Due November 16, 2015 | hussibhoa

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“Hunter Huss IB Readings”

November 9, 2015 Due November 16, 2015

Reading is important on many levels, but MOST of our students are not reading at all. Read the following articles (although many of you wont), then post the answers to: Why do you dislike reading? What do you find hard about reading? Give THREE reasons reading is important.

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Permalink # taylorwilson293 said

I wouldn’t say that I completely dislike reading; however, I would say that I dislike reading because I am a busy body. I have to be doing something almost constantly. I am more of a math person, because I like to have my mind constantly changing directions to find what the answer is; however, when I read the only function that my mind changes is I go from reading words that I am not really focused on to being in the state of sleep. I don’t find reading hard. It is more like an undesirable task to complete, but when I am asked to complete it, then I do. I just don’t choose to read in my free time. I would rather be making coffee, calculating payments and measurements for a mold piece at a machine shop, or hunting. It often takes me half the book to get interested, because that’s normally when the interesting part begins. I find reading very important and value it to be a necessity to our daily lives. Reading is one of the only ways we can truly learn correctly. As I said above, I don’t fully dislike reading. I would say I like the part of reading that I have after the reading is accomplished. I almost always enjoy the outcome of a book. Rather if it is reading for a psychology or history quiz, reading for “fun”, or reading Mrs.Baskett’s questions, there is always a good outcome. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stated on the GlobalPost that “Reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life” (http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/importance-reading-skills-14778.html). I definitely prefer reading a novel more than a fictional book like my IB Psychology book which contains so many details that my mind feels like it has grew twice the size it was before I began reading. I normally don’t read novels, because I am so focused on my school work, but when I do it is often either a romance novel with a tragic background. I often like reading novels that have a depressing background, because I definitely agree with the scientific findings that “…reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic…’forces you as a reader to contribute your own interpretations, to reconstruct the mind of the character’” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). I believe reading novels do make us more empathetic, because they often describe the feelings of those in the book going through a certain situation. When we run into this within our culture, it creates an easier understanding of what they could have went through or how to treat them. Novels allow the reader to process what they think the author may be saying, rather than always stating straight out the facts. One part of reading that I enjoy, after reading half way through the book is exactly what the first article stated when it said, “Powerful novels demand that we slow down and process how we are creating and destroying our lives” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). This definitely describes how reading should affect us as it digs deep into who we truly are at the core to show us where we might be going wrong in our life and to give us a new perspective of our life in general. After reading, we are also given a better understanding of not only our own life but the lives of those who are around us. Reading often helps culture be created amongst each other. Imagination is key to learning, and is grown by reading as stated as well in the first article as they say, “Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity…” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). If we never connect with our imagination, our life will be dull because we make it dull. Imagination includes enjoying imagery, because imagery allows us to view beyond the words on a page. This type of imagination is represented by the second article when it states, “…by creating a mental representation that draws on the same brain regions that would be active if the scene were unfolding in real life” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). Reading is specifically valuable to our imagination so that we can truly see the scene in front of our eyes. I also feel that reading a book that is physically in front of you is way better than reading it on the internet. Personally, I can’t read anything off the internet and fully comprehend it, that’s why I often print off the websites that are assigned to read. I drift into doing different things if I rely on reading off of the internet. This being said, I completely agree with the second article when it states, “…young people who read daily only onscreen were nearly two times less likely to be above-average readers than those who read daily in print or both in print and onscreen” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). If I do not have the book physically in front of me, I can not mark up what I believe is important, what I am confused on, or what to look up more about later. So, having the physical copy of a book in front of me helps me when it comes to reading make it less difficult to get off track. After saying all of this, I would say that reading is important in creating a more empathetic side to us, help us engage our culture with understanding of the events around us, and helps us find our imagination.

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Permalink # basic1mack said

“How are you going to get better at reading?………….By reading,exactly!…..That’s the only way.” (Lecture. Mr.Noblitt,IB History of the Americas,4th period. Nov.9,2015). I personally like reading, but I do find it difficult at times. As a student, I’m constantly assigned reading assignments on books that are less than interesting. Still,I understand the benefits of a good reading habits. Growth in personality,vocabulary, and reading itself. fiction “forces you as a reader to contribute your own interpretations, to reconstruct the mind of the character. According to a study from New School for Social Research,”reading fiction increases our ability to be empathetic to others.”(http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344), meaning a person’s ability care for the conflicts in a character’s life can carry over into reality with actual people. As a person reads a body of literature that is of a specific reading level,they are building their vocabulary through encountering new words and the use of textual evidence to find its meaning. Strong reading comes from repetition, “the ability to read must be painstakingly acquired by each individual.” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). Simply, the more you read, the better you become at it. In conclusion, reading will forever be vital attribute to emotional and mental growth.

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Permalink # nicandel said

Why do you dislike reading ?
~I do not dislike reading, I only dislike reading certain things that I don’t going interesting , like the books you assign. (Lol)
What do you find hard about reading?
~The only thing I find hard about reading is when I’m reading and lose focus then next thing I know,I’m at the bottom of the page and have no idea what I just read because I wasn’t paying attention and have to start from the top of the page all over again.
Why is it important?
The Value of Reading Novels
•”readers of fiction were far more socially adept”
Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer | TIME.com
•”literature improves us as people”
•”increases our real-life capacity for empathy”
•Reading gives individuals a larger vocabulary

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Permalink # nicandel said

Things that I don’t find interesting *

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Permalink # wunterhoods said

I dislike reading because it is very boring I would rather watch the movie or something other than reading a book.

I find that reading is very boring and it is hard to sit down and read with out getting distracted.

Reading is important because I saw a poster that said knowledge is power and you gain knowledge when you read so basically if you read you get more power. Reading is also important because with out us knowing how to read we would all be dumb. Also reading is important because “compelling evidence that suggests that people are morally or socially better for reading Tolstoy” or other great books.

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

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Permalink # alexisbowman053 said

I honestly don’t dislike reading. If it’s a book that is interesting and I get really into I have no problem reading it. But when it’s a book that I just can’t get into it makes it hard for me to read it.
The reason it’s hard to read some books is because the book doesn’t pull you. Then you start getting sleepy, or you get distracted easier because you’re trying find a reason not to read it. You’re pretty much forcing yourself to do something that is making you miserable.

We do need reading. Reading helps you become more intelligent. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” so by reading you’re helping the structure of your mind. Everyone needs to read because to learn a lot of stuff you have to read. Reading is around us constantly. So reading will help you in a lot of ways, just find a book that you get into.

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Permalink # Kaitlyn Windham said

I enjoy reading. But it is hard to read when you are like attached to your phone. When a notification pops up you just have to stop and check it and as soon as you do that all that you just read is gone and you don’t really remember what it was. The only thing I don’t like about reading is history. History is cool and everything but it’s boring sometimes. That is the only thing I don’t like reading.
Reading is very important. It teaches you things. It makes you think. And it can help in the long run. Reading is very important.

