Reading's Contributions to Clear Thinking

When you hear someone being called a nerd, what do you think of, big glasses and braces, perhaps? What about their hobbies? Reading books and doing homework for fun? Well, it turns out that those “nerds” are on to something. Reading does, in fact, get you better grades. Just think about it, “While you read you’re building images, thoughts, and opinions… You’re using critical thinking and logic to process the information. Reading leads to… clear thinking.” (“Why Reading Makes”). But “clear thinking” alone isn’t going to save your grades, reading also helps in most, if not all, areas of learning.

“All of us know the importance of a good workout to stay fit. The same thing is true with our brain. A study in Stanford University proves that reading is the workout the brain needs in order to stay in its optimal health.” (“Reading: An Ideal”). When you exercise you stretch and make muscles stronger. When you read you stretch the mind and your brain gets stronger. Concentration is a great example. When you read your mind is forced to concentrate on all the different plots and words in the book. So when you read you’re training your mind to focus. Another example of stretching the mind is memory. If you can exercise your memory you will be able to remember more in school, like math equations and vocabulary. “Reading just 30 minutes a day flexes those mind muscles, reasoning, and like any exercise, the more you train the better you will get.” (“Why Reading Makes”). Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect.

Confidence may seem a minor detail when thinking about grades and school work, but we all have those moments when we know the answer but just aren’t confident enough to raise our hand, scared that it will b...

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“Of course, you can read little or nothing at all and still be brilliant at ‘reading between the lines’ of a conversation. But in today’s world, fluid intelligence and reading generally go hand in hand… [This] may partly explain why students perform, on average, about 20 points higher on IQ tests than in the early 20th century.” (Hurley, Dan). While being “nerdy” may not be your style. Reading will help with getting better grades and help with other aspects of your life as well.

Works Cited

Hurley, