget. Klemond concludes her article by explaining how meaningful it is to her to pass on this love to her children and I hope someday I can pass on my passion for reading to another human being.
I really liked how these two articles really emphasized how important literature actually is in each of our lives. If you think about it we have been learning how to read since we were young children. Whether it be our mothers attempting to teach us the very basics of the english language, or learning to read and comprehend extremely upper level classical literature, we are always working to become more informed and intelligent readers. After reading the articles, I thought of what life would be like if reading was not something that people did. From cooking meals, to driving a car, to getting a job, everything we do requires reading at some point in time. If reading was not something that people do, the world would be a very interesting place. I feel like the entire world would look like a piece of furniture that needed assembly, but that piece of furniture ended up to be a jumbled up mess because without reading there is not a good way to put it together correctly. There would be so much miscommunication that the world would be like a wadded up ball of string, and unable straighten all of the problems out.
I believe that literature is very important to study and understand whether you enjoy reading it or not. I feel that readers can learn a lot about certain time periods in history, and learn about different types of lifestyles people lived.
It was mentioned in one of the poems that e-books can take away the genuine connection that comes with reading a physical copy of the book. I agree with the author for the most part because from personal experience it is very easy to get side tracked will using an e-book. However, there are also many features that make e-books worthwhile for many people as well.
I found the first article to be particularly interesting to me. As I was reading about how reading online is less engaging I found my mind wandering away. Not only was this ironic but it proved their point. I hardly ever remember what I read online. Everything looks the same--the words, the format, the color of the page. Everything. So why would any of those groups of words stand out to me at all?
Also, their point on carnal and spiritual reading brought interest to me because in elementary school all we learned as students was carnal reading. We read books to pass a test so we could get points so that we were allowed to participate in the exuberating AR party at the end of each quarter. I believe this is why our generation is not intently hooked on reading. It was a chore to complete. Although I do envy those lucky enough to still enjoy every book handed to them.
In the second article this woman was not forced into reading and she loved it. She actually wanted to read and began thriving from it. Therefore, I do not believe schools should be forcing students to take part in this avid reading. Does the school system not remember that they are teaching individuals?
To elaborate further on my point, is it not interesting that if a math brain cannot paint a picture in art class it is because they just lack a talent in that area, and if an art brain cannot solve a math problem they are slow at learning and moved to a lower class?
These two links were actually really cool to read. The first one that had more facts and statistics in it was interesting because you got to see that reading is truly good for your mind! Some people try to say it does nothing for you, often people who dislike reading, but at the end of the day-- you are benefiting from the books you take the time to read. Another interesting point in the first article was the fact that the scientist said true reading is a dying art, something we should try to save like a historic building or monument. I guess I had never thought about it in that way, but when you do-- it makes total sense. The way they talked about the deep reading for enjoyment made me think of when I find a good book that I enjoy. It seems like I slow down my reading to take full effect, and they way they explained it fit how my mind functions as I really get into a book. I take the time to get to know the characters and develop opinions and memories with them in a way just as the article says. The second article that was on Argus Leader was a fun one too. It was cute to read how she had learned how to read, and how her love for books had grown from a young age. I also found it great that she had begun to pass her passion for books down to her own children. I hope someday that my kids will like reading as much as I have growing up. It is sad that they are finding that the deep reading we do with physical copies of books is dying out and that kids are not enjoying reading as much. I think technology has a part in this because with the internet you just skim looking for what you need and then you are done. So maybe kids are not getting used to just reading large sections of books for fun. Also I think it is our job as generations to pass that skill set (if you may) of reading and enjoying it down to future generations. Without us there to show them the way like Jacqueline is with her kids, how would they develop that passion? I know my kids will definitely have books in their possession, and not just books online or on kindles.
These two women have said it correctly: reading is important, so very, very important. It is how knowledge is gained and how information is actively received, how people lose themselves when they detach from reality, looking for a breath.
Growing up, my mother would always read children's books to me (and eventually, to my sister and me), her accented voice lilting over every word in surprisingly good informally-learned English. I read books all the time, picture books and chapter books and colorful encyclopedias that told of most everything. Magic Tree House books, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dolphin Diaries, informational books about cats and hamsters and chinchillas and parakeets and ferrets during the phases when I yearned for a pet or two (I remember reading those books in elementary school, the same ones over and over and over again).
In middle school, it was a plethora of assorted novels, and the Warrior Cats series. I'd check out anywhere from three to five books at a time (I still do so from libraries, though I lack time to sit down, crack open their spines, and read them) and I'd fly through the stories as if they weren't novels but rather tidbits that my mind devoured at lightning speed.
I still love reading. I've always loved reading. I will continue to forever love reading.
As a writer, reading and writing are basically the perfect pair. You can't really have the life of one without the other (life is different from existence, kids - remember that). A piece of advice so many people give to aspiring writers so often is to read. Read lots and read often, because the more you are exposed to a variety of literature, new and old and good and bad, the better of a writer you will be, because you simply know more, because you've read so much.
