My Argument Essay

Inquiring. Learning. Information. Research. Books are some of the best places to
visit while seeking any of these things. When was the last time you think you
read a book or an article about art, cooking, sports, history, a person, or facts?
Biographies, memoirs, journalism, historical, scientific, essays, research papers
and informational books in general are all categorized as non fiction text.
Though, it is critical that readers also understand what they are reading.
Comprehension is the reason for reading. If readers can read the words but do
not understand or connect to what they are reading, they are not really reading.
Good readers are both purposeful and active, and have the skills to absorb what
they read, analyze it, make sense of it, and make it their own. States
www.readingrockets.org
Many people do not enjoy reading fiction (stories) but love learning new things
(sometimes from their interest areas) from non fiction text. Everybody uses it in
their lives, Students usually use it for educational purposes like studying,
homework, assessments, research and inquiring. Children may also us it to learn
more about their interest areas. Adults may use it this types of writing for their
job (information or research), for studying, learning things about their interest
areas (cooking, art, sport, cars)or just to stay up-to-date with what is going on
(newspapers, press/business/economy articles). Elders can use it to learn more
about their interest area and staying up to date with all the new innovations and
things that re going on in the world.
Non fiction has its own characteristics and strategies that can be used to
understand it better. The website www.readingrockets.org stated: Strong
readers think actively as they read. They use their experiences and their
knowledge of the world, vocabulary, language structure, and reading strategies
to make sense of the text and how to get the most out of it. They know when
they have problems with understanding and what thinking strategies to use to
resolve these problems when they pop up. Some of the strategies they are
talking about are: choosing reading material that is appropriate in the difficulty
level, taking notes while reading (there are many methods to take notes: Cornell
note taking, bullet points, paragraphs etc.), summarizing, pausing to think and
make connections, asking questions, using post-its or flash card, higlhliting, text
coding, indentyfing main word and taking time to reflect on what you have read
at the end (you can use the 1-2-3 method for this). These strategies allow
readers to understand the text better and use it later on in life.
The comprehension on non fiction text should be valued more in reading
instruction. Without it, the fluency, difficulty level and the speed students are
reading at doesnt matter as much to them, since those will come along as
readers gain more experience and comprehend text. Reading instruction should
be able to develop readers and teaching effective strategies will help to achieve
this goal.

When someone says fiction I imideately think of stories, adventure, suspense,

action, entertainment and imagination. Fiction helps readers develop skills that
are needed to make stories come to life. Reading fiction text also helps you learn
some narrative elements and what techniques writers use to write stories, which
may even influence later on in life.
Reading fiction is one of the things I love to do most. Wether it is realistic fiction,
fantasy, fairytales, graphic novels, mythology, science fiction or historical fiction I
will still devour it (though I do admit I prefer science fiction, fantasy and
mystery). I enjoy it so mucH because when I read it I can travel to so many new
places, have tons of adventures, make many new friends, I can get rid of all my
stress or sadness, I am able to view different worlds from many different points
of view and I can let my imagination go wild! I think that a big factor of why I
enjoy reading so much is because I can really comprehend books. I feel like I am
really there with the characters, I read so actively and I am so entertained, I
know that is why I love it so much. I am lucky, I was taught g strategies I can use
to understand the text better, and how to be a true reader. Many people dont
get the type of reading instruction I had, where I was taught how to read actively
and what skills a true reader posses, encouraged to read and learned many
strategies I can use while I am. I know that if people were taught reading in this
way it would have a positive impact in the way the view reading and how they
comprehend fiction. Students benefit from teacher-directed instruction in
comprehension strategies. Most struggling readers (and many not so struggling
readers)benefit enourmously when we can construct strategy lessons that help
to make the comprehension process visible. States ____________________( I need
to find the resource, though I know its a book that I found online)
When I talk about reading instruction including effective strategies I mean that
schools should also take time to teach students strategies and have different
activities that will help and encourage students in their reading. The activities I
am reffering to are: book clubs, free time for reading, book recommendations,
book talks, read aloud time, mini lessons that could include teaching points and
contests for reading. Some of the strategies that I think should also be taught
are: making theories and predictions, using post-it notes to write your thinking
down, having questions about the books, making theories and predictions,
making connections with other books you have read and your life, thinking about
your prior knowledge and how it relates to the text, visualizing the events, using
tables or graphs to organize your thinking better, trying to look at the events
from other characters perspectives (not only the one the story is narrated in) and
setting goals along your reading. I think that if reading instruction would include
and teach a few of the things I mentioned above it would truly change the
students reading lives in a positive way.
As a very dedicated I can not deny that I also had mountains and valleys to cross
before I was able to comprehend text the way I do now, before I could make

