Ryan Hammelman's Blog

  • Skim Reading: The Impact it Has On Our Brains

    Skim Reading: The Impact it Has On Our Brains


    In Today’s society we are constantly having information from multiple sources being shoved in our faces at all times. We have begun to develop a habit of skimming through text rather than reading it completely.  Skim reading is a technique used where one quickly scans over a piece of writing picking out keywords to get the idea of what the writing is describing. Skimming is different from reading for comprehension, it is done at a faster pace with a more superficial focus on the writing.  Skimming has become a popular reading style, especially in the digital age, where there is an abundance of information available on the internet. With this comes the argument that the trend of skim reading is having a negative impact on our ability to comprehend what we read. In the Article “Skim Reading is the New Normal: The Effect on Society is Profound” Maryanne Wolf argues how humans are becoming more likely to skim over writing then actually reading it for comprehension. Writer for Inc.com Jessica Stillman wrote an article on skim reading and how it is rewiring our brain and not in a good way. In the article Stillman claims the practice of skim reading, or quickly scanning through information, is becoming the norm due to the prevalence of screens and digital devices. The Washington Post writer Michael S. Rosenwald wrote an article “Serious reading takes a hit from online scanning and skimming, researchers say”. Michael S. Rosenwald’s article talks about the negative impact that this shift can have on understanding and retention, as well as on our ability to engage with longer and more challenging articles and pieces of writing. Another Washington Post writer Strephen Johnson wrote an article about how Online screen reading can wreck your attention.  In the Article Johnson argues that research shows that reading on a screen, as opposed to reading on paper, can lead to a less eye grabbing and less focused reading experience, leading to a reduced ability to understand and retain information.  

    Skim reading is a fascinating topic given that it is completely changing the way humans read and comprehend pieces of writing. Skim reading is also a topic I can relate to because I have always been someone who skims over a majority of writing opposed to reading in-depth and for comprehension. Most of the time I don’t purposefully do it but it’s just what happens, so being able to research why it happens and what it does to my brain is interesting. Skim reading is also very relatable because growing up in the digital era a lot of our forms of writing are being transferred from paper to the internet. The argument that most of the researched articles made was that the internet was the cause of the increase in skim reading and the decrease in human ability to comprehend and retain information.  When I started researching this I wanted to find out what started the phenomenon of skim reading in the younger generations and why their comprehension and retention skills have decreased rapidly. 

    A project coming out of this bibliography could be a research project in psychology. One could use this bibliography for psychology research about why the human brain in the future is not able to comprehend or retain pieces of writing. The bibliography gives sources and summaries about the brain and skim reading versus reading for comprehension and retention. A larger piece of work could also be about education and how the education system has to change as the generations ability to comprehend and retain information changes. The education project could use my bibliography to research what is causing the decrease in students ability to in-depth read. The bibliography also provides information on how new technology is ruining your attention span. The bibliography gives a wide variety of information while all leading back to a common research topic. 

    Johnson, Stephen. “Screen Reading Can Wreck Your Attention. Here’s How to Save It.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Jan. 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/screen-reading-can-wreck-your-attention-heres-how-to-save-it/2020/01/26/2cd94d70-387c-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html. 

    The article “Screen reading can wreck your attention. Here’s how to save it” published by Stephen Johnson of The Washington Post discusses the impact of screen reading on our attention span and provides some tips for minimizing its negative impact. The writer references research that shows that reading on a screen, as opposed to reading on paper, can lead to a less eye grabbing and less focused reading experience, leading to a reduced ability to understand and retain information. The article also addresses the concept of “digital amnesia,” when people are so dependent on technology that they can’t remember important details because they were not fully engaged in the reading and they assume they can always revisit them later.  To argue the negative effects of screen reading, the author suggests a variety of strategies, such as taking breaks, using tools to minimize distractions, and developing the best reading habits. The author also recommends that readers try switching between reading on screen and reading on paper to improve understanding, comprehension, and retention. The article highlights the importance of paying attention to our screens reading habits and taking steps to ensure we don’t sacrifice our attention and cognitive abilities in the process.  

    Stephen Johnson is a writer for The Washington Post. Johnson has a BA in English from Indiana University.  Johnson is a projects editor for Features, coordinating the department’s largest multimedia enterprise and editing stories for Lifestyle. He was previously an audience and newsletter editor. Before joining the newsroom in 2019, he was a reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education and an editorial fellow at the Atlantic. Johnson has been recognized as a Finalist for Online Journalism Awards, excellence in newsletters, 2021. Johnson also speaks Conversational Spanish and Chinese in addition to English. Johnson’s article with The Washington Post is a reliable source for my research paper because it extends off the topic of not just skim reading but describes tactics to maintain a strong ability to understand, comprehend, retain pieces of writing. 

    Rosenwald, Michael S. “Serious Reading Takes a Hit from Online Scanning and    Skimming, Researchers Say.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 6 Apr. 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/serious-reading-takes-a-hit-from-online-scanning-and-skimming-researchers-say/2014/04/06/088028d2-b5d2-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.html. 

