This is an intentionally open-ended question. I am anticipating all sorts of responses, and I want to encourage you to think creatively and to respond honestly. Here we go!
Blog Question #1: Why do we (people in general or you specifically) read and write? Feel free to do some research or use some of your favorite authors' quotations as examples of your reasoning.
As you consider the question above, I thought you may enjoy this Calvin and Hobbes comic strip I found:
Watterson, Bill. Calvin and Hobbes. http://www.blogut.ca/2008/10/24/interested-in-a-career-in-writing/. (5 August 2010).
64 comments:
I, for one, read and write because it is an way to have a creative outlet. Reading helps the mind learn more about english and defines the vocabulary and knowledge. The writing is a way for people to get their feelings out on paper( that's my way) and to be heard. Both reading and writing are good for the mind to express itself and have a good work out.
M.Fourier-3white
I agree with M. Fourier. I also believe that we read to understand the world. Reading is also an escape, if you have a lot on your mind. This is a quote from C.S. Lewis to ponder:
"We read to know we are not alone"
-C.S. Lewis
R. Hall-2white
I also agree with M. Fourier. I thought the quote by C.S. Lewis, that was posted by R. Hall, was very interesting and thought provoking. I think that we read and write so we can communicate with one another or that we read and write just for pleasure. Writing can be an outlet for people or it can be a communication tool; while reading can be a learning tool and a communcation tool.
R. Barnes 2White
I agree with all the coments. I think I like to read and write because writing the way I feel about some things makes me feel better about myself, and reading some books, articles, or magazines lets me relate to some of them too. I realize I'm not alone about everything. I think everyone would enjoy reading as long as you understand it, and express what you want to express when you write.
M.Rogers 2White
I personally believe that reading and writing has many possibilities to transform the world into a better place, and that is why we perform these actions. With a simple translated novel or letter, two people from two completely different continents can relate to each other and share a laugh. Educational works make us smarter, religious texts help us figure out our own personal meaning of life, and news articles help people learn more and more about the world that makes history everyday! These examples are just a few valid explanations to why we read and write. I am now about to relate to somebody and spread an idea. I agree with Maggie because literature saves us from always being lonely and can save us from having ignorant minds. Here is a quotation from the classic American author Mark Twain: "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." -Mark Twain, attributed
I personally believe that reading and writing has many possibilities to transform the world into a better place, and that is why we perform these actions. With a simple translated novel or letter, two people from two completely different continents can relate to each other and share a laugh. Educational works make us smarter, religious texts help us figure out our own personal meaning of life, and news articles help people learn more and more about the world that makes history everyday! These examples are just a few valid explanations to why we read and write. I am now about to relate to somebody and spread an idea. I agree with Maggie because literature saves us from always being lonely and can save us from having ignorant minds. Here is a quotation from the classic American author Mark Twain: "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." -Mark Twain, attributed
G.Hughes-2,White
Well, I believe that people read for many different reasons. One reason why I think people read books, newspapers, comic books, or any other piece of writing is to pass the time, sort of like a hobby. Another reason why I think people read is to learn more about the subject that is being read. Also, people read just because they are simply told to. I have a different thought about writing though. People write because they would like to tell a story, or they also write to express their feelings about something, that might not be able to be said out loud.
"Either write things worth reading or do things worth writing." --Benjamin Franklin
P.Triplett 2 White
I agree with P.Triplett I think that people do read and write for different reasons. I think that some people read for entertainment or to find out more about something that they didnt know about. I also think that when you write about something its normally something you are passionate about and you are exploring through your thoughts and what you like and most of the time before people write they read up on what they might read about so that they can get other opions. I feel like when people write it normally is going to be about something they feel strongly for and if thats not the case then maybe they just want to know more about something.
"For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I'm surprised where the journey takes me. "
Jack Dann
(http://koti.mbnet.fi/pasenka/quotes/q-writ.htm)
k.rogers 3W
I agree with all the comments above.. But, I myself use my writing to remember great stories, dreams, and day-dreams that I have everyday. My writing is my creative outlet as stated above but also my way of viewing the world and events in it. ....T. Reese... 4w
I believe that people began to read and write because it was an easier way to record history, transfer information and ideas, and to discover their own inner thoughts and feelings. Anyone can sit and ponder ideas about life and the human experience, but when you put them down on paper they take on a new light. As you write out your ideas they suddenly become more real to you and more tangible to other people. There are obvious practical reasons why people began reading and writing too: directions, long distance communication, and record keeping to name a few. I also believe that reading is just as important as writing. What's the use of giving someone directions to a place if they can't read them? Also if you read enough you are bound to find someone else with the same idea as you and that may just inspire you enough to write about that topic too!