Literature is amazing. Our world revolves around reading and writing. The ability to communicate, to connect, to share and to know. Though not every story may be great literature, every thing is, and has, a story. Stories are everywhere - they make up our worlds and our lives and our selves. And reading is so valuable, for if people read, they will know all of those stories, all of those moments frozen in time, all of those thoughts flitting through minds, all of those memories drifting into view from the fog of the past.
Not just literal reading, either. Reading as in seeing. Knowing. Assessing. Understanding. The better of a reader one is, of novels or articles or tweets or art or history or sports or technology or animals or emotions or people, the better of an overall person in terms of the world and knowledge and 'relatability' and empathy he or she will be.
I think that both of these articles did a fantastic job of portraying what literature is all about and how it affects the people who read it correctly. In my own experiences, I have used books as a form of escape. When I am having a bad day or I just need some time away from all of the curve balls life brings, reading books helps myself take a break for awhile. I like to think as if I am a part of the authors story. I am not going to lie, there have been books where I have started balling right in the middle of them. It was like I was actually there with the character and felt sad with them. I love how Jacqueline compared some books to potato chips. They are kind of just junk that is thrown at you to entertain; nothing too important. But then she brought up the books that you just devour and cannot put down. All you want to do for the rest of the day is read that book until you figure out the ending. I could probably compare this kind of book to ice cream. Whenever I get my hands on it I will not put it down until I am finished eating and my stomach is happy... but then saddened when there is none left to taste.
I think that the first article compares the most to our Intro to Literature class. Agreeing with what Mr. C has taught us, we need to begin analyzing and actually read what the author is trying to say instead of skim past the words. I do think reading and analyzing books can make us wiser because we can look at life in different perspectives, instead of always through the same lens.
The first article on the Time website I found quite interesting. The talk of us not feeling as accomplished when we finish reading something online compared to when we finish a novel are two different feelings. The feeling of accomplishment when the final pages of the hard cover are finished and closed. When one finishes the reading of an online article or book their mind rushes to see if they can find another item to read besides looking back on what they read and truly understanding it and appreciating the work of literature.
The second article made me look back on the books I have read in my past. It made me see whether I read books for mere enjoyment or to actually get something out of them. Looking back on it I was always in it for the story line. The adventure had to be there and if you did not rope me in within the first five ten pages then that book was going back on the shelf. The past four years of high school have taught me something about finding a theme and larger lesson within a novel. I have learned that just simple stories read can have such a much larger meaning that it just blows people away.
Both of the articles that are linked above deal with literature and how we interpret it. Annie Murphy Paul brings up some great points about literature and how it has changed over time. I agree with her that more people are reading online rather than on the written page. She thinks that the way and what we read can affect our own views. I find it very interesting that a study found that young people who only read onscreen are two times less likely to be above average readers than those who read in print. This is a significant study because most people, including myself read more online than on paper.
Jacqueline has a passion for reading that I wish I had at a young age. This article helped me remember the time when I first began to read. I can remember my mom encouraging me to sound out the words just as her older sister did for her. Jacqueline said that every book is different. We can learn so much from every book we read and gain better knowledge.
In the first article by Annie Murphy Paul, I completely agree with the fact that deep reading is much more satisfying. However, for me when I read books for school I feel a pressure to read the book quicker than normal because I am a slow deep reader. I do enjoy reading very much however I often times find that I do not leave enough time for me to read completely. I also do not like to read on electronic devices. I do not do well with the backlight at all and find it harder to feel for the book. Also I see what she is saying when readers do not get very much out of the reading they do on the internet. Generally speaking when people read things on the internet they are formed to look attractive and hold minimal amounts of needed information. While as a book although the story may not be important either, the reader gets much more out of it. In short I would agree with everything that the Paul says, and I think it is neat for someone to say what I have been thinking.
In the second article by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, I like how she puts it, that books are different. Not all books are important to read, but it is important to read. I would agree that books stick with you, when I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, I was totally mesmerized. All I wanted to do was read it. Which is why it is my favorite book to this day. This article also reminded me of my parents, although they both earned college degrees. Both my parents love to read and it is no surprise to see my dad sitting in his chair reading a book with his reading glasses over his normal glasses because he doesn't want to get bifocals. It also reminds me of a time when my brothers and I would go the the library all the time to get books to read, I think that is where I fell in love with books and reading, unfortunately now I do not make enough time to read.
I am not quite sure what Gregory Currie was thinking but I am surprised that he did not consider literature to help improve us as people. With him being a philosophy professor, one would think that he would believe that literature would greatly improve us all together. I know that when I have time to read, or when I have a chance to read more, I feel much more focused on conversations and I feel as though I can give intelligent answers to questions. I learn words that I normally would not be used to and I learn how to use them in the correct context. Plus, if you keep seeing words over and over again, you are more likely going to spell them correctly in the future. I would strongly agree with Annie Murphy Paul that “‘deep reading’ is vigorous exercise from the brain and increases our real-life capacity for empathy.”
What Jacqueline Klemond said is true, literature is powerful. I know that I have gotten so engrossed in a book that I never want to put it down and once it is over, I get sad. There are some books where something happens and I have gasped out loud because I had know idea that so-and-so actually did such-and-such crime or some other type of plot twists. My family is just like Klemond’s. My dad is such an avid reader and when my mom gets into a book she does not stop. We have bookcase after bookcase of books that my dad has read and I have filled two bookcases myself. I agree with how Klemond described the type of books we read. I have read my fair share of “junk food” books that really have no meaning but they are so good! I have read books that are so well-written that you felt like you were apart of the story. Literature can take you to some crazy, far off places.