    The article “Serious reading takes a hit from online scanning and skimming, researchers say” by Michael S. Rosenwald from The Washington Post reports on the effects of online scanning and skimming on serious readings of long and in-depth pieces of literature. The article references research that suggests that the internet and social media are changing the way we read, with a shift towards scanning and skimming for information rather than engaging in deep, immersive reading.  The article talks about the negative impacts that this shift can have on our ability to understand and retain, as well as on our ability to engage with longer and more challenging articles and pieces of writing. The article also brings to light the potential implications that skim reading has on education and literacy, and suggesting that it could contribute to a decline in critical thinking and analytical skills for humans.  The article notes that even though the internet and digital technology may offer many benefits, such as increased access to information and greater convenience, they also present challenges to our reading habits and cognitive abilities. The article concludes by suggesting that individuals should be mindful of the way they read online and should work to cultivate deeper reading habits, both for personal enrichment and to ensure that they are able to engage effectively with the world around them.

    MIchael S. Rosenwald is an author for the Washington post. Rosenwald earned a B.S. in journalism from Southern Illinois University and a MFA in English from University of Pittsburgh. Michael S. Rosenwald is an enterprise reporter at The Washington Post. Before joining The Post in 2004, he was a reporter at The Boston Globe. He has also written for The New Yorker, Esquire, The Economist and the Columbia Journalism Review. In addition, Rosenwald was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in feature writing in 2003. Rosenwalds entry about skim reading is a reputable source for this topic because it has a claim similar to the one I am making but still shows a little of the opposite side to keep it an argument. 

    Stillman, Jessica. How Skim Reading from Screens Is Rewiring Your Brain (It’s Not Good).      https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/skim-reading-from-screens-is-doing-scary-thing-to-your-brain-according-to-neuroscience.html. 

    The article “How Skim Reading From Screens Is Rewiring Your Brain (It’s Not Good)” on inc.com discusses the impact the digital age has on our reading habits and brain function. The article argues that the practice of skim reading, or quickly scanning through information, is becoming the norm due to the prevalence of screens and digital devices.  The article cites research suggesting that skim reading negatively impacts comprehension and retention, making it difficult for humans to fully understand and retain what they have read. This is due to the fact that skim reading encourages an inconsistent style of reading, where individuals jump from one piece of information to the next without fully understanding and processing it.  The article further argues that this style of reading is rewiring our brains, making it harder for us to stay concentrated on longer pieces of writing or complex ideas. It suggests that this is particularly problematic in an academic and a professional setting, where the ability to comprehend and analyze complex information is essential.  Overall, the article argues that while screens and digital devices offer many benefits, they also present significant challenges to our reading habits and brain function. To combat these challenges, the article suggests that individuals should actively work to slow down their reading and engage in more focused, deliberate reading practices.

    Jessica Stillman is a freelance writer, based in Cyprus, who frequently contributes to Inc.com. She has written on a variety of topics related to entrepreneurship, productivity, and leadership for various publications, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, and CNBC. Jessica Stillman holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in European Studies from King’s College London. Stillman’s Article on skim reading and how it affects the brain is a good source for my research paper because she has a legitimate claim with detailed evidence to back up her claim.

    “Skim Reading Is the New Normal. the Effect on Society Is Profound | Maryanne Wolf.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 Aug. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/25/skim-reading-new-normal-maryanne-wolf. 

    “Skim Reading is the New Normal: The Effect on Society is Profound” talks about the impact of technology on our reading habits. Maryanne Wolf claims that with the increase of technology and social media humans are losing the ability to read in-depth and to concentrate for long periods of time. Wolf portrays us as humans are more likely to skim and jump from content to content without fully understanding what is read. The article suggests that this trend has long term impacts on society as a whole, including a decrease in critical thinking skills, relying heavily on shallow information, and lastly a decrease in understanding and empathy.  

    Maryanne Wolf is the UCLA Professor-in-residence of Education, and the Director of the UCLA center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice. From 2018-2022 Wolf was the Chapman University Presidential Fellow. She is also the former John DiBiggio professor in the Eliot- Pearson Development of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. Wolf’s essay on skim reading would be useful for a research project on how humans interact with content because she has a clear thesis and is making a relevant claim that has other resources to back it up.

  • Analysis of Me Talk Pretty one day

    Me talk Pretty One Day is a short story written by David Sedaris. David Sedaris’ short story “Me Talk Pretty One Day” is a humorous and insightful account of his experience learning French in Paris. Through his use of vivid imagery, amusing anecdotes, and self-deprecating humor, Sedaris explores the challenges of language acquisition and cultural assimilation.The short story begins with Sedaris’ arrival in Paris with his partner, Hugh. Sedaris describes his initial impression of the city, with its “narrow streets and winding alleys,” and the sense of “terror” he feels at the thought of having to speak French. 

    Sedaris’ account of his language classes is both humorous and relatable. He describes his classmates, who come from all over the world and have varying levels of proficiency in French. Sedaris, who initially struggles to understand even basic phrases, is embarrassed by his own incompetence and feels like a “fool.” However, he quickly realizes that he is not alone in his struggles and that his classmates are also grappling with the challenges of language acquisition.

