Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Inquiry Paper - Pre-Final v.1
Inquiry Paper - Pre-Final v.1
Andrew Burgert
ENGL 1103-001
When we first start school, we learn to read to become informed. Many assignments
are required of us by our school and teachers. Many of these texts are things we may not have
wanted to read on our own. However, as we learn from these texts, we may learn to
appreciate them. In England, recent research points to the fact that students’ reading for
pleasure has been limited as a result of needs of the school curriculum. Schools have pushed to
meet objectives, while neglecting the reasons for reading. (Hodges - find quote!(
studies, or science, we often do outside reading to learn more about our subject. As we go on
to higher education, we do on-going research in our major field of study. After college, we
often have to continue our reading and research to keep up-to-date in our career. On a regular
basis, most adults read newspapers and magazines to remain well-informed about the world
around them, so they can participate in civil society. (Note: Read for information on financial,
medical - topics that affect them personally). People also share knowledge by accessing free
information from sources such as the Internet, libraries, and doctors’ offices.
Burgert 2
Another reason people read is for pleasure. While we are in school, our pleasurable
reading is done during breaks and vacation. This reading can be non-fiction, but is most often
fiction. Popular genres include science fiction, such as Star Trek, Star Wars, and The
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (of five books); fantasy such as the Harry Potter
septilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy; mysteries such as those featuring Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson, and those by Issac Asimov; and thrillers such as The Da Vinci Code and Stephen
Some people read to escape their everyday lives. Many of the fiction genres previously
mentioned can be used as an escape, or to stimulate the imagination and be inspired. At the
end of our long, boring workdays, we can go home and enter a world full of excitement and
wonder!
section break.
A less common reason for reading is to hear others’ opinions, especially in an election
year. Every day, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet a ablaze with political fervor towards
one viewpoint or another. There are also many books being released that deal with politics and
politicians. Some of these we agree with; others, we do not. Others may read one’s opinion in
We sometimes read to help us understand ourselves better. In the library, bookstore, or
on the Internet, we look for self-help books. Some of these books may help us to develop more
Burgert 3
knowledge about ourselves. Said knowledge can help us to develop as a whole person. We can
In all of our readings, in many different genres, be they fiction or non-fiction, we can
learn to understand others. We can connect with like-minded people via the Internet, and
other interactive textual channels. Through our readings, we learn about varied in-depth
topics, which gives us something to talk about, and then makes us more interesting. In learning
about topics outside our usual comfort zone, we sometimes can understand and empathize
[Transition]
People read through many different forms. There are the traditional media that most
people consume today, as well as newer media formats that people both consume and
produce. For hundreds of years, people have mostly read through books. More recently,
newspapers and magazines have become a popular alternative. All these traditional media use
paper as the printing material. Modern media, which have only recently come into vogue,
represent a new evolution for reading as a whole. We can now enjoy our books in an electronic
format on comfortably-sized e-Readers. When our hands are busy, especially while driving a
car, you listen to audiobooks. Magazines and newspapers can also be accessed electronically,
either on a website or with a special application. In addition, there are blogs, not to mention
[Conclusion]
Burgert 4
{Add more of your opinion into the paper. Your thoughts on the