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Permalink # kdot99 said

I have often asked myself the question “why do I dislike reading?” The only anwser I could come of up with is that I simply do not like reading books that do not Interest me. I’ve noticed that if a book doesn’t catch my attention, or at least gets my brain into an engaged state of mind, I won’t fully understand it, or sometimes won’t even finish

What I find so difficult about reading is that I have to go somewhere quiet and get my brain egaged to fully understand what I am reading.
This mostly applies to novels. I can read a history book and grasp it better because the all of the text is factual, but in novels I have trouble visualizing what is going on. Novels tend to paint a close enough image of the story, but only to a point that explains adequatley what is going on. I always seem to depend on the visualizations to explain what is going on to the fullest and when that connection of images are not met, I get confused, frustrated, and then ultimately bored.

Reading is important because it is a universal form of learning. Reading allows the human to excersise the comprehension of ideas in the world. For example, when a product is manufactured and distributed, it almost always comes with an instruction manual full of text that allows you utilize what you’ve bought.
Reading novels also make us humans more empathetic. “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.”

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

Reading also undoubtedly sharpens vocabulary skills, social skills, and overall intelligence, as it is another medium, in which knowledge is shared and understood.

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Permalink # bigmike1999 said

“Why do you dislike reading?¨

I don’t necessarily hate reading, it’s just if I’m assigned a book on a topic that doesn’t interest me, I’m going to have a hard time reading it and have a hard time not getting bored. If I’m interested in the topic, then that’s a different story.

“What do you find hard about reading?”

For me, it is keeping interest in a book that is not interesting to me.

“Give THREE reasons reading is important.”

1.)For one, It expands your vocabulary.

2.)Reading improves your memory. I know this for a fact because when I read a lot in elementary-middle school, my memory was sharp. When I stopped reading, my memory decreased drastically, so i can tell from experience.

3.) Reading helps to expand your concentration span.
When you read a book through and through, you sharpen your attention span, because you stayed attached with the book and not went off to do something else. This could help people in the classroom who have short attention spans.

http://whytoread.com/why-to-read-10-reasons-why-reading-books-will-save-your-life/

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Permalink # carsonrobinson16 said

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read. Unless it’s Peacekeeping but that’s neither here nor here. To be completely honest to know that some students aren’t up to level and hate reading, breaks my heart. I’ve loved books from a young age and I attribute a lot of my academic success from that. For me, reading had beefed up my vocabulary and enabled my imagination to grow. In addition to this, it takes me away from reality for a little while. When I was in the hospital in September, I begged my mom to bring me one of my Harry Potter books. As I laid in my cold gray room at night I let JK Rowling take me out of my loneliness and into her magical world. For a little while I forget where I was. The familiar chapters led me back to my warm bed at home where I read them for the first time. The characters whom I think of as my friends were holding my hand, letting me know it would be alright. I promise I’m not weird, I’m just very passionate about books.

Anyways, I could think of a million reasons why reading is important, here’s a few.
•Reading paper materials is dying out and replaced by electronics.
Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer | TIME.com

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

•Reading novels improves the ability to feel empathy

•Reading builds up a good vocabulary, grammar, and imagination

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- Permalink # carsonrobinson16 said
  
  The Value of Reading Novels
  http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344
  
  Reply
Permalink # vicki67 said

I don’t dislike reading, I actually love to read. What I dislike is being told what to read, especially if it’s something that doesn’t interest me. Reading itself isn’t hard; what I find hard is trying to read (actually read and understand, not just skim through) something that doesn’t interest me because I will lose focus. Reading i important because it’ the universal way of learning. It helps boost vocabulary, social skills, and overall intelligence. “…individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them, and view the world from their perspective” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/).

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Permalink # samanthaperez2699 said

I honestly love to read but it depends on the book. If I don’t find a book interesting sighing the first couple of pages I stop reading it.
What I find hard about reading is that sometimes the authors write the book in a way that confuses me or makes it difficult. Some books go back and forth about the past and present which makes it difficult or at time they have too many characters to keep up with. Sometimes when I’m reading I read on and on and I zone out while reading and when I snap out of it I’m just like “what’d I just read” and end up having to start all over again.
It’s important to read because
1.A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344)

2. ” The combination of fast, fluent decoding of words and slow, unhurried progress on the page gives deep readers time to enrich their reading with reflection, analysis, and their own memories and opinions. It gives them time to establish an intimate relationship with the author, the two of them engaged in an extended and ardent conversation like people falling in love.” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)

3. Increases your vocabulary

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Permalink # shatonia4398 said

I have always loved to read and found myself not being able to put a book down. Even though I love to read, there is one thing that I find hard about reading books. Sometimes analysing books can be hard. Reasons why reading is important is because, 1) reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic. 2) individuals who often reads fiction are able to understand people better. 3) avid readers of fiction were far more socially adept than avid readers of non-fiction.http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

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Permalink # Noah Rodriguez3443 said

I can say that I honestly love to read. Of course reading is important? Math,Science,Language, they are NOTHING without history. Books, Documents, Papers, Bibles, Scrolls etc is the way information from the past, present and future is carried on and is brought to every generation. When it comes to books of fiction like Percy Jackson, Harry potter, things like that, It is very important also. Reading fiction puts you in the hands of the characters or sometimes even the author. It creates a new world where we are free to imagine and do the things that are humanly impossible. Reading to me is one of the best ways to be knowledgeable and actually train your mind to think outside the box and ask “what if?”. The bad part of reading may be that it doesn’t interest you or makes you think you could be or do something else. Some people aren’t visual interpreters or learners which is okay. But you can’t tell me that its bad to read at least one book in your life.

1. Reading is the basis of our language,learning,and Interpretation.
2.reading Helps us understand the world and how the minds thinks better.
3. Reading puts us in different worlds and places and helps our creativity and empathy.

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Permalink # augustjones said

Why do you dislike reading? To be honest, I really do like reading if it is a good book and it interests me. If it isn’t a good book, then I have a little difficulty reading. What do you find hard about reading? The only thing I find hard about reading depends upon the book. If it is a boring book, I really struggle to read. I have to push myself to. The only thing I dislike is when the teacher assigns a book (Blainey) and I am forced to read it. The books I mainly struggle with are the books that teachers assign unless I really enjoy it.
Reading is important for three reasons:
1. to develop our verbal abilities
2. Reading makes you smarter
3. reading improves our concentration and foucs

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Permalink # liza10297 said

“Why do you dislike reading? What do you find hard about reading?”

I just dislike reading but I do it anyways, reading isn’t hard it’s just long and boring. Retaining information from a complex story line that’s why it’s hard. It depends on what your reading if it’s interesting or boring.

Why is it important?
– it’s good for your vocabulary
– it’s good for your mind to develop
-it exercises your brain

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344

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Permalink # ameliataylor33 said

I’m not going to say I dislike reading but one thing I do dislike about reading is that it consumes a lot of my time. In movies, nerds are portrayed as people who are “stuck in books and always doing homework” that they don’t do anything fun. I feel reading sometimes takes away from opportunities that I could be going out & spending more time w/ my friends. However it’s always good to sit down w/ a book & settle down. That’s when I feel life is going too fast & sitting down w/ a good book can help calm yourself. Sometimes reading is difficult. I find it quite challenging to focus on the book content & tend to just skim through the words. I will then have to start the page over & re-read. I have other thoughts on my mind & have trouble blocking those out. I also find when books have high level vocab it is hard to understand, however this can broaden your vocabulary. Reading is important to increase a persons vocabulary, it increases a persons knowledge of certain subjects & topics, it also helps the individual become a better writer.