C. McGuire 3W
I also agree with P Tripplett in that reading and writing has different uses. It obviously started with a practical use of recording information and then with communication from a distance. That purpose is still in effect today but now people use writing as a way to create entertainment for people, inform people of different things (whether that may be science, how to stay in shape etc.), and just to personally record their feelings about something. Reading is used for entertainment, gaining wisdom/knowledge, and for many other ways. Most of our society is based on reading things, and without we could not function. We read street signs, restaurant menus, textbooks, emails, bulletins, and a thousand other things. So as it was once practical, it still is, but it is also for entertainment and pursuit of wisdom as we read.
I also agree with P Tripplett in that reading and writing has different uses. It obviously started with a practical use of recording information and then with communication from a distance. That purpose is still in effect today but now people use writing as a way to create entertainment for people, inform people of different things (whether that may be science, how to stay in shape etc.), and just to personally record their feelings about something. Reading is used for entertainment, gaining wisdom/knowledge, and for many other ways. Most of our society is based on reading things, and without we could not function. We read street signs, restaurant menus, textbooks, emails, bulletins, and a thousand other things. So as it was once practical, it still is, but it is also for entertainment and pursuit of wisdom as we read.
(sorry i forgot to post my name and just realized i forgot it)
C. Ketring
I believe that we write to pass on our selves. In the book the Illiad they fight to be the greatest. They do this for time like honor. They do this because when you are the best and you die you live for ever as the best. When you ancestors remember your name they are keeping you alive and thus you have achieved immortality. This thought may have passed on to writing. Such as every time we read a book by and author such as William Shakespeare we keep him alive. We create an image of him in our heads and this allows for him to live on. This is a quote saying kinda what I just said.
“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries.”
- Descartes
I believe we read to pass the time but also to seek adventure that we can’t have. Every time we pick up a book we travel to that land or place and we live the adventure along with the main character. In general we all wish to be the knights in shining armour or the love sick human doting on a vampire. This is what I believe we read and write for.
“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.”
- Andre Gide
H. Gardner 2 White
Teacher Appreciation
“If you can read this, thank a teacher.”
- Anonymous teacher
Reading and writing are the basic skills of modern people who have been educated. We can speak and listen to communicate with people, but it’s very limited. Speaking couldn’t be kept; it’s gone as soon as he speaks. Recording technique had been developed recently and it’s too uncomfortable. Writing and reading can solve this problem. Something written can be read by everybody who can read. Writer remains what he wants to remain as long as possible. So he writes, and readers read. It’s very simple. Everybody has different reasons to write and read, but the basic function is to get what the writer wants to remain or let us know. It’s part of communication; very continuous. Communication with other people is necessary to live in the society and very important to us.
When I got [my] library card, that was when my life began.
~ Rita Mae Brown ~
J. Lee 4W
People read for many different reasons. I believe one of the main reasons is using a book as an escape, like a literal Narnia. When you open a book you enter the author's world, go on a journey with the characters, and escape your own world in return.
“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.”
- Andre Gide
Writing is a great form of expressing yourself. You can also relive or share memories. For example, after a bad experience, you can sit down and write about it to gain closure.
-L. Van Tuyl 4W
I think whenever we write, we are putting our thoughts, feelings, emotions on paper. If we are writing a journal or writing a story. The power of reading and writing is sharing. You are not keeping everything to yourself when you put things down in your journal. Or the authors of every book has a story to tell. We read and write to learn and share knowledge. Knowledge about ourselves and other people. Reading and writing gives us a chance to speak out and listen.
“Reading, like writing, is a creative act. If readers only bring a narrow range of themselves to the book, then they'll only see their narrow range reflected in it.” ~ Ben Okri
J. Martinez 4W
I agree with all the points made so far. I especially agree with H.Gardner's comment that we read to "seek an adventure we can't have". You're unaware of the present when reading, immersed in the world of the book, traveling to sometime or somewhere else. I think that's one of the big reasons we read, to have that experience. Not a lot of other activities can give us that experience, maybe dreaming, and that makes reading and writing unique.