The love of literature starts at a young age. Jacqueline Palfy Klemond talks about this many times throughout the entire article that she wrote. Her love for literature started with her not knowing how to read a young age; her sister had to help her pronounce simple words in Dr. Seus books, like hop and pop. Kids who read at a young age tend to be more intelligent and opened minded with literature. They have a programed desire in their minds and their personalities to dig deeper into the lines that the author writes. For me, that connection with literature did not form as well as others. Yes, I like reading, but it is not my favorite thing to do when it is forced upon me. Having the privilege to watch young kids grow up is beyond rewarding. A family that I nanny for has three kids under the age of 4. Every night before those kids go to sleep, they sit down and read three books all together. That is one thing that those particular kids look forward to every day. A love for books and reading has already formed in their lives and they are not even old enough to read on their own yet. To me, that is truly amazing. It proves both Murphy Paul’s and Klemond’s main points. With the technological advances today, it is harder for kids and even adults to pick up a book and read it. Personally, reading off of bright screens is not nearly the same as reading from a printed book. It does not have the same feel or the same meaning. Actual books are way easier to dig into and bury yourself pages deep. A love for literature is needed in life for more people; not nearly enough people can connect with an author and their work or even pick up a book in general. Starting reading at a young age can change that dramatically and create a whole lot of good for the world.
Reading Literature Makes us Smarter and Nicer by Annie Murphy Paul was a very interesting article. It basically claims that there are two types of reading, one of which is called deeper reading. Deeper is just that, reading on a deeper level. The reader actually takes time and focuses on what is being written and gets really involved mentally with the story or passage. Printed text is usually associated with deeper reading. The other type of reading is reading that is superficial reading which is reading that is on the web and does really immerse the reader at all, it is more just plain text with distractions like hyperlinks and such which do not immerse the reader or keep the reader focused. Web articles are typically associated with superficial reading. I believe that we should keep teaching our younger generations to read deeper because when the reader reads deeper they become smarter and are able to interpret things better.
I thought that the 2nd article was very interesting as well. Elisha Page explains her deep love for books and does give me memories of when I use indulge time in reading. Reading is fun when you get into a habit of doing it. The only problem is it is easy to fall out of that habit if you are not doing it. Elisha almost motivated me to read more. I really don’t read for entertainment at all anymore. I only read books and passages that have been assigned to me. Elisha talks about how she even remembers certain locations where she has read certain books. Books hold a deeper meaning in her mind. Books are part of her life. These passages made me want to begin reading at a deeper level again and not just read things that I have to read for school.
After reading the blog (Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer). I have realized the older and more mature I got I have become more interested in reading. I was never a reader growing up I always felt like I was forced to read. Both articles are true and they're reality, more and more kids in the United States would rather not pick up a good book to read in their free time, they would rather pick up a remote and watch some reality TV show which is probably statistically dumbing up a lot of people (haha). Annie Paul stated in her article that the internet is the problem. She says that "people who read online text are three times less likey to enjoy reading very much."
The second article made me think back to the 7th grade when I would find a good sports book and I could not stop reading it. Gym Candy was the first book. Ever since then I never could get back into a book. After reading the part of the article where Jacquelin Palfy Klemond says "Every book serves a differnt purpose.", it reminded me that every book tells a different story, and every book can teach a life lesson. I believe that every non-fiction book is written for readers who like to get lost in another world and fiction written books are written for the reader who wants to gain more knowledge and is infatuated with becoming more intelligent
These readings were really cool and fun to read. One of the things that really spoke to me was the first reading. This reading talked mostly about how reading a regular book versus a computerized book may be better for deeper reading. I am one of those people that just cannot read a book on a screen. I get distracted by links, Facebook, text messages, apps, everything. Besides that, I have always just felt better reading a physical book that you hold in your hands and have to use a bookmark and I just always feel like I can read a lot longer and deeper when I am reading a real book. I think the line “A book’s lack of hyperlinks, for example, frees the reader from making decisions — Should I click on this link or not? — allowing her to remain fully immersed in the narrative” is really important because it perfectly describes how off track I get when reading an e-book. The second reading also really spoke to me as well because it speaks so solidly of what my house is like. As I look around my room, I have three bookshelves, two of which used to be two layers deep and books piled on top. The only reason they aren’t right now is because I cleaned and filled two large boxes with books to sell or give away, and already I have started to collect more books again. I really loved the idea of how some books are just for fun, books that you can just pick up super quick to read. I have a book that I’ve read nearly 6 times, but it’s short and can be mindlessly read in a day and a half, and is my go-to book when I’m bored and just want to read. Other books are books that you read because they are thought provoking and inspiring. I like to think a lot of the books we read in this class belong in this category.