stories come to life and before loving to read. Till 3 rd grade I attended a
Romanian school, where the main focuses in reading instruction were the speed
we were reading at, our fluency and our vocabulary. I know that these things
impact comprehension of text in some ways, and we were also encouraged to
read books, but I am not able to say that comprehension was really in their focus
that much. There I enjoyed reading, but I never felt a passion for it. In fourth
grade I move to AISB, an international school. Here, reading instruction is taught
very differently. Last year was my first year at this school and I did notice some
pretty big differences. At AISB we has: read alouds, free time for reading, book
clubs, book talks, book recommendations, mini lessons, teaching points, contests
for reading and the Fountas and Pinnell guided reading was also in the
curriculum. We were taught the strategies that I mentioned in the last paragraph.
After I learned about them, how to use them practiced them more I was
impacted me as a reader. I am now reading a lot more than before, I can
understand the text, I read actively and I love to do it!
I know that if the same type of reading instruction that was applied to me
(including teaching effective strategies, having mini lessons and organizing some
of the activities) would be applied to other reading instruction it would make a
huge difference in the comprehension of fiction books and the way students view
reading. As George R.R. once said, A reader lives a thousand lives before he
dies. The man who never reads lives only one.

Including effective strategies in reading instruction will help students become life
long readers. In life, reading is required daily. From advertisements, emails,
messages, signs, labels, contracts, newspapers, advertisements, articles and
books text is everywhere! Some of it is required, and some of it we do it for
pleasure. Since reading is required so much, it is very important that people get
proper reading instruction.
Many people dont like reading, and only do it because they are forced to. They
dont have a love for reading, and I understand that. I know you cant teach a
person to love something. You can not tell wether someone likes something or
not, and teaching reading strategies does not guarantee that everyone will start
having a passion for reading. It is human nature to have things we are better at
and enjoy more, so it is normal if people dont love reading and cant wait to
have some free time to pick up a book and read. Though, I am asking you: Isnt it
a lot more likely that a student will enjoy reading more if they do get this type of
reading instruction that if they dont? We all know that reading instruction is one
of the most important skills you can teach a child. It lays the foundation for a
childs success in school and in everyday life. For this reason, one of the most
precious gifts we can give our students is a book. Books stir the senses, inspire
imagination, and spark a love of reading that will last a lifetime. states
www.scholastic.com

The way people view themselves as readers is a big part of developing life long
readers. There is a difference between looking at yourself as a person who can
read and a true, involved, and passionate reader. In the article Donalyn Miller
Teaches Important Lessons about Fostering Lifelong Readers she says that a few
very predictable things lifelong readers do are that:1)Lifelong readers spend
time reading, a lot of time, reading. 2) Lifelong readers successfully self-select
books. 3) Lifelong readers have a social life around reading. Life long readers
also use strategies while reading ( making connections, visualizing, asking
question, taking notes, making theories and predictions etc.), but they also do
something after they are finished with their reading. Do you know what they do
after they finish? Well, what do you do after you finish an article, book or what
you will be reading for the day? Well, after they finish their reading, true readers
stop and reflect. They reflect about what they have just read, what they have
learned, what they have experienced and they think about it. Then, they use the
knowledge and skills they have gained later on in real life. How do you do that? It
is actually nothing very complicated. You take what you now know and you use it
in your life. You make connections about it while you are reading new things,
while you are having a conversation, while you are listening to the radio or
watching television and you ask even more questions about what information
and skills you have gained. You inquier around it and you share it with others.
This is what you can do after you finish reading.
As you can now see, if reading instruction develops life long readers they will
benefit greately afterwards. Right now 775 million people can read around the
world, but I wonder how many of them are truly life long readers. Well, we will
never be able to know since you cant know wether someone loves to do
something or not. Reading isnt only about being able to read, it is more about
how you do it. Thats what makes the difference.

Now that youhave read my thinking and arguments you can make a choice. Do
you think reading instruction should include effective strategies to help develop
readers or not? There is no arguing that teaching reading is a very hard job.
Regardlessof the toughness and complexity the is no disputing that if effective
strategiesare taught readers will understand non fiction text better, will
comprehend fiction text more and most likely become life long readers.
Therefore, I firmly believe reading instruction should include effective strategies
to help develop readers.

Possible introduction sentences:

Reading. Such a powerful word, offering so many possibilities.

Reading instruction, the start of it all.
Being taught how to read (properly?) offers a person so many
possibilities. It shapes their lives. Comprehension of fiction text,
understanding of non-fiction text and creating life long readers
can all be achieved by teaching reading instruction that includes
effective strategies to help develop readers.
No... I think I will keep it like it is now but I dont want to delete
those.