One fact I haven't heard so far is that we read and write to remember. I know that some people write journals or like to keep stuff from their past. It'd be pretty cool to read one of your journal entries from years back and have a flashback. Personally, I like looking through stuff I've kept from school throughout the years sometimes, such as reading a short story I wrote in 4th grade or reading something insignificant but funny my friend scribbled on my agenda.
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
--Edward Robert Bulwer-Lytton, "Richelieu"
O.Jeong 2W
I agree with many or even all of the comments above. We read and write for many different reasons; to each their own. Some (write) for instances to be recorded for the future, many to express themselves, others simply because they're told to (school assignments), and I write because i want someone to want to read it.
When i've written something i do not raise my hand to be called on to read my essay aloud, i simply wait to be called upon out of choice. i write so someone can have the option of insight on my opinion. I want them to read my stories, and get interested enough to read more. Then if they chose to, it flatters me. I, of course, return the favor of reading a peer's paper as well, which i believe is encouraging them of their skill.
M. Zartman- 4w
I agree with these comments as well, for me reading is something fun to do. It is also a skill that is necessary to have in life. if you know how to read then you will know how to write. I belive if you have these two skills you can have a succesful life.
“Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting” - Aldous Huxley
M.Alford 2W
"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
I believe that Wellesley had it right. We write to express ourselves and let our feelings flow freely. With writing we can truly be ourselves and not worry about anyone judging us. Reading is a way to open our minds and explore other people's thoughts and points of view. A good book will transport you into another world, a world that can be your escape from reality. We read to gain knowledge and to explore the universe and parallel words.
M. Heath 2W
I agree with many of the comments to. I like Ben Franklin's comment that P. Triplett posted. Reading is a way to transport from the natural world to your own world and really make a picture in your head. Writing is a way to express yourself and show your personality in many different ways. You might be one of the quietest people in class, but when it comes to writing about things you really express yourself. Without reading and writing the world just wouldn't be the same.
The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin
“We read to know we are not alone.” -C.S. Lewis
http://thinkexist.com/quotations/reading/
www.quotegarden.com/writing.html
J. Carter 4W
I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no-one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books.
~ Anonymous ~
http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readingquotes.htm
We read so that we can escape the boring monotony of our daily lives and live vicariously through others experiences and ideas. I believe that we write because everyone likes to feel like the ideas swirling around inside they're head are important enough to be put on paper and shared.
L. Lefevre, 2nd white
I agree with L. Lefevre. Reading takes us to a very different place. Let me look at this from a different view. What if we didn't read or write? Think of the history loss, the ideas never passed down. I can express things though writing better than verbally it is easier for me to orginize my thoughts. Book have always inspired us. Like the bible, and works of philosophy that talk about morals and ideals.
That was S. Jolley sorry!
I can agree with all of these statements, but the one I agree with the most is the one that P. Triplett said. There are plenty of reasons why people read and write. Some people write because they have a love for expressing their feelings. Personally, I like writing better than reading because writing comes from what you think, love, and enjoy. On the other hand, people love to read because they enjoy things that they can relate to. Honestly, if you would have someone that likes reading fighting and killing books, I am pretty sure they won't be reading a story about princesses and fairies. I say that people read and write to be entertained. Reading and writing are just like a television; you have different types of shows to choose from, to be entertained, and it is your choice to choose what you want.
A quote to ponder on from Oscar Wilde is... "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."
N.Datiri, 4th White
I can agree with all of these statements, but the one I agree with the most is the one that P. Triplett said. There are plenty of reasons why people read and write. Some people write because they have a love for expressing their feelings. Personally, I like writing better than reading because writing comes from what you think, love, and enjoy. On the other hand, people love to read because they enjoy things that they can relate to. Honestly, if you would have someone that likes reading fighting and killing books, I am pretty sure they won't be reading a story about princesses and fairies. I say that people read and write to be entertained. Reading and writing are just like a television; you have different types of shows to choose from, to be entertained, and it is your choice to choose.
A quote to ponder on from Oscar Wilde is... "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."