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Permalink # justinquinn98 said

Why do you dislike reading?
I’m not going to say I don’t like reading. I like to read and it doesn’t bother me to sit down every once and a while and read a book that interest me.
What do you find hard about reading? I find it hard to continuously read a book. I easily get distracted from what Im reading which results in me starting over.
Why is it important? Reading is a way to expand vocabulary, grammar and imagination.

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Permalink # cressworthy said

Why do you dislike reading?
I actually like reading sometimes. The more you read the knowledge you gain from what you just read. At times, I do find it difficult because who wants to sit at home and read a book when you can go do something else better?

What do you find hard about reading?
Me personally nothing is hard about reading it’s just if the book is very interesting then it’s good to read.

THREE reasons why reading is important
1. It’s expands your vocabulary.
2. You gain more knowledge.
3. Your memory will be very good
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344

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Permalink # kameronsnyder said

Why do I dislike reading? Personally, reading is a dull and strenuous task mostly due to the content of the text that I am analyzing. As an avid fan of the mystery genre, indulging in mostly any other type of book or article is difficult and tedious to do, and I usually end up straying away from what I am reading. Although reading may not be my favorite thing to do, there are numerous reasons as to why reading is important. As mentioned in the Huffington post, “Reading can broaden our imagination” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). Reading lets us explore in a new point of view, letting us place ourselves in the characters situation. Also, when you really think about it we spend 75% of our time reading. Wether it be a book, something on the smartboard, or a poster on the wall, our eyes are trained to scan almost everything that has a word on it. “Deep reading is vigorous exercise from the brain and increases our real-life capacity for empathy” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). This is important to our generation because most of us don’t know how to understand and share the feelings of others.
Also, reading broadens our voacbulary and helps us comprehend different types of literature. So, as Mr. Noblitt claims, “The only way to get better at reading, IS to read”.

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Permalink # ogalecday said

I dislike reading because most of the time when books are assigned, they are boring books that do not interest me. Therefore it is very hard for me to read. It has to be a book I choose that interest me. That why it is hard for me to read.

The reason reading is important is that it helps with human interactions. This can include things such as the ability to “empathize with people and view the world from their perspective.” http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/

Reading opens up our views of other religions, culture, and of people. “engagement with fictional narratives provides one with information about the social world,” exposing children to worlds outside their own. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

Lastly, reading is helps with the mind in general. Keeping your brain amazed with a endless world of possibilities that books offer rather than mindless apps and people talking about their stupid insignificant lives.

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Permalink # tacodaddy said

Reading is one of our very first connections to the outer world. Thoughts and principles shared globally may have never dawned upon you until you have picked up an article or work on the subject matter. You feelings of solitude, angst, confusion, or elation are reverberated upon the pages of a pamphlet, novel, essay, or online article. The answers the very world holds may all be bound together by a spine and diverse forms of coverings.

Though assigned reading can be a drag to think about, one must take into thought the kind of knowledge that is expected to be extracted from the reading material and why the teacher would want to share it with them. Something that may tie in with your present situation can be found deep within the recounting of literary classics or historic documents.

You’ve outta think to yourself that the world had been inhabited by humans for around 6 billion years. In all that time with all those lives, do you not think a varied version of your situation had occurred? And most importantly that it had been recorded for future reference?

Whatever the case, the world keeps repeating its mistakes by misfortune.. Whether that misfortune narrows down to a simple solution that wasn’t met for the negligence to look upon the precedents and examining them by reading each and every detail is up for debate.

in short, fascinating information that may be of dire use in the near future has it’s way of inhabiting reading material. this info may be used for your benefit or for that of the people around you. whether you dislike what is assigned to you or what you happen to stumble upon, you’ll still manage to learn something you wouldn’t have expected to learn, which can be referred back to the first two sentences of this paragraph.

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- Permalink # tacodaddy said
  
  In retrospect, it kinda looks like I bullshitted this but I promise I didn’t.
  
  Reply
  - Permalink # tacodaddy said
    
    I’m just tired and my tonsils are so effed up to where I can hardly talk or eat or laugh or breathe in through my mouth please help 😦
Permalink # Erynn Floyd said

I personally do not dislike reading , I enjoy reading when the book I am reading is entertaining . Most of the times when I do not read it is because of time management.

Sometimes reading can be hard because if you don’t understand the context you’re just reading for no reason and you’re not containing anything .

3 reasons why reading is important would be :
1. It gives you knowledge
2. It keeps you updated on the things that are happening
3. It keeps your brain flowing and helps you become smarter .

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Permalink # julio said

Why do you dislike reading? What do you find hard about reading? Give THREE reasons reading is important.

I dislike reading because it bores me most of the time. I love reading when something interests me or I gain some knowledge from it. The hardest part about reading is trying to keep up with whats going on in the book. I like reading articles about current events, that’s about it.

Values:”Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

1. broadens the way people think

2. its educational

3. to some people it reliefs stress

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Permalink # ndaquioag98 said

I dislike reading. I probably dislike reading because the books I have been reading lately DO NOT INTEREST ME. I get that reading is important and all, but I can’t really remember a book I have enjoyed. What I find hard about reading is trying tp stay awake from boring content. If a book is dull, ill probably just get bored and feel like I am reading words instead of interpreting text.

Reading is important BECAUSE…
“A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html)
“Recent research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience has demonstrated that deep reading — slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity — is a distinctive experience” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)
“That immersion is supported by the way the brain handles language rich in detail, allusion and metaphor” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)

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Permalink # vintagesoul12 said

I personally enjoy reading. Reading can be an escape from real world problems, in some cases. The only problem I have with reading, is I hardly have the time. But I can say this, I don’t like reading when I’m forced to read. If the story line doesn’t catch my attention, I loose interest and get bored. So, I guess that can be something most people struggle with when reading. That can make reading hard in some cases. “I enjoy non-fiction loaded with facts, theories, and analysis. I don’t always have the patience for narrative.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com) I am the COMPLETE opposite of this statement. I love narrative novels. I get so bored reading articles, and books filled with nothing but facts, and information. I’m a creative person, and books and articles make me feel as if, my mind is being limited and mt creativity is being blocked. I can’t make images in my head when reading informative articles. I know this is bad, but it’s true. The only articles I can read through are gossip columns, and even that’s a huge task at times. But regardless of how bored I get reading a bunch of facts and evidence, reading is important. Reading can open your mind up to new ways of thinking. It can increase your IQ. And reading is the best way to learn. Not only that being literate is essential in the society we live in. So, if you can even read at all you’re already ahead in the game. “individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective.” (http://ideas.time.com/) I agree with this statement, I relate with every character I read about in a book. And in doing so, I’m able to relate to others around me better. Like, I am such an emotional person, and I honestly believe that is a result of reading so many romance novels. But I don’t care, I’m never stopping because I love to read! As long as it’s not assigned on google classroom. Lol

