Argument

April. Argument
Is all reading beneficial? I will argue that all reading is valuable and beneficial. There is no other activity that can enrich your life in so many ways. Think of all the benefits, as well as enjoyment, one derives from curling up with a good book. The first and foremost benefit of reading is, of course, relaxation. When you get your mind into a good book you are transported to another time and place. You forget about all your chores and worries for the time being and immerse yourself in new experiences and adventures. Whether it is a book of fiction, history or prose, it takes you away from your every day existence, enabling your mind and spirit to be calmed and renewed. From reading, readers learn proper language and spelling skills. Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise. Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you are forced to reason out many things that are unfamiliar to you. In this process you use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.

Claim: All reading is beneficial and valuable, no matter what type.

Reason: People who read leisurely have better vocabulary and are better at handling complex ideas.

Evidence: Reading as a teen leads to success. When teens read more than just their classroom assignments, research clearly shows that they generally do well in school. First of all, the extra reading expands their vocabularies. It also shows them how different writers put down their thoughts leading to better writing skills. And teens who read more serious literary works gain skills in handling complex ideas. The more teens read, the more information they pick up. This leads to a solid core of knowledge that is useful in a wide variety of classes. For example, the teen who reads biographies has a better understanding of prominent people studied in history classes.

Wow, You've Changed

When my parents came to visit me last weekend, they both commented on how much I’ve “changed.” I didn’t really understand this, because I don’t feel like I have changed at all. Yes, I live away from home and have made new friends, but I feel like I am the same person I was in high school. My father said that I have changed into a young lady, rather than a girl, and my mother said that I have become much more independent and sure of myself. They both suggested that it could be because I went to a college where I knew basically no one else.

The majority my friends from high school went to LSU, which is only 1 hour away from home. Everyone still hangs out with the same people and no one has really changed. When I go visit my friends at LSU I feel like I am in high school again. Maybe that’s why I’ve changed, when I’m at SMU I do not feel like I am still in high school. At SMU I have more freedom and more opportunities, and I have to make important decisions myself. If I get into trouble here, I don’t have my parents an hour away to come save me. I have never really thought about how going away to college has changed me, but once it was pointed out to me, I realized that it really has. I no longer go to my parents for every single problem that I have because I know that they can’t really do anything about it because they are far away. There are many differences between high school and college, and even more differences if you decide to go to a college away from home.

My Comment on Kelci's Blog

I commented on Kelci's blog about how the Internet enables this generation to be more connected and how it has also helped the Business world. Check out my comment here

My Comment on Meghan's Blog

I posted a comment on Meghans blog about the allure of facebook and how this generation spends so much of their spare time on facebook. Check it out here