I would like to build off of H.Gardner's comment "we write to pass on our selves." There are infinite reasons as to why we begin writing, yet the same result is made- a piece of themselves had been left in the book. The author pours his/her soul into their writing, therefore exposing themselves through the pages. It's a way to live on, even after we're gone. The same goes for reading. C.Ketring said that we read for the "pursuit of wisdom." While authors leave their life in the pages, readers discover their own.
"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." -Author Unknown
L.Grand, 2W
I am very inspired by many of these comments. I agree with M. Zartman because, what she said about everyone having their own reasons to read and write is very true. I think that we write in order to communicate. Sometimes words just don't get our feelings across. When we write we tell stories about how we feel. It is important to write because sometimes it is better to explain how you feel through a story rather then define your feelings.
Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it. ~Hannah Arendt
Arendt, Hannah. "Writing Quotes, Sayings about Writers, Quotations about Words." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. Web. 21 Aug. 2010. .
A. Farrow 2W
I agree with C. McGuire about the equal importance of reading and writing. I also agree with M. Zartman; if people give your writing a chance, the opportunity should be reciprocated. Also, I believe that people write to immortalize their thoughts. When something has been put into words on paper, they lives on past you and those who heard the ideas as you expressed them verbally.
Similarly, people read to view the past, to imagine the future, and to enjoy the present. When one reads, one visits someplace. Whether that place be the past, someone else's imagining of the furture, or a different percpective to the present, it is different than the world you know through your experience.
Also, the power of speech is part of what sets human beings apart from other animals. Reading and writing are developments of that ability. E. M. Forster phrased this in a way I find amusing as well as apropriate: "How do I know what I think until I see what I say?"
A. Mehta 3W
I agree with all the people who said that we read and write for different reasons. We write to share our thoughts, record history, or to express ourselves. We also write for others to read. We read to learn about different people's opinions, learn about the past, or just because we enjoy reading. Reading and writing helps us to expand our knowledge.
"Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere." -Mary Schmich
"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life." -Mortimer J. Adler
H. Lee 3W
I agree with what A.Farrow says about how we write in order to communicate. I think another reasone why we write is because it helps us to express how we feel or what we are going through. It might be hard for people who cant express themselves by talking so they write it instead because it is easier for them.I think that we read because reading helps us escape reality temporarily and it feels good to get lost in a story and not have to think of all the problems we have in real life.
t.Branch 4B
I think that people read so that they can have an adventure. Reading gives people there own little world to live in for brief periods of time. Each reader is seeing whatever they want, even if 50 people are reading the same book. Now with writing i think we write to express our self. Writing gives people books which are ment to be read and enjoyed. Without reading and writing the world would be deprived of stories and information. Reading and writing are two very important things in the world.
-A. Hinson 3rd White
I agree with A. Hinson on how writing helps the world to not just be focused on stories and information because if it only on those two the laguage area would somewhat be boring.I believe that we write so that we can clear our mind and to let some people know that they arent the only people going thru what they are going thru. I also believe that people write to help to make learning fun and an experience for the young people in the world.
J.Williams- 3W
I believe that one writes in order to be truly immortalized. A man writes so that others, in the present and the future, might read of his thoughts and ideas, and they themselves be affected. I think that writing is one of the most influential ways to spread an idea or concept. It is through writing that the most powerful changes occur through, not only in government and bills, but also in the people’s thoughts and mindset. When a person writes, they inscribe within it a piece of themselves. This piece lives on as those in future generations read it. Reading is a way to journey back in time, and explore the thoughts and ideas of another; and when one reads, they do not simply learn of the author’s views, they resurrect them. Reading and writing is a way to pass on wisdom and knowledge to future generations and allow communication between them. For example, in 1984, a novel by George Orwell which I believe we will be reading later in the year, Orwell warns future (and even present) generations of the dangers of allowing society to become as it is in his dystopian novel. He tells us what the world could come to, and how horrific it truly it would be if we are to allow it to, if action is not taken, and the decent to this state is not stopped. I think that the quote from Andre Gide that H. Gardner posted earlier applies here well: “To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.” This immortalization and rebirth of the author’s feelings is the true reason that we read.