I completely agree with Annie Murphy Paul from Time Magazine. She finally spoke about something that has always been in the back of people’s minds. The most impressive part of this article though was when she brought forth the evidence of why it is important to deep read and not just read articles. Her evidence was well put and made a lot of sense. It was also scary when she said that reading a book was becoming endangered. The frightening part of it was that I knew it was true. She also brought up the fact that children are not developing as they should because they are not being introduced to reading like we used to. I just wonder what it will be like 15 to 20 years from now when my children are in school.
Jacqueline Palfy Klemond is a terrific writer. Just from that one article I think reading a book of hers would be effortless. She was very humorous when talking about how she learned to read from her sister and when she talked about her kids. She seemed very relatable. She talked about Jodi Picoult at one point and I also have read her books so I know what she means when they are like potato chips. Picoult is an excellent writer and I really enjoy her work.
These two articles really allowed me to envision what the future generations will look like. There are going to be so many uneducated children because of lack of reading but there will also be kids like Klemond’s who enjoy and would not rather do anything else. I can only hope that the future will turn this horrible train of not reading around and start to enjoy the beauty of a book again.
The first article, “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” has made some interesting thoughts about the subject of reading literature. Though I have often thought, “Why do we read these certain books and who deemed them worthy of a read?” But I always did, just because I know there was some explanation out there to make me understand this phenomenon. The passage, “Although we call the activity by the same name, the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the Web are very different” makes me think more into the experience I get from both activities. Things I read on the web are much more sporadic and are not consistent. When you are reading literature, it is more of a time commitment, but you are working more of your brain because of your imagination. It is also interesting how humans weren’t meant to read. It is more of entertainment activity rather than primitive, which is interesting to consider.
The next article, “The power of literature will last through life” is also a interesting read. I have never considered myself an “avid” reader, but I do try to read at least a book every 3 months or so. I used to read a book a month, back in the earlier high school years. But I also did not have a PS3, so that is probably the issue now for my long episode of “reader’s block” (I should copyright that). Also it is hard finding the right book to read at that certain time. What I mean is that I feel like the moment and events in your life at that particular time, affects how you will read the book; such as certain reader’s lenses or emotions. But I do understand the infinite wisdom books give (like any John Green or Yann Martel book). #Blessed
As I began reading the first article from Time Magazine, I at first was very intrigued and then realized as I continued reading that the article related very much to me. I would have to say that I personally feel more cultured and open minded after experiencing different points of view from narrators who are very different from myself. Through novels, I have been able to experience the thoughts and feelings of characters who have been discriminated against based on their race or ethnicity, characters who have lived through horrible wars, and even characters who have mental illnesses. Each book offers an insight into the narrator’s mind and allows you to interpret and understand the story through a point of view you could not obtain on your own. I agree with the author of the article when they stated that the decline of “deep reading” is frightening. Without the use of deep reading and the reading of novels, generations to come will lack empathy and understanding. It is especially important to preserve this practice so generations ahead are able to read books of the past and comprehend historical points of view.
I thought that the author of the second novel had a fantastic way of classifying different types of books. I enjoyed her categories such as the potato chip books, the kind that you sort of devour and read for pleasure. This reminds me of the various book series I went through as a young reader in elementary school. Whether I was reading A Series of Unfortunate Events or The Clique books, I certainly plowed through those quickly, always anxious for the next book to be released. The author stated that she tended to lean toward dark books. I have to agree with that statement completely as these are the novels that capture most of my attention. Last year I read the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It was a book filled with one dark moment after the other but I could not bear to put down the book until I found out if everything was going to turn out okay. I feel that the dark books are also the kind with the most valuable life and cultural lessons. The dark books, although sad, help us gain a deeper emotional connection which strengthens our understanding.
I could read at a really early age. When I was in early childhood and elementary school (and, to an extent, in middle school), I read all the time. I loved reading. However, as I entered adolescence, I either had no time to read or found other things more interesting. Sometimes it was a combination of both. I never really got back into the habit of reading as much as I did when I was younger. A love of books is something gained at a young age, and for me the same was true, but some people like reading more than other people do; as I grew, I realized I was one of the latter.
I've never really heard of the concept of "deep reading" before. Upon researching it a bit more, it seems like a basic concept. As is true with most things in life, you only get out as much as you put in. It only makes sense that the same applies to reading.
Ripperda 7
There truly is nothing greater than a good book. In fact, it might be the greatest addiction known to mankind. We have all read a good book, the one that you refuse to put down unless absolutely forced to. Literature holds a special place in our society’s past, present, and future. Before the steep technological advancements we have seen in recent decades, a good book used to be the most common form of home entertainment. Now we concentrate our attention on sports, movies, and the internet. Is it possible though for movies and the internet to achieve the same deeper meaning as books can? I’d argue no. Because books are not limited by time, they can delve deeper into the small important details that movies leave out. They establish an emotional connection that is often a challenge for movies to do. Online articles can be fascinating, there are so many topics to read up on. Despite that though it seems as if they are lacking in true literature. I read more sports articles than you can imagine, I find them interesting. Yet I find that I can easily put reading them off by a day, the same can not be said for a good book. I think the role of literature is definitely in decline today and that is somewhat sad. I enjoy to read, but I don’t often. There are too many other things going on in life. I also think that the educational system does not always help promote reading by forcing students to read specific pieces that may not interest them at all. I found both of the articles very intriguing. I do believe that our modern day society needs a larger infusion of literature, it has been so vital to our species that we can not let it die off.
