English paper question

[Leo8800]

I am currently writing my English 112 paper requiring arguing the future. My topic involves the loss of reading classic literature. That as we move forward with technology we are losing some educational values and fundamental skills.My argument introduces the idea that the youth today are not reading much literature with substance, values, morals or exploring a creative imaginative side to our minds. Because of this our current and future generations do not have a lot to say unless it pertains to a status update. Our youth today are classically conditioned to the chime of their phone or some pop song ring tone. One could only wonder where they may have learned this "bell=food" trigger, referring to Pavlov's classical conditioning theory. Any idea on how to connect "why" youth today are not reading books? and possibly lack substance in communication skills because of this?

[UnholyEmpress]

Personally, from my own experience, I've not been influenced into not reading something by technology, lifestyle, or whatever. I also think that just because you read a book that might contain some overall lesson on life, that doesn't mean you embrace that particular lesson. You don't see a bunch of people throwing away their makeup and perfumes and jewelry because they read Beauty and the Beast.

My influences in which books I read have been due to 1)price 2)availability-e.g. if my library hasn't got a novel and I don't know if it's any good, I'm rarely going to read it-unless by fluke I get it for a gift.

I also can't see how a novel wouldn't be substantial just because it's modern. The style would vary vastly, but unless you can really prove that most modern day literature isn't containing some morals and codes of behaviour in them, then I think this is a presumptious thing to say.

I would also say it's highly presumptious to compare the reading habits of young people to "adults?". A youth doesn't have money resources, exposure to vast literature, or the time to have read that many, to then automatically be told they aren't reading the right things because of their lifestyle. Does that mean if you read by a mahogany desk by candle light using pen and ink, that your moral judgement and quality of life is better???

When I was 15, I was in the bottom English class where other pupils were faking being dyslexic, spitting wet rolled up paper across the room and trying to cheat against me in a game of chess, during which I was reading Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, but getting a book called *Missing* by Catherine McPhail as a christmas present by my parents....A book I read within an hour! That meant that I didn't own many books that kept me occupied, but I had been bought many gadgets, computer games, a mobile phone and suchlike. That didn't mean that I thought reading was a less valid pastime.

Unless you have a mass of book hungry teens, they aren't gonna be actively looking for the kind of literature you're on about, and most parents/family/friends won't think to buy them it. And even if kids/teens started being interested in reading, local librarys are POORLY stocked(at least in my area). I know it wouldn't be able to cope if an entire highschool english class had to get Classic literature from the library, let alone most teenagers in the area!!! Which annoys and disgusts me about the area I live in.

[stonedleprechaun]

I am currently writing my English 112 paper requiring arguing the future. My topic involves the loss of reading classic literature. That as we move forward with technology we are losing some educational values and fundamental skills.My argument introduces the idea that the youth today are not reading much literature with substance, values, morals or exploring a creative imaginative side to our minds. Because of this our current and future generations do not have a lot to say unless it pertains to a status update. Our youth today are classically conditioned to the chime of their phone or some pop song ring tone. One could only wonder where they may have learned this "bell=food" trigger, referring to Pavlov's classical conditioning theory. Any idea on how to connect "why" youth today are not reading books? and possibly lack substance in communication skills because of this?

hey, at least the youth of today can read.

oh yeah. also you're an idiot.

[Schopenhauer]

What you have there, ladies and gentleman, is a "generalization" about youth. I use the internet for quick facts or to find words that come up once in awhile.

You need to got deeper than that. You have to have a source and the facts have to pertain to something in the real world.

Worry more about grammar.

You can find e-text on The Elements of Style online for free.

[Rhino (╯﹏╰)]

Quoted from OP: “My argument introduces the idea that the youth today are not reading much literature with substance, values, morals or exploring a creative imaginative side to our minds. Because of this…”

Exploring the creative and imaginative parts of one’s mind is not necessarily dependant on reading the classics. Therefore your deduction indicated by “Because of…” is flawed.

Ditto on the prior poster’s grammar recommendation.