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://ideas.time.com

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Permalink # calliehatley said

I don’t necessarily hate reading. There are just many other things that I would rather do. I have been made to read many things that I don’t want to because of school which has pushed me even further from reading. I like to stay up and active more than I do to sit and read a book. I find it hard to concentrate on a book because my mind goes so many other places. Reading is important because:
1) it makes us nicer and and more empathetic
2)reading can broaden our imagination
3)help us reflect
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Permalink # ashleyjones020 said

I very much dislike reading because i cant stay still long enough. There are a lot of other things that are more important to me than reading. Reading is not my “cup of tea” if you know what I mean. I am very ADD so I have a hard time concentrating. If their is even one bit of noise than it gets my off track. Reading is important:
1. contributes your own interpretations
2. our ability to be empathetic toward others
3. helps us have a better memorization

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

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Permalink # loghanh said

I don’t necessarily dislike reading, it’s based upon what I am reading. If I am reading something that interest me and I am into it’ll take me no time. Now on other hands if I’m reading something that I have no interest in whatsoever then more than likely I’ll do any and everything to try to get around it. Although it is almost impossible now that I’m taking you (Noblitt) I have to learn to make myself enjoy those dreadful books you assign. The hardest part of reading for me is understanding what I just read because usually if it’s informal reading it’ll take me very long. Also another hard thing about reading is taking the time needed to just sit down and focus on the book. Reading is important because it broadens your vocab, you learn something new every time you read, and you explore more in a different point of few.

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Permalink # ramseybrooke said

I dislike reading things that don’t interest me. When I’m reading something, like a history textbook, I find it hard to comprehend what it is I’m reading. The thing I find hard about reading is comprehending a lot of information. I can read a page and not understand what I just got through reading.
“…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”(http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). So based off that statistic we see a reason as to why it is important to read. “Deep reading” — as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web — is an endangered practice…”(http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/. Many of us read things on the internet but we don’t “deep read”. I think we should also practice deep reading more often than we “superficial read”.
” Given how aggressive and violent our culture can be (have you noticed that the new DVD movies are overwhelmingly “action” films, a euphemism for “violence-filled,” often with thousands of deaths per movie, often accompanied by one-liners and other inhumane commentary?), perhaps we should be encouraging more reading, novels in particular”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). I agree with this statement and I think it is another reason why we should read and why we should encourage others to read.

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Permalink # daltonkjenkins60 said

I do not dislike reading… I can enjoy a book but my main problem is finding free time to read. I always have something better to do so it just stays in the back of my mind. I do not think reading is hard if I am doing it for fun but reading for facts is difficult for me. I get distracted easily if I’m not interested in what I am reading.
Reading is very important especially in children. It makes people nicer and more empathetic to others. It also makes you smarter, especially helps with grammar and spelling.
1. Nicer
2. More empathetic
3. Smarter

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- Permalink # daltonkjenkins60 said
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
  
  Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer
  
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Permalink # dsantinelli said

I don’t dislike reading, but I feel that high school is making teenagers want to read less instead of more. When a lot of students think of reading, they automatically think of schoolwork and so they don’t want to do it. Also there are now many different forms of entertainment so many students do those things instead. I enjoy reading, but it has to be a book that I am interested in. I think reading is important for our society.

1. It increases your knowledge and vocabulary. Reading has always been an important way to gain knowledge, especially in history class. Nonfiction books are helpful for studying and becoming well-learned on a specific topic.

2. It opens up our imagination. “Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition.”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html).

3. It makes you view the world in a different way. Reading can make you wonder what the world is like through other people’s eyes. Your mind becomes a vast playground full of different possibilities when you read. You create whole worlds with your mind, which increases our way of life. “The deep reader, protected from distractions and attuned to the nuances of language, enters a state that psychologist Victor Nell, in a study of the psychology of pleasure reading, likens to a hypnotic trance.”(http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/).

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- Permalink # carriganwithers said
  
  I don’t think that it’s me disliking reading, it’s the fact that it has to catch my attention or be interesting for me to actually enjoy and want to read the book. every person can admit to being bored by some book that they had to read in their lifetime. i find that actually focusing and not being distracted by surroundings and technology while reading is very hard, also understanding some grammar in novels written by a professor or in an earlier time is difficult just because of the different interpretations and meanings that words have now. 3 reasons why reading is important is because:
  1. It expands your vocabulary (that is if you know how to use the word properly and take the time to learn what it means).
  2. It gives you more knowledge about what you’re reading and it’s meaning.
  3. It can open up our mind to imagination and view things in a different way.
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
  
  Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer
  
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Permalink # DeVante The Runner said

I don’t think reading is disliking. As long as it is informational or entertaining people will read. Reading to me is a need for everyone to have. It may be time consuming but in the end it is very beneficial. Its expands your vocabulary .Depending on the book you can gain knowledge .Also with out notice use more words you wouldn’t use to others vocabulary. Even though It may be boring at times depending on the book. It is worth it.

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- Permalink # DeVante The Runner said
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
  
  Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer
  
  Reply
Permalink # Lillian Myers said

I dislike reading because I get distracted a lot easier than normal, not just with reading, sitting in class or just if someone is talking to me. I don’t like reading very much because, when the rare occasion that I’m not distracted, I have to finish whatever I’m reading. It could be a novel, a novella, article, or just a children’s book. I wouldn’t say reading is hard, anyone can read, however; fully understanding what you read is the hardest. The hardest part about reading for me is getting distracted or reading words that I am oblivious to. I feel like if I don’t understand a word, I don’t know anything I’m reading, so then I get distracted and lost my interest to read. Reading is important, not just to me though, to everyone across the world.
Reading works out your brain and makes you smarter (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/).
Reading helps you communicate.
Reading also can be very knowledgeable and hold emotion (ex. a letter from a soldier in Vietnam to his wife telling her how it is in Vietnam)
Reading is definitely not my favorite, but sometimes I catch a good book to keep in tune to.

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Permalink # jhagans45 said

I don’t dislike reading actually I really enjoy it. But there are things i would rather do than sit around and read. I know reading is a good thing, but it’s not always the fun thing. And as a human I want to have fun now not later. But there are wonderful things about reading also. The first one has got to be the fact that will reading a book, it opens your eyes to a world that you didn’t know existed before. Another big reason is it stimulates your mind and makes you think more than if you were hanging out with friends. The third and final thing is that book give you a chance to not have to worry about life outside a book it just relives you of that stress for as long as your reading that book. Now that being said I still would much rather hang out with friends or go watch a movie but maybe that’s just me.