While reading the first article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” by Annie Murphy Paul, I was continuously thinking back on the times when reading was an enjoyable pastime for me. I remember when I was younger--grade school years, middle school, and even the beginning of high school-- and I enjoyed spending hours on end reading novel after novel, series after series. I read more often than I watched tv and I often stayed up late reading with a flashlight despite my parents’ best efforts to convince me to put the book down and give my eyes and brain a break. I believe that as I look back on my lessons I learned through the novels’ characters, I became a better, more responsive human to the emotions, feelings, and experiences of the people around me. Some of my favorite novels were those that were most emotionally engaged such as Just Listen by Sarah Dessen and the Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles. Both authors have an incredible way of drawing the reader into the characters’ world and “trapping” them until the end of the characters’ stories.
In “The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life” by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, I thought once again about my childhood which seemed so long ago. I thought about the times I spent walking to the library in the dead heat of the summer just to be able to find a new book then sit and read it for hours until I had to walk home again. I remember walking into the library and looking for books such as the Dear America series and the Camp Confidential series. Due to my love for history and hearing other people’s life stories, the Dear America series captivated me from the beginning. I still remember the unique fonts that were used to look like handwriting, the uneven pages to match the time period, the pictures of the girl who the story is about on the cover, and even the ribbon bookmark that was on every book of the series. Camp Confidential was a book series that enticed me due to it’s relatable stories of young teenagers at summer camp. I have been attending a summer camp since I was in fourth grade so the image of the camp in the series and its characters were oftentimes directly related to my personal experiences.
I agree with both of these articles when they say that literature is important and deep reading should not simply be replaced. Reading novels and learning to enjoy them is especially important to the growth of a young person’s intelligence. I believe that reinstating the reading periods or DEAR (drop everything and read) time would help to encourage students to begin reading again and learn to enjoy the pastime. I also believe that students should only be required to read one novel for literature that everyone must read but then be able to choose two or three others that interest them and then create reports, essays, or presentations that encourage their classmates to read the novel that they read and reported on.
Annie Paul's article about deep reading is very interesting and the study further supports the reading of literature and the many skills that can be acquired from it. I have heard of study's that suggests that reading novels, whether classic or not, heightens brain activities and often betters a students abilities in a classroom. I never really imagined how fiction can help with social interaction such as empathy. This skill is probably acquired because books do not always give full detail on environments and situations so it’s up to the reader to make connections with the book in order to find out what is happening. Today, it is normal for me to do almost all of my reading for the day online. Browsing websites and reading the news online leaves little time for written works such as novels. I think that it is important for schools to teach the wonders of reading because it helps not only in English class, but the better comprehension skills can help in just about any other class as well.
Klemond talks about her growing up as a girl and loving to read books and even in her adult life she does as well. She categorizes her books into ones just for entertainment and ones that teach and guide. It sounds like the books really immerse her into a world that sometimes she has never had the chance to live in such as the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I can definitely see the connection that she makes and I too enjoy being in a different character's shoes in a book. When I read I try to read for entertainment so I usually like to read books that include my interests. Books like fantasy and Sci-fi bring you to a new world that the author comes up with and making connections and being immersed in their world really brings a pleasant feeling when you read it.
I do agree that reading literature does make us smarter and nicer. Literature mixes information with entertainment to achieve a story to tell the audience morals or ideas. In the most recent research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience has demonstrated that deep reading--slow, immerse, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity--is a distinctive experience, different in kind from the mere decoding of words. Although deep reading does not, strictly speaking, require a conventional book, the built-in limits of the printed page are uniquely conducive to the deep reading experience. A book's lack of hyperlinks, for example, frees the reader from making decisions allowing her to remain fully immersed in the narrative. If you are exposed to literature at a young age, the higher are the chances that you will continue to use literature as an adult. The education of literature just causes for an understanding of literature from different perspectives and tries to teach students to think differently.
“Deep Reading” I think is something that is extremely underrated today, and not many people seem to know about it. It seems that among my peers when we read we take to reading online sources that really do not offer you the chance to engage in deep reading. Then for a lot of us when we do read an actual book it is for class, and with that comes due dates for reading parts of the book. With this I believe often times we find ourselves too caught up in reading for the due dates and getting done rather than taking time and immersing ourselves into the book. This is not good as taking your time will get the most out of the book for you, and it will exercise your brain the most. Reading for fun is a habit that I wish I still had. This habit would exercise my brain and keep me entertained. In addition literature in itself is very powerful. Many ideas can be brought out, by reading different books and finding inspirations. It also trains your brain on how to react in situations and to be more aware. I agree with the first link in where it says that deep reading can increase our capacity for empathy. As basically when we immerse ourselves into different books it is having us practice using our feelings, making us more comfortable with them. It is kind of saddening to me that online reading is taking over especially in the youth as compared to reading a book. It seems most online reading is just information that really doesn’t cause any sort of strive in the reader and often being filled with rather useless information. In conclusion deep reading does need to be preserved and reading for fun is something I hope to start practicing again, and others should too.
