Welcome to English 1010! This blog is the place to find links to
articles, post discussion questions about the articles, and respond to
others' discussion questions.
Here is a link to the
first reading, due Friday, August 31st. Remember to bring a hard copy
or electronic copy to class, be prepared to discuss it and answer
questions about it in class, and then post a question or comment about
it on the blog. Email me at emilywhitby1@weber.edu if you have any
trouble accessing the article.
Caleb Crain, "Twilight of the Books"
What did everyone in the class think about the fact that reading is declining? Is this a problem?
ReplyDeleteEmily W.
The article only talked about reading declining specifically when it comes to read a novel, a short story, a poem, or a play and talked very little about the nations ability to read declining except by 1 point or 2 percent. I personally read thousands of words on a daily basis just though other ways: text, face book, other sites on the internet, and even video gaming. So long as the ability to read doesn't decrease, I think that there ins't anything to worry about.
DeleteI think the decline of reading for fun is a scary thought. While people may read otherwise, it almost seems like these days many people read because they have to. For instance reading textbooks for school or information required for a job. It just seems to me that when we stop reading as a hobby our creativity will equally diminish.
DeleteJeremy B.
After reading all of the percentages and the history of Reading and also the inclinations and declinations, I found it quite interesting in the modern world that we are so easily interested by the media. Reading requires more thought, imagination, comprehension etc...which so many of us don't like to do. I can see it as a problem if we do not consider the necessity of reading and its advantages.
DeleteNelson M.
I think the decline in reading is a bad thing. We are losing that creativity that comes with reading. We like it too easy now, with tv we doing have to think about the way the author want the world it is just given to us.
DeleteJacob G.
I don't think this is much of a problem. Reading, for most people, is just a choice. When people need to read, they do. When people don't need to read, most don't apperantly. Reading isn't essential like food or water. People just have better things to do these days I guess.
DeleteJason O.
I feel that it is becoming a problem. At the end of the article it mentioned that readers are more likely to be involved in things and also vote. Reading can give you confidence and the ability to want to act upon feelings that may have impacted you. It may not be an alarming problem, but still is an important factor in the imganation of readers and how one may interact with the world.
DeleteMorgan W.
I don't think that it is a problem because I don't personally think that they have enough evidence to show that reading is declining as much as they say it is. The only way to know for sure is to ask everybody in America if they are reading or not. Because if they only ask a certain amount of people they might end up asking those who never really read in the first place and they won't ask the people who are still reading.
DeleteBrian A.
I think the Crain is why to concerned about this. If you look at the way things are today most people read things off the internet and most of the reviews online are written. I think if kids today where give a survey it would put this article to rest.
DeleteDavid B
Human brains are programmed to do things for gratification. Often times this gratification is found in communication with other humans. For example, people tell each other about their success in order to receive praise. In our reading it said “To read is to receive a communication with another way of thinking, all the while remaining alone, that is, while continuing to enjoy the intellectual power that one has in solitude and that conversation dissipates immediately.” Reading use to be a way for people to receive an immediate gratification that didn’t have to involve talking to other people. As years have gone by, people are becoming more and more anti-social. So I was wondering why, if people are becoming more anti-social, reading is decreasing in our society so much…Well, I think I figured it out. Modern technology allows us to receive immediate gratification in other ways. These include Facebook, twitter, texting, etc. The new technology that our society is becoming addicted to is replacing face to face communication as well as reading. Also, because the adult world has become overrun by our new technology, efforts to read to children are diminishing. Like it said in the reading, most parents don’t introduce reading to their children simply due to the fact that they don’t like reading either. I think that our society will continue down this path. If our children aren’t learning to love reading, then what will their children be like? I personally think that reading is about to become a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that technology is taking over reading, but at the same time with technology comes the greater ease in which we can get novels, newspapers etc. On a kindle or similar device, you can have a book in five minutes rather than running to the store and buying the hardcopy for twice as much as an eBook.
DeleteI definitely agree with both of you especially when it comes to the way that technology has influenced our reading. This article seemed to only complain about "hard copies" not being read..so yes i agree more with Sydney's opinion about kindle and other electronic reading devices. It shouldn't matter how we choose to read something as long as we're reading...right?? Also the article focused in on mostly novels, poems, and short stories, but what about magazines, social media or blogs? People will only want to read what they find interesting. i feel that if this article wanted better percentages on the amount of time people spend reading, they should have included those things as well.
