Essay rough draft

Public Thinking

         A common belief in today’s society is that the youth are not as skilled when it comes to reading and writing. A common argument for this is that past generations did not have internet and did not waste time on computers and phones when they wrote actual latters and read more books. Clive Thompson, author of “Public Thinking” would disagree. Thompson argues that not only does new technological advancements not put the youth behind, it helps strengthen the youth become better writers. One claim Thompson makes is that because there is an increase in writing on the internet, the youth is exposed to more writing, and there are more opportunities to be heard. In my analysis of Thompsons text I will examine why Thompson believes that in todays society writing is more important and how writing has improved from previous generations.

         Thompsons first claim is that writing for an audience improves ones writings and helps one become a better writer. When someone is writing for themselves they do not have any pressure to write to their full potential, but when an author knows that people could be reading something and judging the work, one is more likely to try harder. What better audience is the internet. Posting something on the internet anyone can read it, not just people you live near by but anyone in the world with internet. This compels authors to put time and effort into their writings even if it is something as simple as a blog post. As Gabriel Weinberg, a founder of a search engine created to protects one’s privacy, “If someone were to come across it in my name, I have to take it more seriously” (54). This is known as the audience effect, when someone knows there is an audience watching them or reading their work, they tend to try harder in fear of judgment. Thompson uses research to help prove his point, “studies have found that particularly when it comes to analytic or critical thought, the effort of communicating to someone else forces you to think more precisely, make deeper connections, and learn more” (55). Through this quote, Thompson proves that the audience effect that works with athletes and musicians also works with writers, and that knowing there is an audience helps writers out their best foot forward and revise their work until they feel it is good enough.  Having the internet available as ones audience where anyone can read anything can really put pressure on someone to think before they post something. Having this generation exposed to such a large audience then what was around before the internet is incomparable. Anyone can now be a writer and get recognized right from their bedrooms, they do not need to be published in The New York Times to be noticed.

         Although intelligent writing is very important to help readers and writers grow intellectually, just plain writing in general can be very beneficial not just for the audience, but for the individual. Thompson claims “writers often find that it is only when they start writing that they figure out what they want to say” (51). With writing especially when the audience effect comes into play, many writers have a tough time starting and getting stuff written down. But once the worlds are out there and on paper, it becomes much easier to formulate ones ideas. This idea of writing what comes to mind and then analyzing it later is not only common among novelists and journalists but poets too. Cecil Day-Lewis commented on his poetic compositions once, “we do not write in order to be understood, we write in order to understand” (51). Thompson is trying to convey that writing can be a great way for someone to express what they want to say and how they are feeling, in some ways it can be therapeutic.

         The internet is a great way to make connections, with anyone being able to post anything around the world. Making connection and discussing topics with groups that are interested in the same topic helps generate deeper thought that could lead to discoveries. History shows that even if two people have never meet before they can both independently invent the same thing neither person knowing someone else has already done that. This is known as the law of multiples, where there is a need or an advancement in society and two people think up the exact same solution. In 1922 sociologists William Ogburn and Dorothy Thompson had a explanation why, “our ideas are, in a crucial way, partly products of our environment” (59).  This exemplifies that one’s peers and the knowledge one obtains from them helps shape their ideas and thoughts. The internet being a breeding ground of people with all different thoughts and ideas waiting to make connections.

Due to this surplus of writing, digital media is creating a golden age of literacy. Because of the benefits of having the internet there is a lot more writing then there ever has been before. Due to the audience effect a lot of the writing is well written pieces. Writing like this has not been seen for years and should be something as a society to be proud of, not ashamed of the use of our new technology.