From reading these articles I've come to appreciate reading longer and more thought provoking books. I had been an avid reader throughout my entire life until this year. I, for the most part, had been reading most of my materials online but would like to switch back to reading from print. "Spiritual reading is a fun and relaxing time I too would advise most people to do. In the first link I agree that today's society and generation of children may have an empathy issue because of never deeply reading books. What also bothers me about today's generation of children is their lack of determination to really sit down and read a book. I hate hearing about someone skimming through a book just to finish it. They are not getting anything out of that. By sitting there and actually reading a book, using the brain to create images, ideas, and other concepts is healthy for and individual. I do somewhat have one digression, E-books. I actually think E-books are a great way for today's youth to obtain that connection that is vital with books. Children will always be drawn towards technology so why not bring books into the tech world. Klemmonds article about how she read books as a little girl reminded me of my childhood and also reminded me that we need to read as a society for our brains health.
I found the article from the Times to be very interesting. I agree with it that I can definitely see a in empathy levels with people who tend to read more. I also found it interesting by the impact of how exactly a child (or anyone really) reads changes their outlook on reading. The children who read more printed books rather than online books had a tendency to enjoy reading and even have a favorite book more often than those who read stories online. I guess having a book to actually hold in your hand, flip the pages, and without the distractions can really help when you’re trying to immerse yourself in a story.
The article from the Argus Leader struck home to me. I have always had a love for reading, I remember coming home from school when I was young with the simple, five page, stapled together books the teachers would give us in order for us to learn the printed language. I remember how excited I was the day my mom took me to the library for me to get my first library card. Often more than once a week I would get on my bike and ride to the library and come home with plastic bags full of stories. It didn’t matter what the stories were about, as long as I was able to find time to read them I was happy. In elementary school, I was reading up to three different books at a time, I could not get enough of them, and in middle school I was reading well over 100 pages a day on my good days, the ones where I could find time in my schedule to relax. So in case it isn't obvious enough, reading is ridiculously important to me, and it pains me to admit that over the course of this school year I have not found the time to read one single book for enjoyment, I've just been on a crazy schedule. This article helped remind me of how important books are for me though and I hope that I can get back to them soon.
Reading is not something that you see todays society doing very often, and if you do it is rarley for fun. In the article, “Reading and Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”, by Annie Murphy Paul, it talks about something called Deep Reading. Deep Reading is the process of thoughtful and deliberate reading carried out to enhance comprehension and enjoyment of a book or a text. Now these days, people read because they have to. Either it is for an assignment, or for show to present yourself as being smart and somewhat intellectual. Those who do read for that purpose skim and skip over the pages that could be very valuable to the text given. Most people now do not find enjoyment in science fiction or mysteries, but in Cosmopolitan and People magazines. The real world problems and drama have taken over the make believe worlds we had in our minds as children when we read. The author also argued that people who often read fiction appear to be better at understanding other people. I found it interesting that this point was brought up, but it is a true statement. The more we put in our head from reading, whether that be non-fiction or fiction, the more we can comprehend. I do believe that the more we read, the smarter we are to become.
The article,”The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life”, mainly talks about the authors life with books, and how important they were and still are important in her life. Jacqueline Palfy Klemond says that it was her sister that first helped her read. She started off with Dr. Suess books, and went on from there. Ever since then she has been an avid reader, and now reads to her children. She talks about how she can read books that are more intellectual, but she can also read her favorite books that are more like a treat to her. It is important that everyone has a more advanced book to read, but also one that keeps coming back into your lap because you enjoy it so much.
These two articles, Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer by Annie Murphy Paul and The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life by Jacqueline Pafly Kelmond, involve the importance of reading and helped to open my eyes to these importances that literature brings forth. These two have similar yet different takes on literature, these being the emotional side and the more scientific side to it. In the article Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer, a study was conducted to see how fiction helped people react to others around them. “Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, reported in studies published in 2006 and 2009 that individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective” this shows that fiction only increases people’s ability to relate with other people. The other article, The Power of Literature Will Last Through Life has the more emotional take on it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing that I put the work into learning to read. According to Jacqueline Pafly Kelmond, there are different types of books, categorized in a way other than the simple genre. There are “potato-chip books” where people read them solely for entertainment. Then there are the well-written books where the readers almost do not want to finish the book because of how it makes them feel. These seem to be the category where people create emotional bonds to the stories and characters within. Books have the power to bring up memories of the past, whether good or bad. They speak to us in a way that very little other things can do. Books have the ability to bring the reader to another dimension, and the memory of this will stay with the reader for the rest of their life.
“Reading Literature”
This article seeks to restore the bond that paper-based literature has had with people since the Gutenberg printing press. The author of the article claims that literature leads to an increased level in empathy in readers, especially those readers who tend to read fiction. According to psychologists (a science that I have little faith in), reading fiction can help someone understand the emotions of others. These same psychologists say that reading literature to children can help them do the same.
The author goes on to explain the idea of deep reading-- reading a story for what is not explicit, but is still there. The author states that the practice of deep reading is dying, without much evidence for it. The author later justifies this claim by stating that children are more likely to read from a computer screen than a book.
