Literacy Debate : Online, R U Really Reading?

In the passionate article, “Digital addictions mean we can't read books anymore. And that's a problem” by the opinionated Jim Sollisch, the author convincingly argues digital distractions seem to take over our world and the simple pleasures like reading are forgotten and that is a severe problem with broad repercussions. Sollisch effectively and competently builds the argument by using a variety of persuasive and argumentative rhetorical techniques including but not limited to facts and studies, tone, and the use of a personal anecdote.

The clear cut definition of literacy is the ability to read and write, pretty simple. The more elaborate definition of literacy, though, is being able to read, write, and comprehend what is being read or written. People apply it to everyday life such as reading a book for school to reading a menu at a restaurant. Throughout

As I think what literacy means to me, the most important thought that comes to mind is my understanding of it: the ability to read and write, I feel that without the ability to read and write, mankind is unable to properly function because there is no foundation for adequate communication. So literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Everyone has some moment which have the potential to influence the craft of understanding that directly has the undying impression for the lifetime. As for learning process which comprises the reading and writing aspect, there comes events that helps people to grasp the authenticity of learning which turn out to be moments of learning for some people in a very inspiring and motivating manner. In this essay I will talk about my literacy history and how it has been developed throughout portions of my life.

Since a child going up, literacy was not my strong suit. Literacy throughout my life seem not to cope with me. Later as I grew up, literacy meant to me that it is one’s ability to read, write, and speak. More importantly there is a more meaning of literacy, meaning that not only writing, reading, and speaking, but able to understand, analyze, and communicate with other peoples’ ideas. Soon enough literacy has made an impact on my life, it has been and will be a lifelong process. Literacy will always be with me, starting from my past and ending in my future.

I define literacy as being able to express my thoughts and emotions. I know everyone has different opinions and emotions. Therefore, everyone will write differently and read in a different pace. Also, everyone likes different types of books, for example fiction or nonfiction. As a result, everyone’s literacy journey is unique. Everyone has a different definition when it comes to literacy which is what makes it special. Some prefer to read and others prefer to write. It all depends on personal preference.

“Literacy debate, Online, R U Really Reading? ”by Motoko Rich argues that the online reading skill will change the brain’s circuity, give you the main point you need to read, and help the student learning in better way. Rich using comparing and contrasting between reading online and reading of books. Rich tells us that more people would reading online instead reading in book because “you have to go through a lot of details that aren’t need in the book, but online reading give you what you need, nothing more or less.” He also describes that “online reading help children fare better when they begin looking for digital-age jobs.” Which it helps them to success in the future. Rich also argued that some student using computer at home, they would

The internet is a world wide web connection that unfolds endless possibilities to the users. The internet has many perks including the improvement of children abilities to read. From reading the article, “Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?” by Motoko Rich, I believe that the internet opens up a wide variety of opportunities to readers around the world and is an essential tool in this generation. The internet does no harm when it comes to getting kids to improve their ability to read. In the article by Rich, Carol Jago states “Nobody has taught a single kid to text message…. Kids are smart. When they want to do something, schools don’t have to get involved” (5). Today’s kids show a wide variety of reading comprehension and proves kids

After reading the article “Literacy Debate: Online, R U really reading?” by Motoko Rich, I believe that the internet is very beneficial in many ways but I also believe reading books is important at certain times. As being a teenager the internet has become a far better source when it comes to research. The internet is very quick on answers unlike books where you have to flip through pages for an answer to a simple question. Now why would someone choose to do more when they can do less with a simple click of a button? The internet is very useful; without the internet we wouldn’t have been able to have the opportunity to have this discussion here. On the contrary, the internet might be much faster with information but it is not always reliable.

Communication on the Internet is often quite informal. It can appear to be in an entirely different language at times. This is because writing on the Internet is often done by amateurs with little to no revision and no requirements to get published. Getting an idea out as fast as possible is frequently the goal of these Web writers, which can result in failure to correctly apply the basics of writing, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The essay “Literacy Debate: Online R U Really Reading?” by Motoko Rich is about whether or not reading on the Internet is as effective for today’s youth as reading books. Rich employs specific word choice as well as misleading statistics and quotations to show her opinion on Internet literacy without directly stating her thoughts.

In the essay “What’s the Matter With Kids Today?,” Amy Goldwasser argues that reading and writing text online is the same, or not very different, from reading or writing text on physical paper. This premise is simply not true. Comparing reading a physical book and reading on an E-Reader or on the Internet suggests that they use the same cognitive functions. The lighting on the computer changes the cognitive focus of the brain, as well as brain activation, reading speed, comprehension, and the contextual enviornment of the source material1.

Carr’s premise is that the Web is interfering with our ability to focus on lengthy material. On the contrary, the internet is actually aiding our ability to focus on reading. This holds true for younger children, who are known as the digital natives in our generation. In a research conducted by The National Center for Education shows that “by altering the mode of reading material from traditional paper-based reading to online reading,” the interest of elementary school children increased (Wright 367). Because children of the 21st century are surrounded by technology, they are more likely to gear towards digital media for their mode of learning. Contrary to Carr’s view that the internet “is chipping away [the] capacity for concentration and contemplation,” these children are more likely to read and focus as a result of

Literacy embraces reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Integrating all of these into a literacy program is key. Teachers must provide endless and ongoing opportunities for their student to read, write, listen, and speak.

According to Olson, being literate can mean the ability to participate in a community of readers that have agreed on some principles of reading and some interpretations of texts. In the current trend of digital reading, the concept of being literate must considerably extend its meaning. Modern literacy appears to be dramatically demanding: we must be armed not only with the skills of reading and understanding the text, but we also need to be digitally literate (knowing how to use and handle devices) and more importantly, have critical abilities that would help us to establish a connection between literacy and thought. Unfortunately, the development of such qualities seems to be neglected in many

To myself, the definition of literacy is having the ability and means to read and/or write. Although this seems as though it is a stereotypical and common definition, I have found during the course of my life that this definition holds to be true to my personal being. When I was younger, I used to think literacy was simply the literacy book that we read out of during English class. The more that I grew, the more I realized that literacy was having the ability to read the book- not the book itself. While in junior high, my English course was referred to as a literacy course. During this course, we learned on what basis literacy forms. The teacher explained that literacy is not the words on the page; literacy is having the means of reading the words, and having the ability to comprehend what exactly it is that we were reading. Though this seems similar to cultural literacy, it is actually quite different. Cultural literacy is having the ability to comprehend and participate fluently in a particular culture, whereas literacy is just having the ability and means to read and/or write in general.

Now days with the rise of digital technology many physical items such as pen and paper are slowly being replaced by computers and smart phones. But is this really a good thing? I read books and of course so do many other people in this class and around the globe. But since the creation of ‘e-readers’ more and more people have been converting to the technology based side of reading. Although technology is slowly becoming more predominant in this era we should not rely on it to always entertain and keep us occupied.