DeleteJenee Gooden
how many people in our english class like to read?
ReplyDeleteI personally like to read. It's not my favorite thing to do, but I do do it. My favorite kind of novel is murder mystery. It allows me to try and figure out who killed who before they give out all the details.
DeleteMaryAnn Dansie
I enjoy reading as long as whatever i'm reading is interesting enough to keep my attention.
DeleteI really enjoy reading for fun. I like it because when I really get into a book I feel like I am there, then it's almost like i'm just along for the ride.
DeleteJeremy B.
What benefits are there for reading according to the text we just read?
DeleteI really like to read, but i have a hard time finding books that i actually enjoy reading. If anyone knows any good books let me know!
DeleteTaylor M.
I've never liked reading very much because I don't like to sit still long enough to actually read the book.
DeleteBrian A.
I like to read here and there vs. watching TV or being sucked into technologies because reading forces me to use my imagination and keep it working. I guess for me its like a car, if you let the car sit and don't drive it you'll have some problems with it. I guess what I'm saying is that I like reading to exercise and manage my imagination.
DeleteJ. Cooper
I love reading!! But it is so hard to find the spare time to sit down and enjoy a good book these days. I mean, sure, we can all find at least 10 minutes or so easily, but in 10 minutes you can't fully enjoy what you're reading. Our lives are changing, and we have to adjust to that.
DeleteJoanna M.
I enjoy reading if the book is one that I really can get into to. I can relax and just be away from everything that went on during my day.
DeleteMorgan W
I only enjoy reading something that interest me. If i start reading something and does not seems interesting i just stop because then i wont know what i was reading.
DeleteI enjoy reading a book that pulls me in and can make me get all excited or even sad. I don't like "textbooks."
DeleteNataly S.
I enjoy reading but I have a hard time finding books to my interest. Although, when I do find a good book I'm hooked for hours reading!
DeleteKatherine B.
The author of the article didn't take into consideration, or chose not to mention,that our system is rapidly changing and we must change with it in order to function well in society. Along with basic changes, we no longer have time to just sit and read, especially with people working multiple jobs.
ReplyDelete-Joanna M.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree that our world is modernizing. It could be good it could be bad but we don't know the consequences that will follow yet. Maybe people will have more advanced ways of communicating or maybe our social skills will turn to mush. We started out memorizing long poems and myths and turned to literature which took away some of our intrinsic motivation, and then we added the television which takes no effort on our part to sit and watch and absorb. It could be a good thing or it could be bad but we won't know until the future... don't panic yet!
DeleteAlyssa H
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI just read "The Neuroscience of Your Brain on Fiction". I did not realize how complicated our brains really are! Just the thought of our brain actually sensing the things we are simply reading blows my mind. Im not sure if I can believe it yet...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed "The Neuroscience of You Brain on Fiction". The research referred to in this article is so complex and amazing to think that our brains can do what it does. It is interesting that reading fiction can actually beter a person and they way we undestand people and the world.
ReplyDeleteMorgan W.
What books did you guys compare for your first reading response?
ReplyDeleteTaylor M.
I compared the "The Neuroscience of Your Brain on Fiction" and a few of the articles from "The Power of Young Adult Fiction", specifically the article by Joel Stein because it was really easy to argue against his comments with all the facts on the power young adult fiction has on your brain development.
DeleteI compared "Twilight of the Books" and "Your Brain On Fiction." In the article "Twilight of the Books," Caleb Crain presents both sides of the argument very well.
DeleteJacob P.
I compared "Twilight of the Books" and "Your Brain on Fiction"as well! :) although my 1st reading response focus article was "Your Brain on Fiction." I thought both explained and argued their points very well, but they used different tones which effected my opinion of the articles a lot.
DeleteJoanna M.
I compared "Audults should read Audult Books" and "Authors Taking Ristks Isnt Kid Stuff". They were both kind of complete opposites so it was a challenge to compare them.
ReplyDelete