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Permalink # matthewmerrington said

I don’t like reading because it takes a lot of time to do. With all of my IB classes and wrestling i’m very pressed for time. This is why I find it hard to read most of the time.
One reason reading is important is that it develops sympathy for many things. When you read stuff you get a different view of the world which makes you feel for those ways of life. “A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic,”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/)
The second reason reading is important is that it exercises your brain. Reading allows a reader to put themselves into different situations which allow the brain to put itself in the situation. “The emotional situations and moral dilemmas that are the stuff of literature are also vigorous exercise for the brain,”(http://ideas.time.com/)
The third reason reading is important is that reading fiction has a direct correlation to understanding different people as well as their culture. With reading people will be able to understand others way of life and not judge them.”Comprehending characters in a narrative fiction appears to parallel the comprehension of peers in the actual world, while the comprehension of expository non-fiction shares no such parallels.”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/)

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Permalink # Lauren Kiser said

I love to read but it is mainly due to the fact that when I was little my parents read to me constantly. I like to read the typically “cheesy” novels. The hard thing for me reading wise is the extreme effort it takes for me to get into a book that does not interest me. Reading has many beneficial factors to do with the mind, body, and overall help of a person. “Individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective.” It also can help with our emotions”A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic. On the flip side, many think that if you read online its the same thing but it is quite different. “Those who read only onscreen were three times less likely to say they enjoy reading very much and a third less likely to have a favorite book.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Permalink # melainabree said

Reading is important because it is a way to expand our knowledge. It’s how we sure ideas throughout history. Without it our knowledge would be limited. I don’t dislike reading per say, I simply don’t enjoy to read things I find uninteresting. However, most of the time, I just suck it up and do it because knowledge is power and that the approach I take.

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- Permalink # melainabree said
  
  *share
  
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Permalink # jada8864 said

Reading is not my favorite thing to do but I won’t say I dislike it altogether. I don’t like the fact that it is kind of hard to find a book that interest me or I can actually take time out the day to read without it being assigned to me. I also dislike the fact that when I’m reading I know I could be doing multiple things that I enjoy. When reading I find it hard to just focus on that one thing. Either I’ll make a connection with what is being said, which is called deep reading according to Victor Nell (ideas.times), and get all off the topic because I venture to far into thought or I’ll just get distracted by anything. Also depending on the book, I find it hard to connect with the characters or understand what is going on in the book. The flaws could easily be fixed if I was a better book picker.
Reading is very important because for one, it allows empathetic with others. Second, it can broaden our imagination and sensitivity toward human condition. Lastly, it exercises your mind by making you think; make connections with the characters and analysis what is going on which can cause you to reflect on your past memories.

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Permalink # karigandanielle said

I have never in my life disliked reading. Reading to me is a way of escaping the real world and traveling to a place where the only problems i have are the conflicts in the book I’m reading, and those always get solved, unless there’s a sequel novel. If someone were to ask me why I enjoyed reading, I could talk to them for hours about all different types of readings and why each is important to our lives. You may not know it, you may say you hate reading, but in reality, you do it every day. You read text messages, you read lips when you ask your friend for the answer on one of the reading quizzes, you read people’s expressions when you see them, hell, you even read when you’re on social media even though you’re only looking at a picture or watching a video. Within all the things that we read, it causes us to have emotion toward each, such as reading a sad book, we begin to feel the sadness, or looking at a picture where two people are genuinely happy with each other, or for another, we allow this emotion to take over us, to fully engulf us in that particular moment.
The first article says “Powerful novels demand that we slow down and process how we are creating and destroying in our lives. The rabbis taught that amidst so much destructive behavior we must stop and reflect upon the world we exist in.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). I cannot agree with this more. When reading, I know at least 95% of people imagine in if they were in a certain character’s shoes, or even that scene of a movie. When doing so, we are reflecting on how we would go about the situation, or the quest in front of us. This is one reason why reading is important because it allows us to put ourselves in a position that we may never be in if we wouldn’t have read or seen it. Reading mentally prepare someone for the world, and to face any kind of problem that can come about through our journey of life.
Another reason that reading is good for us is it can help some to peace and closure with certain situations in their lives. I for one can vouch for this. I just recently finished a book titled “Thirteen Reasons Why”. It’s about a young girl named Hannah Barker who committed suicide and she recorded these tapes that she put in the mail the day before she overdosed. I chose to read the book because my best friend had committed suicide my freshman year and I blamed myself and some of our friends for not seeing the signs that she was in so much pain, but after reading the book, I realized how much more there must have been to her suicide and I’m not to be blamed, no of us were. She pushed us away and although we couldn’t sense what was going on, it wasn’t all our faults. If i didn’t read that book, I would still be blaming myself, I would still feel like a horrible person for not stopping her, I would still call myself a murder.. The point I am getting to is that reading opens your mind to things you never thought you’d think about, towards yourself, towards others, and towards the world.
The last important reason I’m going to talk about is is causes you to think. “Typically, when you read, you have more time to think. Reading gives you a unique pause button for comprehension and insight. By and large, with oral language “when you watch a film or listen to a tape, you don’t press pause.” (http://whytoread.com/why-to-read-10-reasons-why-reading-books-will-save-your-life/). When reading you think of literary elements, you infer, you try coming up with a solution before the story tells you what they do, you think about everything you read. When taking a test, what do you do after READING the question? You THINK of the answer. After you READ a test messages or a dm from someone what do you do before you type? You THINK of what you’re going to reply to that person and once you hit send, guess what you do? You THINK about how they’re going to respond. Reading is something dear to everyone’s lives, some more than others, but it still means something to everyone.

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Permalink # carleybyrum25 said

I personally enjoy reading, as long as it is the genre I enjoy. I find it hard to indulge myself in nonfiction, especially history, due to the in-depth context. I try to read all assigned books, but I sometimes find it hard to do so if I’m not interested with the book. I know it’s important to read all types of books because it broadens your knowledge, and that is why I am trying to read different types of books.
Reading is important because it teaches us how to emphasize and grow relationships with people (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). Books allow us to see how characters within in the book interact and allow us to use this as knowledge on how to act in our own lives. Secondly, reading broadens our imagination (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). Reading fiction causes the reader to visualize their own interpretations of the book and allows them to create a character within their head to fit their imagination. Lastly, reading is a great exercise for the brain (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)! In-depth reading allows us to submerge ourselves and truly enjoy the reading. It allows the reader to have the same feeling as if the scene is actually unfolding in front of them. In-depth reading can be time-consuming, but it’s the best type of reading.
Overall, reading is very important to our lives. It allows us to broaden our minds, expand our imagination, and exercise our brain. My goal for myself is to read more genres of books.

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Permalink # ardinesv said

Victoria Ardines
period: 6

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- Permalink # ardinesv said
  
  I do not dislike reading fully but to an extent I do because I myself, have a very sincere opinion about what genre I am reading. I do like reading for entertainment and knowledge, but I do not like reading for it may seem taking up too much time I have. What I find hard about reading is the immense concentration that is needed.
  Reading is important because it extends our imaging towards society. In the article in the Huff Post it says ” Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition.” This emphasizes that by reading we can expand imaging towards everyday life.
  Reading also creates people to be more “nicer” and compassionate. The article on the Huffing Post states ” A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and empathetic…Canadian researchers have also found that reading fiction increases our ability to be empathetic to others.” Explaining this, creating empathy towards each other creates understandings and compassion towards social peace.
  Literature can take readers to mental places that can show where the reader has never been. In the Time article it says ” We need, rather, show them someplace they’ve never been, a place only deep reading can take them.” This contributes to imagination, through imagination it causes ideas and future.
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
  
  Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer
  
  Reply
Permalink # Bethany Byrd said

I enjoy reading when it is for my own personal enjoyment. I feel like I am more emotionally attached and better able to enjoy the book when I do not have to analyze every single aspect of it. By overanalyzing an assigned book for a class, I view it as a chore rather than a hobby because I am being assessed on my feelings about something I read and I feel like my feelings are mine and should not receive a letter grade. There is nothing hard about reading, whether it is for enjoyment or for school. I have never had a problem with it. I just don’t like the fact that students are forced to analyze books and stories to the point that they no longer want to read in their free time because it is just not as fun anymore. I do think that reading is necessary in schools and that discussing in class our opinions on a book is great, but I have had teachers (luckily none this year) that have assigned questions on a reading asking for our opinion on something in the book and have taken points off for getting that question wrong. If it is a question about my personal opinion on something in the book, how can it be wrong? I have no problem with questions about content within stories, but when points are taken off of an opinion question, it makes me angry. I love reading, just not the chore that it sometimes becomes when it is assigned.

