1. LITERATURE HU 300

2. Reading in America  In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts put out a study called “Reading at Risk,” about the decline of reading in America. In 2007, another study showed that 1 in 4 adults read no books in 2006. (Fram, 2007)  What do you think of these findings? Do they seem accurate to what you observe?  What might a decline in reading say about a culture?

3. Update on Reading  For the first time since the NEA began surveying American reading habits in 1982 -- and less than five years after it issued its famously gloomy "Reading at Risk" report -- the percentage of American adults who report reading "novels, short stories, poems or plays" has risen instead of declining: from 46.7 percent in 2002 to 50.2 percent in 2008 (Thompson, 2009).  (Note: Nonfiction is excluded from the study)  What might explain the increase of reading in the last 6 years?

4. Which books/authors do you enjoy? Which have inspired you?

5. Poetry  In our unit we discussed poetry, which is rarely a best- seller. Why might poetry be less popular than fiction?  Where are some places that poetry does exist and thrive in our culture?

6. Why Poetry?  What are some of the unique benefits poetry can offer to the reader or listener?

7. What kind of fiction to you like?  Classics  Serious novels  Short stories  Do you have any favorite writers in these categories?  Romances  Murder-mystery  Vampires  Historical  Which authors are your favorites?

8. What about non-fiction?  Psychology / Philosophy  Spirituality  History  Biographies  Memoirs  Travel and adventure  Practical skills  Computer training  DIY  Cookbooks  Craft books  Home renovations and decoration

9. How does the internet affect reading?  Do you like reading material on the internet?  Do you prefer e-books or real books?  How much of your information do you get online?  Do you find online information addictive? Do you spend much time browsing the day’s news?