H. Burch – 4th White
Personally, I read and write to escape everyday issues or problems, and to discover new things. I make sure I pick a book that I can relate to and would enjoy reading, and then reading’s not such a drag. Reading can be, and is, fun!!
Writing for me is much easier than trying to tell my ideas verbally because I almost need time to think before I can just blurt something out. Writing also gets me thinking even deeper than I would if I was just speaking. I have time to ponder different things and wonder about them. Also, like someone said earlier, it’s almost a way for us to be remembered in the future. I want my grandchildren one day to be able to read things that I wrote during my childhood and be able to see how my life was. I know when I read letters my parents wrote back and forth it’s um…weird, but yet funny to see how things were 15 years ago.
Reading and Writing make up the world pretty much. Imagine a world without these things…
G. Toland, 4W
I agree with M. Zartman's comment about writing so that others will read it. Whether we really think about it or not, when we write, we are subconciously expecting someone to read it. Writing allows us to express our ideas and get an idea or a story across to others.
I also really liked S. Jolley's comment. If we didn't read and write our world would be drastically different.
While reading the comments, I saw countless reasons for reading and writing. People said it was a creative outlet, a way to be immortalized, a way to escape the monotony, and so much more. All of these are very true, but really, reading and writing is a necessity. Literacy is very important in living successfully; it affects our lives in so many ways. I can't imagine not being able to read and write.
"Today a reader; tomorrow a leader"
-Margaret Fuller
S. Head - 2nd White
I agree wiht G.Toland. A world with out reading and writing would be a weird world. I personally believe that when someone writes its to write down what they are feeling and thinking about. I personally write down on a book not a journal haha my feelings and what im thinking about. Sometimes people just write and read so that they can use their imagination, like some of those fiction writters that write down stories that are fiction and funny like a "Diary of A Wimpy Kid," is a book about a kid that writes down his life in a journal to tell what has happened to him during the days of his fiction life. I myself read because i feel like its the purpose of life so that when you do something crazy you can write it down and then later in life open the book were you wrote it down and read it so you can learn from your past. Other than that I would say that reading and writing is something that no one can live without in life because its the only way to comunicate with others around the world.
R. Alvarez 2nd White
I believe we read and write for many different reasons. I agree with R. Hall in the respect that reading and writing can be an escape from reality. I'm not much of a writer myself, but I know that when I get into a good book, I feel let down when I put down the book and re-enter my own life. That is why I read. I read because the adventures of characters lives' in books are much more interesting than those of my own. Like I said, that's just me. I mean you can also read because you want to learn more about something or because you could be given good advice on something. Then there's writing. I think people write because they want to literally just put their thoughts down on paper. I don't think there are many reasons for writing other than that. I think people like seeing the thoughts floating around in their head organized and on paper. Other than that, I really don't know much about why people write.
“A home without books is a body without soul.” -Marcus Tullius Cicero
I think this quote describes the way I feel about reading, because without books, I believe we would all be empty.
A. Nix- 2nd White
To me, we read because we want to learn. We want to learn about things other people have seen, done, and heard. We want to know exactly what these different experiences are like. Reading and writing are not just for fun. People write to share a story, these stories are left for other people to read and absorb so, that they may carry on that knowledge that the writer intended or maybe didn’t intend. Reading and writing shape the world and its people into what it has been, is and will be. Every story has a purpose, the story may have a plot so deep and enticing that it might change your life, or it may not be located directly in the plot but in the words used to illustrate the plot. The stories flowing words and complicated turn of events might put you into a different state of mind; give you a new outlook on your day. People read and write because, they can.
A. Kulick – 4W
To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something beautiful, ready always to apprehend in the flow of language the sudden flash of poetry.
~ Gaston Bachelard http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readingquotes.htm
Reading and writing, a way to enter the mind of others, a way to see different worlds, a way to imagine a diffent life. People do it because they want too or because they have too. The reading and writing experience taps into an individual's imagination. People read and write because of everyday stress. They use it as an outlet to express emotions and feelings. I believe, as most do above, that people use writing as a way to immortalize ones self. They use it as a way get a point across, or to tell a person or people a thought or a story. Reading on the other hand is used for learning and entertainment. It shows people a new world and experience.
