English 4 Literature Paper
Alexandra Hotetz
Mr. Matsalia
English 4/ Period 7
8-20-14
Is Literature Useful in My Life? Literature has been an element of school reading throughout my entire education. I have never given a great deal of thought to the question, is it useful? Although I don’t always enjoy the material we are asked to read, it seems logical for it to be a part of our curriculum. I believe literature is useful in classrooms more than it is not of use. In my opinion, I think students should be exposed to diverse writing styles, be challenged with literature, and expand their knowledge as well as their comprehension. I agree with the majority of the points author Annie Murphy Paul makes in her article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”. She states “the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the web are very different, both in the experience they produce and in the capabilities they develop”. There has been recent research completed to prove that “deep reading- slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity- is a distinctive experience, different in kind from the mere decoding of words”. Annie Murphy Paul also states “Although deep reading does not, strictly speaking, require a conventional book, the built-in limits of the printed page are uniquely conductive to the deep reading experience.” I find this statement to be incredibly true as it is easier to absorb what you are reading off of a real page rather than a digital device. The feeling of turning that next page to discover what happens next becomes less magical when it is digital. Experiencing nervousness or excitement as you see yourself coming to the last few pages of your book becomes so dull when instead you just flick your screen to the next page. The truth is, real printed books will not fail you or die on you; they are always there to inspire and create imagination.
On the other hand, I have to agree with Natasha Vargas-Cooper in her article “Why
Mr. Matsalia
English 4/ Period 7
8-20-14
Is Literature Useful in My Life? Literature has been an element of school reading throughout my entire education. I have never given a great deal of thought to the question, is it useful? Although I don’t always enjoy the material we are asked to read, it seems logical for it to be a part of our curriculum. I believe literature is useful in classrooms more than it is not of use. In my opinion, I think students should be exposed to diverse writing styles, be challenged with literature, and expand their knowledge as well as their comprehension. I agree with the majority of the points author Annie Murphy Paul makes in her article “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer”. She states “the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the web are very different, both in the experience they produce and in the capabilities they develop”. There has been recent research completed to prove that “deep reading- slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity- is a distinctive experience, different in kind from the mere decoding of words”. Annie Murphy Paul also states “Although deep reading does not, strictly speaking, require a conventional book, the built-in limits of the printed page are uniquely conductive to the deep reading experience.” I find this statement to be incredibly true as it is easier to absorb what you are reading off of a real page rather than a digital device. The feeling of turning that next page to discover what happens next becomes less magical when it is digital. Experiencing nervousness or excitement as you see yourself coming to the last few pages of your book becomes so dull when instead you just flick your screen to the next page. The truth is, real printed books will not fail you or die on you; they are always there to inspire and create imagination.
On the other hand, I have to agree with Natasha Vargas-Cooper in her article “Why