group 4

Our group came up with numerous material conditions that affected the way we read “Is Google Making Us Stupid.” The first, reading in the classroom helped us stay focused on the task. Because we were given only ten minutes to read this essay, we all were forced to stay on topic and read as fast as we could to finish. Also, the classroom environment helped us stay on task because there was less distractions. We didn’t have the chance to surf the web or listen to music while reading the essay. Thus helping us stay on task and also helping us remember what we were reading.

Second, we said that having only one picture on the page helped us readers stay focused on the text and what the text was trying to get across rather than having multiple pictures per essay. In my opinion, pictures tend to take our attention away from the writing and having pictures in essays help us lose focus. I for one strongly believe that we lose our focus with the more pictures because I tend to find myself coloring in the pictures and making funny faces instead of reading the material. Sometimes pictures used in a good way enhance the writing, but comics and other such pictures tend to be distracting.

Lastly, we said that the small print the essay had was a little deceiving. Not many people like reading small print essays and an essay that long with small print isn’t appealing to many readers. Small print also helps us lose focus because we tend to lose our place more if the print is tinny. If the spacing is close together as well, we usually have trouble finding where we left off or where the last line ended. Therefore small print can contribute to a lack of focus.