Reading Process
¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 1 A word cloud for reading before the internet might include words like “close reading,” “reading for fun,” “reading for information,” “scanning,” “skimming,” “book clubs,” and “time-consuming.” A word cloud for reading after the internet will include many of the same words, with the possible exception of “book clubs” and “time-consuming.” Book clubs are a dying trend since people can talk to each other and share their opinions on books through forums and/or reviews on seller websites. “Time-consuming” could be applied to internet reading (forgive the phrasing) in terms of how overwhelming reading on the internet can be. You can end up spending hours investigating and following hyperlinks when you really just wanted to read that first article. You can lose yourself in the internet and then realize you never really found what you were looking for in the first place; you found some very interesting stuff but not what you were looking for.
¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 1 Now, the phrase “time-consuming” generally has a negative connotation but it doesn’t necessarily mean that in regards to reading. Reading is one of the most satisfying endeavors and true literature should be read more than once. This process takes time but understanding of the text increases with each read. This concept of deep understanding of one text at a time is being combated by the internet. The internet seems to emphasis quantity over quality, or, comprehending large amounts of data versus understanding a couple works. This change is not necessarily bad. Looking at trends of literature could be very enlightening both for literature and cultural studies. These large data analyses could even have implications for language learning, for example, international communities could research the frequencies of certain words in the language. There are definitely advantages to both kinds of reading and, as Hayles said, hyper-reading and machine reading often end in or result in close reading.
¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 1 This integration brings about a new definition of reading, not as one strategy like close reading has been, but as a process of multiple strategies working together to best draw out interpretations of text(s). I do like this new definition but change comes slowly and, more importantly, this definition creates new challenges for teachers. Educators must now try to teach children (and adults) when each strategy is most appropriate. Because of our shorter attention spans and the time required, students may be more inclined to hyper-reading. Teachers will have the emphasize that no reading process is complete without some sort of close reading and, most importantly, interpretation. Reading to me means not only understanding the text but having some sort of reaction to it, whether that be a deep thoughtful response or a shallow one. The strategy matters but only so much as getting the reader to some sort of conclusion or critical thinking.
¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 To put the new definition into practice would have to involve more online projects or digital texts. This may see some backlash since research seems to imply that mass amounts of time in front of a screen are detrimental to health. Teachers will also have to explicitly explain the differences between each strategy, when each is useful, and how the process of reading can include more than one. Teachers can then assign projects that employ these strategies in combination, sort of like what Hayles did. However, I believe the emphasis should remain on close reading overall. It is still the strategy that is most likely to result in critical thinking, I would argue.
I think it’s interesting that you brought up book clubs no longer being heavily associated with reading post internet. While it is sad that this is a dying trend, do you think there’s a chance that people actually get more out of discussing a book online than they would if they went to a physical book club (since it’s easier to congregate people who have read the book)?