"When you sell a man a book you don't sell him just 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life"
-Christopher "Tremendous" Jones
The reading and writing experience is the biggest way, I believe, a person can learn. Reading, you learn about other people and their thoughts, or maybe some new words or ideas. Writing, you learn about yourself and how far you can push your mind.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
-Gandhi
M. Bolt 3 Wh.
There, to me, are TONS of reasons why people choose to read and write. Looking at all the comments, it's easy to tell that. To me, reading expands your knowledge. Really, about anything! If you really think about it, you learn so many things, such as: different cultures around the world, or reading music, perhaps, reading the different styles of Mozart to some random fiddle player..?! You can also read instruction manuals to 20 different types of...legos?! Reading makes you learn so many things, it's ridiculous how much I tend to look over that! (Well, speaking for myself that is) The more you read, the farther you'll go. All of I've said really revolves around one of my favorite author's quotes:
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go"
-Dr.Seuss
The above quote really inspires me.
And about writing? I think we write because then we can share our knowledge to the rest of the world. We show who we are onto a piece of paper. We express ourselves, who we are.
"Writing is thinking on paper"
William Zinsser
I honestly do NOT know who the guy is, but I'm totally diggin' the quote!
J. Ebalo 3W
I believe we read and write for multiple reasons. For one it's a major part of our society. Without reading and writing we would most likely be stupid. No one would undertsand things the way they do. Reading and writing is also a huge part of communication! If there were no such thing people would have a lot of trouble with their job and trying to get in touch with others! I think reading and writing is very important and we would not be very far without it!
-M. Emfinger
I think writing is just another way that people can express their feelings. It's a way to exscape reality. Reading takes you from one place to another. It builds your imagination to no extent. It's also a great excape for me.
J.Maddox
I think all the replies above are true and very thoughtful. Like S.Jolley said, there would be no way of knowing anything from the past without writing. Sure, you could argue that it could be told generation to generation by mouth. But it would be twisted and changed while a written story would stay the same.
I mostly read and write to entertain myself. Reading a "good" book allows me to forget what I was feeling bad about and just immerse myself into the book. I think writing is the same.
The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce
J.Lee (2W)
Reading and writing is a topic that is comes to most people very naturally. In todays society you rarely find anyone who cannot read or write. This is just another advantage to the modern society that we live in today. We read to expand our paradigm, and we write to express our thoughts. Reading is one way that as a nation, really our whole world, comes together to form opinions on certain issues. We can read about our history, our culture, and our creation. No matter your religion, we all have some beliefs that come from the text of a book. Whether it is the Torah, the Koran, the Bible, or an other sacred book, they all have teachings that are read and believed by a certain group of people. Reading and writing go hand in hand. If people do not write, people cannot read. Writing is a way that a person or a group of people can express opinions. People can also write with intentions of changing someone elses opinion on a subject. Through writing, a person can create an atmosphere that can change a readers view on anything. Writing is probably the most affective way for a person to deal with anything that they feel strong about. Reading and writing is the easiest way to gain knowledge and form opinions.
“We read to know we are not alone.”
- C.S. Lewis
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
- Harry S. Truman
A. Duran 3W
I read to express what I feel. I want my thoughts to be read and heard. It stresses the importance of grammar and spelling. Because English isn't my first language, I always have to be careful and have second thoughts before I write anything. Shy people write because they actually express their feelings and thoughts through words. I read books because it always takes me to places that I would've never thought of, and where I could never go. Books create different worlds in your mind. Unlike the movies, you can read the descriptions of the characters of the story and picture them just the way you want them to be. That freedom is the thing that draws people in.
D. Kwon 3W
I read to get a glimpse into someone elses life or try to relate to another's situation. I read so for a moment I can saturated myself into someone elses words. I read for beautifully written language. I read so that I can pretend or I read to understand a life I don't know. I write to express myself, using my own words and feelings so that just maybe people could see me as I chose to be seen. I write so that maybe my words might burn into the minds of other and I might make a difference.
We write to express ourselves and read to escape.
-H.Johnston
I myself read, not only better understand what someones else has going on in their life or what they are going through, but more to compare situations of others to mine, so i know i am not alone. I read to know what is going on, and how i might can make a difference. I read to escape everything that i am going through and find myself in a better place, maybe in another time or maybe a different world, anywhere that i can take my mind off things. Everyone needs an escape every now and again, and sitting down with a good book can help.