    I believe I can relate to this short story by David Sedaris because since I was in eighth grade, I have studied a foreign language. I have been taking Spanish classes for a long time and I have constantly experienced some similar struggles as Sedaris.  I feel like I can relate my experiences with Spanish to Sedaris’ experiences with French on a smaller scale.  

    In paragraph four Sedaris portrays some French words as a random hodgepodge of letters to let the reader infer that he has no clue what is being said by the teacher. When sedaris does this he makes it very relatable to anyone taking a foreign language. When i am in my spanish class i see how he could be feeling

    Throughout the duration of the story David Sedaris has in text evidence showing his struggles in and out of the classroom. In paragraph two David Sedaris says “ Some accents were better than others, but the students exhibited an ease and confidence that I found intimidating.”. Here David Sedaris portrays how he feels watching the other students speak and comprehend the French language. In this sentence he shows how he feels threatened by the other students and their ability to speak French. I found this relatable because I have had classes with people who speak excellent Spanish and listening to them interact in the class can be intimidating.

    Another in text example of relatable content within Sedaris’ story is “if you have not meimslsxp or igpdmurct by this time, then you should not be in this room. Has everyone apzkiubjxow.”(paragraph four). In this sentence David Sedaris refers to some of the french language he doesn’t know as a bunch of letters thrown together that don’t make any sense. He also shows he knows some of the basic things in French. He translated most of the sentence into english. This sentence was relatable to my experiences because I have experienced this exact situation. When I am in Spanish class I find it difficult to follow along with full sentences or I have to break down the sentence slower than most. David Sedaris does a fantastic job portraying the difficulties of not understanding a language that people around you know. 

    The last example of many in “Me Talk Pretty One Day” is  “ my fear and discomfort crept beyond the borders of the classroom and accompanied me out into the wide boulevards. Stopping for coffee, asking for directions, depositing money into my bank account.”(paragraph twenty one).  Here David Sedaris shows that he not only has to deal with not knowing the language in class but also that he doesn’t understand or is confused by what is happening in the real world when he does not know the language. I have never experienced this on the same level as Sedaris describes. I have never been thrown into an atmosphere where everyone speaks a different language than I do.  The closest I have experienced to this is vacationing to Mexico, but I was in a popular tourist destination so I was never really in a position where the only language to speak was Spanish. When Sedaris talks about not understanding what is happening around him I feel like I can understand what he is feeling just from having similar experiences just in a controlled classroom environment. 

    One of the central themes of the short story is the importance of communication and the challenges of bridging cultural and linguistic divides. Sedaris’ experience learning French is a metaphor for the broader challenge of adapting to a new culture and learning to communicate across cultural boundaries. Through his humor and self-deprecation, Sedaris emphasizes the universality of this challenge and the need for patience, empathy, and understanding.

    In conclusion, “Me Talk Pretty One Day” is a funny, insightful, relatable, and engaging account of David Sedaris’ experience learning French in Paris. Through his use of vivid imagery, amusing anecdotes, and self-deprecating humor, Sedaris captures the challenges and joys of language acquisition and cultural assimilation. The short story offers a powerful reminder of the importance of communication, perseverance, and taking risks, and underscores the universality of these challenges in our increasingly interconnected world.

    Sedaris, David. “Me Talk Pretty One Day.”Me Talk Pretty One Day. Little Brown, 2000.

    pp. 166-73

  • Finding Success

    Throughout my four years in high school, I participated in a club called DECA. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America. DECA is a nationwide high school club that helps enhance a student’s marketing and selling ability. When in DECA, students get the opportunity to compete against others in a role play sales pitch.  The first competition is at the district level, and if you place high enough you move on to the statewide competition, Then after that the national level. I was fortunate enough to make it to the state level and compete against some of the best competitors in Virginia, however that was the furthest I was able to make it. 

    MIdlothian High school DECA Logo/ MIDLO DECA twitter

    Throughout my time in DECA, I was able to gain a plethora of business knowledge. I was never a president or had any leadership role, but during my time in DECA I was one of the topmost performing salespeople at my school. 

    2019 MIdlothian High School DECA / Carolyn Manheim

    In 2019, I competed in my first district competition,  and barely missed the cut to go to states.  In my first competition I went into it practically blind. I got up to the booth where I would be performing my first ever sales pitch, and had no idea what to say or how to start. I began by asking what the customer was looking for and after that it was a one-man race to the bottom of the hill. I lost eye contact trying to think of what to say next, my body language was completely off, and I was hesitating before everything that came out of my mouth. I didn’t score very well, but I took it as a learning experience to build upon for next year’s competition. 

    2021 Midlothian High School DECA yearbook photo

     In my second year, COVID hit right before I went to compete again for districts, and it eliminated my second opportunity to try to go to states. Junior year, the district competition was held online. Each participant received a scenario and had to record a business professional video responding to their scenario. I did a sales pitch for

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