Reading response #1

David Reissner
English 100
4/9/10




Reading Response # 1



In the article, “Clive Thompson On The New Literacy” by Clive Thompson, one controversial issue discussed is if modern technology such as emails, facebook and texting has ruined kids writing ability. On one hand, University College of London Professor John Sutherland thinks modern technology has caused student’s writing to suffer. Sutherland says that it turned our language into “bleak, bald, sad shorthand”. He implies that rather than carefully crafted essays kids are writing with no format and poor grammar. On the other hand, Clive Thompson contends that facebook , texting and chat rooms have helped the youth to write better and with more enthusiasm. In the Thompson article Professor Lunsford is quoted saying “I think were in the midst of a literary revolution the likes of which we haven’t seen since Greek civilization”. In the public forums of Greek civilization, everyone was welcome to listen observe and even be involved. Thompson makes the point that the Greeks were interactive with public dialogue, which is very similar to chat rooms and blogs. My own view is that while, I believe technology is taking our writing in a new positive direction, it’s also hurts the English language. With texting, emails and facebook , face to face communication is at a all time low. Live interaction is very necessary in the English language. Certain emotions can’t be portrayed through technology, such as happiness, anger and frustration. The comparison to today’s students and Greek culture that Lunsford made was a valid point, but I feel she over looked a key element of literature in those days. A big part of Greek culture was passing on stories orally and having dialogue in person. I am a strong believer that people can make a much stronger point and have a far better discussion face to face than in a chat room. I agree that kids these days benefit from technology as far as writing, but the same technology is hurting their social interactions