I write to express myself and who i am, my feelings that i have, or maybe just to simply get something off my chest. I write for people to know my story, and maybe to help them with what they are going through.
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
-Dr. Seuss
-Z.C. Overstreet 4W
I think that people read and write for different reasons. I agree with k.Rogers when she said that people read for entertainment and to find information. I personally like to read for entertainment and read interesting stuff not boring information. I also agree with Z.C. Overstreet and like to read when im stressed out and feel like i can be free with a good book.
“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.”
- Andre Gide
N.Rabren
Why do people read and write? This is a question that cannot truly be answered in just one paragraph, or a question that you can answer with complete honestly in just twenty minutes. No, this is a question that requires you to deliberate deeply and thoroughly. The reason i say this is because reading and writing is a way to let go, to express your feelings, and i'm almost certain that everyone has different feelings; it's what makes our personality. To me reading is a way to relax, contemplate on previous matters and is a great stimulant to the brain. The reason i say this is because most of the time when someone reads something they truly enjoy, a plot that completely absorbs them into the story, they wish to talk about it. My guess is that this is why book clubs were formed, to reflect on what has been read, because even though your not expressing your feelings directly, your still giving an opinion. Writing is also an activity that does the things previously mentioned, and does much more. When it comes down to it, writing is a way to clear your head, a way for your voice to be heard. Whether its a nonfiction book, or a story that you just have to get down on paper before its lost from your head forever. This statement applies to everyone out there, in my opinion, whether your a bookworm just looking for another great story, or a just trying to emulate yourself past previous goals, its an undeniable fact that reading is for everyone.
To me a good quote that expresses my thoughts on reading and writing is this…"Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own"
~William Hazlitt
-M. Acker 3W
I myself read to escape from the world. Sometimes you may need to get away from the real world and reading is a great way to do so. I also read so i know i'm not alone. I might be struggling with something, but i can read something and someone else might be going through the same exact thing. You read more than you even know. It may not necessarily be a book, but maybe a magazine or a poster. It's a way to communicate with the world and get informed.
I write for many of the same reasons. If something is going on in my life it's a way to get out what i'm feeling but no one has to know. It's a way to express myself and tell a story.
Many people have already posted this quote but i love it.
"We read to know we are not alone"
~C.S. Lewis
A.Boone 4w
I believe we read and write for two different reasons. One is that we read and write to learn and educate. Humans have always had a natural curiosity about the world around us. That is a quality that makes us so knowledgeable. When we investigated our world at first, we didn't have anything but word of mouth to communicate our findings. So letters were invented, and we wrote down what we had found out for others to read. People also read and write for pleasure. Writing is a way to express your emotions, an art. I do not enjoy writing so much, nor am I any good at it, but I definitely LOVE reading for fun. The only genre I read is fiction. I love fiction, especially fantasy. Reading takes me to other worlds, where things are done that could never be done in reality. It is so much fun to imagine these other worlds and their magic. I can relate to some characters, and it is just wonderful seeing how they progress throughout the story, which is always why I am sad when a series is finished. Reading really IS an escape.
K. Pillai-3rd White
As an artist, I love to read and write because I enjoy it. Writing is a way that I can not only tell a story but also try to recreate a scene from my mind to show other people. It seems to relax me and I've been told on numerous occasions that I'm quite good at it. I also enjoy reading because I can actually begin to picture what other writers are trying to get me to see and think. I usually only enjoy reading novels I pick for myself but every now and then the books I'm required to read for school are also to my liking. Which isn't very often though, but on occasions. The items I read for myself, like what Z.C. Overstreet said, are for me to compare to my own life and problems. Many of the things I have read are a great deal like my own life. I love it! Reading and writing are just a couple of other ways to express my self, other than music and art like I usually do.
~K.Lieb(: 4W
I think that we read to keep connected to the world around us and we write to share ideas and things we have learned.
-R.Phillips 4W
Well, from reading some of these comments, there are a huge number of reasons for why we read and write. I believe we read to gain knowledge and also just so you can function in everyday life. If no one read or could read things would be chaos. So i also believe it helps to keep order in the world today. People, such as myself, also just read for fun. Books can be an escape to another world!