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Permalink # itaylor068 said

Why do you dislike reading? What do you find hard about reading? Give THREE reasons reading is important.
I do not dislike reading. I actually enjoy it. To me, it is difficult for me to read sometimes because I never have time to read! I have school (and Noblitt loves to pile on the work ;)), extracurricular activities, and I need to sleep sometime (although some would argue that Ib students should not be sleeping often. That’s another argument for another time). I also think it is hard to really get into a book when first starting it. After the first couple chapters, and if I have decided I liked the story, then I am hooked and it’s easy. Now…my three reasons why reading is important. 1) I think that reading can really help us have a different perspective about life. Through reading, we have the opportunity to learn about so many different situations and all the different ways these characters handle them. Most books also give life-lessons, which can be very helpful. “Novels, when done well, are about life, and introspection upon the depths of human experience.”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
2) Reading can strengthen the mind and help the reader learn new vocabulary. 3) “…that individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people.”

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

Reading can help us learn empathy, as we begin to better understand the situations of others, as there are so many. (This relates with my first point too).

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Permalink # bethanyashlyn said

I enjoy reading when it is for my own personal enjoyment. I feel like I am more emotionally attached and better able to enjoy the book when I do not have to analyze every single aspect of it. By overanalyzing an assigned book for a class, I view it as a chore rather than a hobby because I am being assessed on my feelings about something I read and I feel like my feelings are mine and should not receive a letter grade. There is nothing hard about reading, whether it is for enjoyment or for school. I have never had a problem with it. I just don’t like the fact that students are forced to analyze books and stories to the point that they no longer want to read in their free time because it is just not as fun anymore. I do think that reading is necessary in schools and that discussing in class our opinions on a book is great, but I have had teachers (luckily none this year) that have assigned questions on a reading asking for our opinion on something in the book and have taken points off for getting that question wrong. If it is a question about my personal opinion on something in the book, how can it be wrong? I have no problem with questions about content within stories, but when points are taken off of an opinion question, it makes me angry. I love reading, just not the chore that it sometimes becomes when it is assigned.

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Permalink # maddiehaas said

I honestly don’t hate reading. I love it. Quite a bit. The only problem I have is that I don’t like reading assigned books, because they’re rather boring. A book has to really capture my interest and hook me in for me to like it. Books about history just don’t do that for me. I think it’s me knowing that it’s homework and that I have to read it. I enjoy picking books on my own. English and Literature is my favorite subject. I love analyzing books and writing stories. I even love creating poems. (Just ask Mr. Toth. I would say Seymore as well, but he isn’t at Huss anymore.) Have you ever noticed that those who read a lot are usually quiet and like to go unnoticed? That’s definitely me. We also see a lot of things others don’t and we hear things but never comment on them. I know a ton of rumors about everyone, but I’ll never spread them. People say things around me, because they know I won’t tell and I like that. They do things and I pretend like I didnt see, because I can understand. I try not to judge someone before I know them. ” 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.” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/) We’re relatively nice to others as well. “A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic, psychologists at the New School for Social Research have found. Emanuele Castano, the study author, said that fiction “forces you as a reader to contribute your own interpretations, to reconstruct the mind of the character.”
Canadian researchers have also found that reading fiction increases our ability to be empathetic to others” (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344)

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- Permalink # maddiehaas said
  
  Are my favorite subjects*
  
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  - Permalink # maddiehaas said
    
    Reading is important for people to learn how to handle social situations, to be able to understand another person’s situation/personality/religion, and reading is also important to further a person’s knowledge. For example; learning more about sexualities.
Permalink # zantrum17 said

I don’t dislike reading. At times though I find that reading things I am assigned is boring which is why I don’t really focus on it as much as I probably should. I think it might be because it feels more like a chore than a hobby.

The one thing I find hard about reading is making sure I get the right idea of what’s going on. For example when you assign reading to us and we have to take notes I have trouble noting out the key details of the content

1. It expands your knowledge and helps you become a well rounded thinker
2. Definitely helps expand vocabulary
3. It helps expand your imagination. One of the best parts of reading is painting the picture of what’s going on in your head

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Permalink # kelsiepearson said

I don’t dislike reading I just like to read books that interest me. The hardest thing about reading would be the lack of interest. I have a hard time getting into the book and staying focused. Reading is important because it expands your vocabulary, you gain more knowledge, and it opens your mind and imagination.

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Permalink # carolinestyers said

I LOVE reading!!! My love of reading stems from my mother reading to me as a child. I’m very glad she did. I’ve been raised in a house full of books and I love them! The “ A 2010 York University study of 4- to 6-year-old children found that greater exposure to children’s literature, but not children’s television programs, correlated with children having a greater sense of empathy”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). I believe her reading to me as a child is what made me more empathetic towards other. The hardest thing about reading is reading the things you have no interest in. For example, I wanted to claw my eyes out while trying to read the textbook for IBHOA last year. However, I can lay around all day reading things that interest me. Finding out what kind of books you like is essential to enjoy reading. Reading is important because: 1) It opens your mind to different ideas and teaches you things 2) It helps you become a better writer 3) “…individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective”(http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). Reading makes you a nicer person. No wonder librarians are generally awesome people.

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Permalink # ShaniyaHollis said

I don’t necessarily dislike reading, I just dislike reading books that do not interest me. If I were to pick out a book I actually liked, I could read it with no problem. Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep focus on what I’m reading because something else will get my attention. Losing focus makes me forget what I read and so by the time that happens I’m annoyed with reading. This is what makes reading hard for me, not being able to stay focused.
“Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity towards the human condition” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). I agree that reading books can broaden our imagination. When you read a book, it allows you to create images in your head of things going on in the story.
“…reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic…” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html).
“individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/).

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Permalink # theravenalexis said

I like reading if it is the genre I enjoy. It’s hard for me to read nonfiction books. For example, history books are boring because it’s too detailed and it gets boring overtime when you keep reading it, i think. I find it hard to really get into a book because my mind wonders off to other things and i like a certain genre of book too so there’s that. I also feel like reading becomes a chore not a hobby.

I think that reading expands your knowledge, helps you be more creative and imaginative, and it also increases vocabulary.