The author spends some time discussing the benefits of that dying art, deep reading. The author states that deep reading is neurologically different from normal reading, and that this deep reading can lead to a near hypnotic state for the reader, leading to some new type of pleasure.
Its hard for me to like this article, mainly due to my bias, but it does not seem to be very well delivered. Perhaps the author should learn how to argue, I hear there are books that can teach you how.
“The Power of Literature”
This article is not as egregious as the other. It starts with a story; the author learned to read at a young age (three) and is from an unusual family. The author spends parts of the article describing the virtues of some stories, and other parts mentioning series that she had read in the past. The author’s point is simple: reading can be fun, and you should read too.
I have to agree with Jacqueline Palfy Klemond that some books are considered “potato chips” because all they have is a story. However, there are other books that have a story that invoke thinking, and have a meaning. I believe that this changes from person to person; a book I consider to be junk food could hold a lot of meaning for another person, and similarly if the roles were switched. I also liked how she was impacted by those around her, in regards to what she reads; she was given books by others to read throughout the whole reading. I usually pick out my own books to read, however, I read some amazing books this year due to the class. I would never have read One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest or Life of Pi, had I not taken the class. I would consider both of these books to be far from junk food, even though they are enjoyable reads. Not only have I been impacted by the class, but if my sister had not had a friend recommend Atlas Shrugged to me, I would have never read The Fountainhead, which is probably my favorite book at this time.
I find it interesting that Annie Paul states that reading fiction can allow us to connect to other people, we can empathize with them easily. I would think this is due to the fact that more situations can be brought up in a fictional story that can connect to a wide variety of audiences. Even if the reader has never gone through the same situation, they will not be able to understand someone who has. I believe fictional reading also requires more of a cognitive thinking than non-fiction stories. The fictional reading forces the reader to create a mental image of what is occurring in the story, and what I see may be a little different from someone else. Annie brings up a good point that there are not as many distractions when reading a physical book, in comparison to reading something on the internet. Not only are there hyperlinks that Annie brings up, but I often find myself not reading as in depth on the internet; I skim the page to get the gist of it unless I find it interesting. I never really thought of reading being a trance like state, but I suppose it makes sense considering the amount of attention it requires. Overall, I do agree that a physical book is much more satisfying than reading on the internet.
Reading literature...
I agree whole heartedly with this article. Reading on a screen and reading off of a tangible rectangle of paper, glue and ink are completely different in their mental stimulation and their satisfaction. I find much more pleasure in reading a physical book then reading off of the internet. With the internet, I'm more tempted to stray away from what I'm reading; to lose my train of though and venture through cyberspace and to pinterest or twitter. While I'm reading a real book, I almost find myself lost in it's story, pages and characters. I often feel as though I am in their situation and if the writer is good enough, I'll feel their emotions as well. Also, reading off of a screen for hours really takes a toll on your eyes, too much brightness.
Also, I fully agree with the statement referring to trance like states. I think that when we read from paper we become more enthralled because we're able to avoid distractions. Cell phones and televisions would be the only real distractions I would be able to think of.
Favorite books (Argus Article)
Awesome article I think. I whole heartedly agree with her when she references how books can take you back in time to what your life was like when you read them. When I think about things I read last year, I think about the boyfriend I had then, the friends I hung out with and the feelings that were running through my head and influencing my interpretation of the novels. When I think about the magic treehouse books, I remember sitting in my 3rd grade classroom during recess reading to myself in the corner while the other children played. I didn't have many friends at the time and my mother wasn't around much, so I took up reading the highest level books that I could. I finished the Harry Potter series that year as a 3rd grader, I felt smart and accomplished. I was probably the most academically confident then.
I love how she describes her house as having books strewn everywhere. I love reading and I too have novels across my room, next to my bed, on shelves, in drawers and on chairs. However I think that sharing a great novel is more important and satisfying then keeping it on a shelf to become dusty and sad.
The first link, written by Annie Murphy Paul, hit me very hard. Growing up in such a fast-advancing time sometimes comes as a shock to us. We are used to having the capabilities to search any little thing up on the internet, and receive fast results. Annie Murphy Paul’s point is that in such a thriving era, we tend to not focus and think about what we are reading like we used to. “A book’s lack of hyperlinks, for example, frees the reader from making decisions” made me realize that even as I read this, there were over fifty hyperlinks on this very document. I agree with Annie Murphy Paul: while going online is a great source of information and literature, reverting back to books may be less distracting and more educational.
The second link, by Jacqueline Palfy Klemond, reminded me of the importance to read more than one type of book. Reading something very easy to pick up, get interested, and put down is simply not enough. These “potato chip” books, as she calls them, are very easy to get hooked on, but do not fulfill the ideas of other books. For example, “The Hunger Games” and “The Shadow Children” are two very different types of books. Both are very easy to pick up, yet they have insanely different contrasting depths and meanings within them. To me, both of these books made a huge impact on me, because they both involved a revolution, yet came from a huger perspective. The more I read, and the more that other people read, the more we learn, experience, and understand about the world around us. Being able to form a relationship with more than one author, and pulling more from different genres of books can create a new, enlightened being, and I think this is crucially important.