I believe we write to share with people the knowledge we have. To spread what we know and have learned. We also write to express ourselves and our emotions or our feelings we might have. For example, when im stressed about something or things just arent going like i want them to, ill usually fill up a sheet of paper writing about what im feeling and sometimetimes ill put those things into a rap or a rhyme and that usually somehow makes me feel better about whats happening!
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."
-- Mark Twain
R. Taber 3w
i don't really read all that much but id do write. i really enjoy writing because it eases your mind and relaxes the soul. i also like to write in different ways, sometimes straight forward and some times in a way mae you think. it also helps me connect in a way to people and other things that i feel a certain way about. maybe i can't tell you or explain sometime to you, but i can put it in a poem for you. it helps us connect in ways we did't know we could, and that makes me feel joyful. i also try to connect my writing with my art. it helps me visualize things better and get a better understanding. i would have to say writing makes me feel good.
K.Williams
i think we all read and write for different reasons. some do it for fun, some do it just strictly for school. it all depends on your preference. i for one read a little on my own time, but only if i am extremely interested in the book. i really don't like to write that much, cause it hurts my hand and its very boring. it might relax some people, but i'm not the one for it. i can type an essay now and then, but i din't really like either of them too much to where i want to scream and jump around.
C.Caylor 4W
I think the best thing that a language can contain is ‘Emotions’. People in the prehistoric times, they didn't have language but they expressed their hopes and feelings by painting it in a cave. We can see what they wanted and felt about it by looking at the painting. When an emotion lies on the letters, the feeling gets more specific. It is hard to draw a feeling that I’m feeling now. For example, a feeling, ‘Distressed’ (which I’m feeling right now) is a hard feeling for a picture to explain. However, it is much easier to explain it in writings like ‘He felt like tons of massive weight was pressing on him’. It is hard to speak it in normal, and I think that’s why writing stands for. The reason for reading is that when we read, we can feel what a character felt, whom I get to know through out the writing. Sometimes we smile, cry, and even get upset by reading letters. It is a reaction that we can get from the combination of character’s action and the experience that the reader has.
"It is not best that we should all think alike; it is a difference of opinion which makes horse races."
-Mark Twain-
J. Kwark 3W
i think that each person has their own motives for reading and writing, some people love the imaginations they get from words printedf on paper. Others enjoy releasing major feelings through writting and then there is always just the simple joy of reading and writing. I enjoy reading because of the amazing images and pictures that can be put into your mind, simply from words being printed on a peice of paper. If you really think about it, reading and writting can be extrordinary things.
M. McDonald 4w
personal for me reading is a way to learn other poeples ideas. in the case of most books the intended purpuse is intertanment although it oftens fails. no offence but all the books that the school assinse are dull, boring, and non voilent. writing is a way to express your ideas and i guess for some poeple a way to order their thoughts.
M McKinley 3white
I think we read and write not only to communicate, but to entertain ourselves as well. There are all kinds of books that are completely made up that people just read for fun. Also, people read and write to gain knowledge, like we do in school everyday. Reading and writing are both very important aspects of our lives.
M. Hartzog 3rd White
I think people read and write to explain things, express feelings, and for entertainment. Without reading and writing, the world would be a less educated place. Hardly anyone would know how to do the many things we now know. Another reason we read is to express feelings and opinions. It feels good for people to know that other people feel the same way they do, about love, politics, etc. With reading and writing, people can get opinions of different groups and form beliefs and ideas that they share with others. The last reason we read and write is for entertainment. Many times on a rainy, nasty day, there is nothing better to do than pull a good book out and get into it. A good story can make you feel certain ways and make you view the world a little differently. Overall, I think the world would not be close to the same as it is today, without reading and writing.
I read and write as a way to entertain myself most of the time. writing is a way i can put my ideas down on paper or express an idea i really want to share with someone. i also read for entertainment. I personally don't enjoy reading something im assigned, because im being forced to read it. I prefer to read something that intrest me or amuses me.
M Faulkner
(sorry its late, internet was out)
I think that people read and write to express themselves and how they feel. I also think that we read and write for entertainment. People have have been reading and writing for ages. It is something that will never go out of style. We are always reading or writing. even if we are not writing a story or reading a book we are reading billboard or reading and writing a text. Reading and writing is EVERYWHERE. its all in pop culture its everywhere. i agree with Hartford and Overstreet
P. Rainey
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