Read the Sample TDA Passage. Then write your response.
The Surprising Truth about Reading Stories
Many people choose not to dive into a good fiction book, but they are missing out. Some people
believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true. However, scientists have found that reading fiction can benefit the brain and reduce stress. Reading fiction can help readers solve problems and even help them to become more thoughtful human beings. Contrary to being a waste of time, fiction can actually help the reader have a more productive life.
With all the options for entertainment today, it might seem like fiction books would decline in
popularity. But each day, around 2 million books are sold in the United States. People will wait in line for hours when a new novel in a popular series becomes available because they cannot wait to find out what happens next. Most likely, these readers are completely unaware of the practical benefits they are also receiving when they devour exciting new stories.
Practice without Risk
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle recognized how stories connect us. In his time, novels were not readily available, so people watched fictional plays. Aristotle said that when people watch a tragedy, they feel emotions, including pity for the character and concern for themselves.
Fictional stories cause readers to imagine what it is like to be a character in a story. People may
consider how they might react if they were in the same circumstances. Scientist Keith Oatley
believes that this reaction helps people practice understanding the feelings of others. He calls fiction “the mind’s flight simulator.” When people train to become pilots, they sit in a flight simulator. There, they perform all the actions they would in a real airplane cockpit but without any risk. According to Oatley’s research, fiction acts the same way. It allows people to practice solving problems or communicating with others but without taking any actual risks.
Studies show that as people read, they start to think about a character’s goals instead of their own. If the character is racing against time to accomplish something important, readers will feel emotions as if they were in the same position. In fact, the parts of their brain that would perform the actions in real life become activated. For example, when we read the word “jump,” the parts of our brain that are related to physically jumping become active.
By practicing different experiences without actually doing them, readers learn how to handle life’s experiences better. They gain wisdom from the experiences of the characters and become better at solving problems. In addition, they may become more caring about the feelings of others.
The Personal Connection
Recently, scientists have been exploring the connection between fiction and caring for other people in the real world. Scientist Diana Tamir of Princeton University performed brain scans of people as they read fiction. She saw increased activity in the parts of the brain that think about what others are thinking or feeling. Readers cared about the characters and their struggles, concerns, and hopes.
Other studies have shown that people who read fiction tend to perform more volunteer work and
help people in need more often. They may also care more about how animals are being treated.
Why is this so? When people read about characters, they come to care about them. Instead of
thinking and caring only about themselves, they are thinking and caring about others. This attitude carries over into real life. Once again, fiction becomes a chance to practice. Practicing caring helps build the habit of caring.
A Sharper Mind
When people read stories, their brains are constantly processing. They imagine what might happen next or how the story might end. As they gain new information, they may adjust their predictions. All of this helps the brain. Scientists have found that reading fiction increases creativity, and it has other brain benefits. Fiction readers gain improved memories and larger vocabularies. All of this helps to strengthen the mind.
A Happier Life
According to researchers at the University of Sussex in England, reading is the most effective way to reduce stress. When people read fictional stories, their brains get a chance to rest from trying to solve their own problems. Scientists found that after just six minutes of reading, people’s heart rates slowed down and their muscles became less tense. Perhaps this is also why studies show that reading fiction helps people to sleep better at night.
Finally, one of the best things about reading fiction is that it makes readers happy. In one study,
76 percent of fiction readers said that reading improved their life and helped them feel good. They became more satisfied with life and happier in general.
There is no doubt that good stories can be entertaining, exciting, and inspiring, but reading fiction provides so many additional benefits that it is clearly not a waste of time. It is a wise investment. So go ahead; curl up with a good book. Your life will be better for it.
Prompt:
Read the sentence from the passage.
Some people believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are
not true.
The sentence from the passage is: "Some people believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true."
write an essay
about Read the Sample TDA Passage. Then write your response.
The Surprising Truth about Reading Stories
Many people choose not to dive into a good fiction book, but they are missing out. Some people
believe that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true. However, scientists have found that reading fiction can benefit the brain and reduce stress. Reading fiction can help readers solve problems and even help them to become more thoughtful human beings. Contrary to being a waste of time, fiction can actually help the reader have a more productive life.
With all the options for entertainment today, it might seem like fiction books would decline in
popularity. But each day, around 2 million books are sold in the United States. People will wait in line for hours when a new novel in a popular series becomes available because they cannot wait to find out what happens next. Most likely, these readers are completely unaware of the practical benefits they are also receiving when they devour exciting new stories.
Practice without Risk
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle recognized how stories connect us. In his time, novels were not readily available, so people watched fictional plays. Aristotle said that when people watch a tragedy, they feel emotions, including pity for the character and concern for themselves.