Reading was a massive part of my childhood and while other kids were hanging out with friends I was embarking in an adventure in my head. After reading these articles, I have no doubt that they are completely true and that “spiritual reading,” is not only good for the soul but the mind. It makes sense that others dislike reading considering they have never had a spiritual reading experience, and instead they have only done “carnal reading.” When reading a powerful book, the reader is able to literally feel a connection with the characters in the book and it gives the reader the ability to learn the lessons that the characters learn in the book. Authors can then easily teach the themes to their readers, making them better people. Additionally, reading fiction forces the reader to look at things from another persons (the characters’) point of view. I found it interesting when reading the articles to discover that there is a difference between deep reading such as when reading a novel and superficial reading as done on the web. Maybe too much screen time really is a bad thing for humans. Another problem with screens versus pages is that there are constant distractions for the reader such as promotions and hyperlinks that force the reader to make decisions and distracts them from the point of the articles. In Jacqueline Klemond’s article I was also able to relate to the fact that a love for reading is often instilled in an individual when they are very young. The series of books that made me fall in love with reading were "The Magic Tree House books." Then I slowly progressed to more advanced books with winding, twisty plots that made me think hard to decipher them. Books can be like puzzles in the way that they surprise you and are extremely satisfying when you discover a truth about the plot.
Jeremiah Burkman P2
Reading these articles reactivates part of my mind. Annie Paul’s article expertly explains why reading a book does wonders. Paul provides us with data and knowledge that before could not be explained as easily. It would seem very biased to say reading a physical book will make a child more able to succeed more. The research conducted with the younger kids proves it though. The main part of the article that really geared my interest was when Paul started talking about “deeper reading.” Being a high schooler now, reading seems more like a job than an enjoyment. I say this because I am guilty. Guilty of not reading a good hardcover book every once in a while like I did back in elementary school or middle school. Paul talked about having a favorite book. As soon as I read that, I flashed back into my mind, remembering my first book club. If I remember correctly, I was in fourth grade. One novel in particular grabbed my attention. I cannot remember the exact novel, but it was part of the Charlie Bone series. I continued to read from that series and I still remember parts of the novels today. Remembering the book club makes me want to sit down, find a book, and read for hours on end. I miss the days which I would get home from school and read. I also like the findings that reading fiction can help children be more acceptive of others’ ideas. I think it is a fascinating finding because I believe it to be true.
Jacqueline Klemond talked about potato chips, yum. She was not talking about an actual potato chip though. I appreciate her metaphor. Some books are potato chips. The type of books you really enjoy while you are reading them but they don’t stick with you after you are done. The Hunger Games novels would be my potato chips. I loved them while reading them, but now they do not seem as special as they were while reading.
These articles discuss the impact of literature and I have to say I fully agree. According to the TIME article, reading is a slow, immersive task, and reading online or on a screen is not quite the same. I have noticed this myself; I find it much more difficult to focus when reading online and feel that I don’t get pulled in to the story quite as much. I don’t even like to read on e-readers like Nooks and Kindles. Growing up, I read all the time, since I wasn’t allowed to watch television. I developed a love and passion for books and fully understand immersing yourself in a story. My brothers and I were so bad about it that if we were reading a good book nothing could rouse us from it; we were utterly and entirely focused. The Argus Leader article talked about every book serving a different purpose; some are merely to entertain, others make a point, and some are so well-written that you want to live between the covers. The latter some may not understand, especially if they haven’t developed a love for reading. The first book that really pulled me in and made me want to live in the story world was Inkheart, and the later novels continued to have the same effect on me. I loved those books, read them continuously, starting from the beginning immediately after finishing, and I wished with all of my heart that I could be pulled into the pages and live in the world painted by words. Literature truly does have power; it can affect your emotions, mood, attitude, and opinion. Some books will make you cry; others will make you laugh at loud (and subsequently receive some strange looks if reading in public). Some books will give you the creeps, while others will make you feel safe and comforted. Regardless, books have power, and I wish everyone could feel their strength.
In the first article, the author talks about the differences between deep reading and the skimming that people in society seem to do constantly. I personally agree that in some ways, we do not do enough deep reading. I personally enjoy reading quite a bit if I enjoy the story the author is trying to tell. The author also mentions that when a person is deep reading, their pace actually slows, and they go into a sort of hypnotic trance. The next section explains that deep reading is not what many young people are doing. I personally feel that this is, unfortunately, true. Many of my peers only read the books they are assigned for their English class, and they want to finish those books or pieces as quickly as possible. Deep reading is not something that is important to them. We are a visual society, which is easier for the brain. Working at deep reading to have the imagery play out in a readers mind is much harder to do than to read something with pictures or to watch a movie based on a certain novel. I personally find it more rewarding to read something and become so immersed by a novel that I can almost see it playing as a movie in my mind’s eye.
The second article explains a woman’s love of reading. She switches back and forth between talking about books she read within the last ten years or so and books she read when she was young. The thing that ties each together is how much she loved each book or how much each book changed her. I believe that it does not matter how old a person is, they can be emotionally affected or completely changed by a piece of literature. Whether it opens their eyes to a new frame of mind, or even just makes them laugh or cry. Reading a book is like experiencing someone else’s life story.
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