Literary Debate: Online R u Really Reading?

In this article by Motoko Rich he ask the ask the question “Online ,R U Really Reading?” .He presents points based on others personal experience and the opinions and facts of experts who are for as well as against reading online rather than providing us with his own definite answer. He does this by creating an article around a subject matter being a little girl by the name of Nadia Konyk who loves to read online and her mother hoping to persuade her to read books. In his article, Motoko presents ideas of people who are not in favor of reading online and believe books are the best means of reading and those who believe reading online can be very good.
Some argues that reading online has lead to poor SAT results. They believe that reading on the net lessens one’s ability to read and write ,destroys one’s ability to pay attention for a long time and has destroy the culture which exists in reading books. I disagree with the point that reading online has lead to poor SAT results; for the most part it has helped to improve SAT scores. On the net there’s an SAT website where each day children are able to test their knowledge in math, writing and reading. Each day this sites provides “question of the day” that allow for children to test their ability to understand, analyze and interpret things. There is also multiple practice tests on the net that children can take that allow them to prepare for the SAT.
According to the Motoko recent studies by literacy specialists has prove that the only kind of reading which enables for higher academic performance is the reading of novels as it help to improve one’s GPA and ones grade in English class. Many traditionalists believe that reading on the internet distracts rather than strengthens a reader and that many youth spend most of their time playing games or sending instant messages that does not require a lot of reading and as such is not substantial to children or benefit them in no way. I definitely believe that the internet can serve as a great distraction because many children just go on the internet to play games ,my brother being a fine example, or go on facebook rather than to read something meaningful.
The Author makes mention of the fact that readers tend to be unable to judge whether a site is trustworthy or legitimate and I definitely agree with this. On the internet there are many false sites and it is not a guarantee that a website we view provides real facts and information. Many times we have to trust our instincts or be able to know if a site is trustworthy or not which can be very had to do. Books, however, are more trustworthy especially those found in the library. Libraries will ensure that books provide real information.
While many believe that reading online provides a disadvantage for children, others believe the internet can be very helpful and useful. Some argue that the internet has created a new kind of reading that should not be disregarded. Some digital experts say that online reading skills will allow for children to be better able to compete for jobs in this digital age. In this technological advance age, the internet is one of the main medium of communication. In many schools one has to have access to the internet because most time one has to access ones work from the web or even send work to professors via the net. Many also have to have access to the internet to apply for jobs and many jobs require that their workers are able to use the computer.
While some Scientists believe that reading books can be more enriching some experts believe that reading online is more enriching as it enables for one to “cover a lot more of the topic from different points of views” the exact words of Mr. Spiro of Michigan State.
Zachary Sims, 18, finds the internet to be great as it enables for one to see and share in different point of views and to be able to interact with others, while books tend to be more one sided with one person providing his or her point of view. Being able to see and read other people’s point of views can be very helpful and it can also be very bad. Being able to see others point of view can give one an idea of the thoughts of others and provide a better understanding of a particular topic at the same time it can be very bad as it can prevent one from formulating one’s own ideas and thoughts and prevent one from thinking on their own as one just take the idea of others and use it as their own.
Experts also believes that information on the net which may include, pictures, video and audio is usually very helpful for those who struggles with reading. Children with learning difficulties have found the internet to be more comfortable to search and read on. Some who believes that books are very significant also believes that the children need a range of reading experience and I definitely agree with this.
“Reading opens up doors to places that you probably will never get to visit in your lifetime, to cultures, to worlds, to people” are the exact words of Ms Konyk .But so does the internet .The internet more than anything provide a medium where one can view tons of places, be open to all the cultures which exists and meet all the people there is possible. The internet has it all.