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Permalink # michaeldarden said

Reading is important because you can learn new vocabulary, you gain knowledge and understanding and you learn about life situations. Reading is around us everywhere. A 2010 York University study of 4- to 6-year-old children found that greater exposure to children’s literature, but not children’s television programs, correlated with children having a greater sense of empathy. The study authors concluded that “engagement with fictional narratives provides one with information about the social world,” exposing children to worlds outside their own.Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn illustrates Roth’s point. The narrator is a young adolescent boy who at the start of the novel shares the pro-slavery views of the state he grew up in. Gradually, however, as he travels with the runaway slave Jim, he comes to moderate his views (long after the reader has) and eventually assists Jim. It is a moral tale disguised as a children’s adventure story. That immersion is supported by the way the brain handles language rich in detail, allusion and metaphor: by creating a mental representation that draws on the same brain regions that would be active if the scene were unfolding in real life. The emotional situations and moral dilemmas that are the stuff of literature are also vigorous exercise for the brain, propelling us inside the heads of fictional characters and even, studies suggest, increasing our real-life capacity for empathy. http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/

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Permalink # manningrebekah said

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.

We all know that reading is knowledge, and knowledge is power. I agree with such statements. I do, contrary to my recent actions, like to read; but reading takes time. Time that I do not have. It’s pretty dagum hard juggling 4 IB classes and 2 AP classes, in which I teach myself, and all the extracurriculars I do, (Mayor’s council is a bitch, forewarning, don’t do it) College reading won’t really be an issue, I think, I won’t have hours and hours of busy, unnecessary work. But without reading, I would be a very different person. Books, particularly novels, are most definitely an escape. “Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition” (HuffPost). Reading is a tool that is constantly needed and building upon itself, like math, if you don’t get the basics, you’re screwed from then on out. My sister moved from teaching 1st grade to 3rd grade this year, It’s apparent that her kids she had in first grade two years ago aren’t up to par in reading in 3rd grade either, will they ever be? Probably not, but that’s a whole different nut to crack. I had to honor of volunteering throughout the county’s elementary “summer school” literacy program, the teachers — the county’s best and most prestigious — all pressed into those kids minds that “reading is the only way to learn” “reading is the most important thing you’ll ever do”, but they never gave reasons, I don’t really think they know themselves.

#1 Literacy is a very important tool. Without it being an ACTIVE skill, it will get weak, or even never develop. Reading is important because it exercises that skill. 50% of american adults can’t read above an 8th grade reading level (Kent). I, personally, was near an 8th grade level in around the 4th grade. That’s pretty pathetic. Just for perspective, according to scholastic, the hunger games is written just slightly about a 9th grade reading level. Half of our adult society, people with jobs, people who vote, people who expected to be active citizens, can barely read the hunger games.

#2 Reading can be very fun, while simultaneously being beneficial. Recently, I’ve become more of a factual reader and haven’t really read any novels. Books more like Freakonomics or books on the stratification of social class, like Class Matter. But those, as well as novels, broaden horizons and help create connections to the real world, I know, for a fact, I’ve mentioned Freakonomics multiple times in class discussion.

#3 Reading can help shape a person. I think, if I wouldn’t have step out of my proverbial box and bought books on atheism, other religions, feminism, etc. etc., I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.

All in all, it doesn’t matter what you read, or how you do it, you just must, MUST read.

P.S. I read the time article, I just didn’t find any of it really quotable…
P.S.S Just for those who will not be named, 2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Over 70% of America’s inmates cannot read above a 4th grade level.

http://literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/Workshops/facts/answers.html

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

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Permalink # thenatecrackerprince said

I personally am a HUGE fan of reading. The ONLY time I dislike reading is when it is both assigned and terrible (@Blood Done Sign My Name, @Grapes of Wrath, @Red Badge of Courage, @American Pageant, @Peacekeeping. Blainey is actually not terrible). Reading on the whole is not at all hard. The only part I struggle with is staying focused on boring or unengaging reading. Reading is important for a variety of reasons.

1. Reading promotes healthy interest in learning and education. Kids who read books gain a passion for reading and learning, while “Those who read only onscreen [are] three times less likely to say they enjoy reading very much and a third less likely to have a favorite book.” (http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)

2. Reading always has something to offer you in terms of learning. Even in fiction, there can be lessons about life found in the pages of books. My personal life philosophy comes from Roald Dahl’s “The Twits,” and it says: “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” While this may not provide a lesson about science or art or math, it provides a lesson about confidence and positivity and optimism.

3. The Huffington Post article says “Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition.” (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344). I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, and a sense of imagination is important. Imagination isn’t always about unicorns and dragons. Imagination is about thinking up something new and nonexistent. All the great inventors have had great imaginations. Revolutionary leaders and politicians alike have the ability to imagine an ideal country, one that doesn’t exist but that could exist with proper reform. Without imagination, there is no progress.

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Permalink # khadijahwatson said

I honestly do not despise reading. I remember in fifth grade reading up to 4 hours a day and I really enjoyed it. I even finished the Harry Potter series in less than four months. I like to get so immersed in a book that I forget about reality. Now, with my hectic schedule I can not do this as often. In fact I only do it when I am forced to with assignments, sadly. The only challenging thing to me about reading is having the time to do it. With work and school it is almost impossible.
The benefits of reading are that it “makes us nicer and more empathetic, psychologists at the New School for Social Research have found.”(huffingtonpost.com). Are minds are opened up to a world beyond us that we might have never experienced without the help of ink on a paper. “A 2010 study by Mar found a similar result in young children: the more stories they had read to them, the keener their “theory of mind,” or mental model of other people’s intentions.”(www.ideas.time.com). Readers understand the people around them more. Are mind is also enriched with information and ideas that could help shape the way we think and feel.

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Permalink # marionwhitely said

I don’t necessarily dislike reading. I’m in the same category as the narrator of the Article The Value of Reading Novels. “I’ll be the first to admit that while I love reading fiction I’m not a consistent novel reader. I enjoy non-fiction loaded with facts, theories, and analysis. I don’t always have the patience for narrative.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html). Although reading enhances your level of knowledge, it consumes a lot of your time. “A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic.”(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html) A claim that I’m not sure I agree with but can see how it can. Reading a novel can sometimes take a month depending on how fast you read and how much free time you usually tend to have on your hands. So it’s not a dislike factor in this situation, it’s a when can I read without being interrupted and actually being able to enjoy and get into the book. Reading isn’t a hard thing to do, but for some it can be. The reading level of some individuals makes reading complex and not very enjoyably. If you try to read a Harry Potter series as an 11th grader and you have a 5th grade reading level you won’t be able to comprehend the book or the themes associated within the book, so therefor you consider reading as a difficult thing to do. Others also find reading as a complex thing to do due to the simple fact that they just don’t have the urge and compulsion to want to read. In this type of situation where you have no motivation to read, the narrator suggested joining a book club, “For those not motivated or disciplined to read, maybe join a book club or start a chevruta (learning partnership). We can all use some help in raising our level of empathy and moral imagination.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html) and agree, that would be a start to a change. Reading is an important factor believe it or not. It is very important it can open your eyes to life, “Powerful novels demand that we slow down and process how we are creating and destroying in our lives.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html) It also expands are imagination toward the human society,”Reading can broaden our imagination and our sensitivity toward the human condition. “(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html) and it also builds you grammar and increases your level of vocabulary. So a lot of us may not like reading but it is more helpful than useful.