Fictional stories cause readers to imagine what it is like to be a character in a story. People may
consider how they might react if they were in the same circumstances. Scientist Keith Oatley
believes that this reaction helps people practice understanding the feelings of others. He calls fiction “the mind’s flight simulator.” When people train to become pilots, they sit in a flight simulator. There, they perform all the actions they would in a real airplane cockpit but without any risk. According to Oatley’s research, fiction acts the same way. It allows people to practice solving problems or communicating with others but without taking any actual risks.
Studies show that as people read, they start to think about a character’s goals instead of their own. If the character is racing against time to accomplish something important, readers will feel emotions as if they were in the same position. In fact, the parts of their brain that would perform the actions in real life become activated. For example, when we read the word “jump,” the parts of our brain that are related to physically jumping become active.
By practicing different experiences without actually doing them, readers learn how to handle life’s experiences better. They gain wisdom from the experiences of the characters and become better at solving problems. In addition, they may become more caring about the feelings of others.
The Personal Connection
Recently, scientists have been exploring the connection between fiction and caring for other people in the real world. Scientist Diana Tamir of Princeton University performed brain scans of people as they read fiction. She saw increased activity in the parts of the brain that think about what others are thinking or feeling. Readers cared about the characters and their struggles, concerns, and hopes.
Other studies have shown that people who read fiction tend to perform more volunteer work and
help people in need more often. They may also care more about how animals are being treated.
Why is this so? When people read about characters, they come to care about them. Instead of
thinking and caring only about themselves, they are thinking and caring about others. This attitude carries over into real life. Once again, fiction becomes a chance to practice. Practicing caring helps build the habit of caring.
A Sharper Mind
When people read stories, their brains are constantly processing. They imagine what might happen next or how the story might end. As they gain new information, they may adjust their predictions. All of this helps the brain. Scientists have found that reading fiction increases creativity, and it has other brain benefits. Fiction readers gain improved memories and larger vocabularies. All of this helps to strengthen the mind.
A Happier Life
According to researchers at the University of Sussex in England, reading is the most effective way to reduce stress. When people read fictional stories, their brains get a chance to rest from trying to solve their own problems. Scientists found that after just six minutes of reading, people’s heart rates slowed down and their muscles became less tense. Perhaps this is also why studies show that reading fiction helps people to sleep better at night.
Finally, one of the best things about reading fiction is that it makes readers happy. In one study,
76 percent of fiction readers said that reading improved their life and helped them feel good. They became more satisfied with life and happier in general.
There is no doubt that good stories can be entertaining, exciting, and inspiring, but reading fiction provides so many additional benefits that it is clearly not a waste of time. It is a wise investment. So go ahead; curl up with a good book. Your life will be better for it.
Write an essay analyzing the effectiveness of the author’s response to this
statement. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
The author's response to the statement that reading fiction is a waste of time because the stories are not true is highly effective. Through the use of scientific studies and personal anecdotes, the author presents a compelling argument for the benefits of reading fiction. By incorporating evidence from the passage, it becomes clear that the author successfully challenges the notion that reading fiction is a waste of time.
Firstly, the author addresses the misconception that fiction is a waste of time by highlighting the numerous practical benefits of reading fiction. According to scientific research, reading fiction can benefit the brain and reduce stress. It helps readers solve problems and become more thoughtful human beings. By engaging in stories that are not true, readers are able to practice understanding the feelings of others and improve their ability to solve real-life problems. This evidence effectively counters the belief that fiction is a waste of time and demonstrates that reading fiction actually contributes to a more productive life.
Additionally, the author explores the personal connection that readers develop with fictional characters and how this connection carries over into real-life actions. By imagining themselves in the same circumstances as the characters and considering their reactions, readers practice empathy and caring for others. This is supported by scientific studies that show increased activity in parts of the brain associated with thinking about what others are thinking or feeling. The evidence presented suggests that reading fiction encourages readers to think beyond themselves and become more compassionate individuals.
Furthermore, the author highlights the cognitive benefits of reading fiction. Reading stories constantly stimulates the brain as readers imagine what might happen next or how the story might end. This continuous processing improves creativity, memory, and vocabulary. The evidence strongly indicates that reading fiction enriches the mind and contributes to its overall strength.
Lastly, the author addresses the impact of reading fiction on emotional well-being. Research shows that reading is the most effective way to reduce stress, as it allows the brain to rest from personal problems. Reading fiction has been found to slow down heart rates and relax muscles, ultimately leading to better sleep and a happier life. The author supports these claims with statistics from a study where a majority of fiction readers reported that reading improved their lives and made them feel good.
In conclusion, the author's response effectively challenges the belief that reading fiction is a waste of time. By presenting scientific research and personal anecdotes, the author convincingly argues that reading fiction has numerous practical benefits. These benefits include problem-solving skills, empathy and compassion for others, cognitive development, and emotional well-being. The author's use of evidence from the passage strengthens the persuasive nature of the response, leaving no doubt that reading fiction is a wise investment of time that can greatly enhance one's life.