"Disliking Books at an Early Age"

In the article, "Disliking Books at an Early Age," the author Gerald Graff addresses the issue of how students in recent generations have been taught by their teachers to read and interpret books. Graff claims, in contrast with other teachers and philosophers, that becoming a critical reader who is fully consumed by their reading must not simply read the text as we assume the author wants it to be read, but instead we must also make our own arguments and have social debate and conversation. Effective arguments, Graff states, allows a reader to gain a sense of what other people are saying and in turn provides reading with stimulus and direction. Ultimately, Graff declares that we must disregard the commonly practiced primary and secondary reading processes, but rather relate ourselves to a community in which will make our literary experience both personal and intimate. Doing so will allow individuals to actually enjoy literature and formulate critical questions which will give reading a sense of purpose.

Graff certainly knows what he is talking about considering he graduated with both a B.A in English and a Ph. D. He was an english professor for 25 years and a fully invested author. He directs this article towards an audience in which he hopes will reconsider a way of teaching. He makes his main claims by addressing an issue which he supports with personal experience and quotes from other philosophers and then he provides an answer of how to solve these problems in today's world.