As a student, I enjoy reading, but I find I don’t always have the time to read novels. I’m sure if I was reading something I enjoyed reading then I would be dedicated and disciplined. Reading is important for (1) it opens your eyes to life, (2) It expands your imagination and (3) builds your grammar while increasing your vocabulary.

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Permalink # flipyflipperston said

Now as for reading, well I don’t hate reading, as long as the material is good. If I don’t like the material I’m not going to act like some tool who enjoys a terrible book because it’s a ‘timeless classic.’ Now what do I find hard about reading, nothing. If anything it’s the community. I swear I have met some of the most cynical people in book communities, where discussions of a book turn into group of egocentric weirdos stroking one another’s egos on how enlightened they all are for reading Animal Farm, or Atlas Shrugged. Now despite my harsh opinion I do feel reading provides some necessary basis of knowledge. Let me make a flippin’ list
BOOM HERE’S YOUR LIST
1. Reading in some way inspires reflective behavior. It does, the book commands you to think, and imagine what about what you’re reading. Unlike some movies that are so popular today. “action” films, a euphemism for “violence-filled,” often with thousands of deaths per movie, often accompanied by one-liners and other inhumane commentary…” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html
2. Reading makes one connected with their emotions. Yes even macho-men who think emotions are a sissy thing. “Recent research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience has demonstrated that deep reading — slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity…” http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/
3. My personal idea. Reading is a beneficial way to kill time. Reading actively engages your mind, and active use of your mind is proven to help in combating altimeters. So read.
There’s the list, above is the criteria. Okay goodnight.

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Permalink # yeison0 said

I find reading extremely boring. Like on a scale of 1-10 it’s a solid 10 on boring. It’s not that I find reading difficult, I’m actually a decent reader and comprehend just about anything I read. It’s just I feel that me and many others are accustomed to our mind being stimulated visually. I can’t just sit and stare at words on a page, I get bored and lose focus. However with a video I don’t even have to visualize anything, just watch (yes I’m admitting I’m lazy). Reading however is still very important. It helps us be more understanding. “A new study claims that reading novels makes us nicer and more empathetic” (The Value of Reading Novels
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344). Also, reading makes us more intelligent. “Unhurried progress on the page gives deep readers time to enrich their reading with reflection, analysis, and their own memories and opinions” (Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer | TIME.com
http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/). Lastly, we need to read so we can learn new things, knowledge is power. The way things are where nobody reads, if we don’t already, we’re going to have classes full of people who stutter over words with 8 letters or more, which obviously nobody wants.

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Permalink # mikaylapeavy said

I don’t really dislike reading, but it wouldn’t be my first choice when I get free time. I just really have trouble getting interested in books just because my mind is usually all over the place and I constantly have to be moving in some way so it’s hard for me to sit still and read a book, and it’s 10 times harder to read a book that is assigned. Reading itself isn’t hard, the hart part is putting yourself in a peaceful and quiet place to really settle down and read. But I would say that reading is really important, and that I should definitely read more.
3 reasons why reading is important:
Reading makes us nicer and more empathetic.
Reading can broaden our imagination.
Reading builds our vocabulary, and grammar.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Permalink # amandamonge070 said

I personally enjoy reading to a certain extent of course. I mostly enjoy fictional. I find history novels to be the death of me 9 out of 10 times. I find them to be very strenuous because of how they often tend to start being bias then continue talking about the historic event they were explaining before. They include so much information, names, dates, places… it really throws me off. I do blame myself for my problem with history novels because I never brought myself to overcome the boredom(yet interesting), never ending and extremely informative qualities that history novels have.
1) You

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Permalink # kylethompson98 said

Reading isn’t that hard in my opinion. Honestly the only hard part is first learning how from scratch. You need to know how to read to write and how to write to read, so you have to have a basis. Reading shouldn’t be hard if you get the basics down and the natural fluidity of the reading down. And also an enhanced vocabulary. Even with a lower vocabulary you can still read and build upon that. It isn’t hard ( for most ). I would like to pull out a valid point that reading is important because like I said, you need to read to write and vice versa. That one website talks about the difference between book reading and electronically reading. Well I’d also like to point out that in our current time we extract many of our ancestor civilizations language through written text. And we must read it to understand it. If, for some reason we went full electronic then way future generations would not have access to it.

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

I’d also like to pull out how they said novel reading is more deeper and it allows for better focus. We can better interpret text and allows for deeper understanding for things in general.

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Permalink # zhalenr said

I don’t dislike reading. I feel that it expands your knowledge. However, reading some articles and novels can be boring. Although beneficial and helpful sometimes we just get bored reading. Reading is not hard at all, it is an easy task to do but I would much rather read something interesting. In the article it says ““makes us nicer and more empathetic, psychologists at the New School for Social Research have found.”(huffingtonpost.com).” It also says Books allow us to see how characters within in the book interact and allow us to use this as knowledge on how to act in our own lives. Secondly, reading broadens our imagination (http://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/RABBI-SHMULY-YANKLOWITZ/READING-NOVELS_B_4168344.HTML).

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Permalink # Karla Manriquez said

I love to read. It’s something I do on an every day basis. Rather it’s a book, I cannot stand, or a book I enjoy so much I can’t put down. Reading is an important to me because it’s like another world in letters and numbers. We have to create it ourselves, but using the words and the descriptions to create it. It expands our minds and sometimes even makes us realize things we’ve never noticed or even considered before.

1. Reading “forces you as a reader to contribute your own interpretations, to reconstruct the mind of the character”. It makes us humans become kinder and more empathetc to those around us (all though that switch might have broken in my head). (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4168344)

2. Those who grow up or will grow up online cannot apprehend novels, etc. because their brains were not trained to. Those who don’t read, can’t really read because they aren’t lazy or have no interest; it’s because they can’t comprehend what’s developed in the words.(http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/)

3. Reading is an adventure.”The second or third or tenth time you read it, a book can surprise you, and to discover a new writer you love is like discovering a whole new country.” (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4549783)

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Permalink # seelizabeth said

Reading is very important and I love to read. It is actually one of my favorite things to do… As long as I like the content of the book. The only thing I don’t like about reading is when I can’t go into a book. Reading is a great time passer and jelled he enhancer. I love reading.

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Permalink # shannah97 said

I don’t dislike reading at all, but I just don’t like reading unintersting things. I know it sounds a little selfish but I’m just interested in things that don’t apply to my life or contribute to it or at least make awareness for someonea troubles. Don’t get me wrong, just because something doesn’t interest me doesn’t mean I wo,t read it, I just want particularly enjoy reading it. If I had to choose something hard about reading it would have to be large words that I don’t know the meaning to and trying to keep up with details that tell me what’s going on in the story. But to answer the question I don’t really dislike reading, it just depends on what I’m reading and the way it is written.

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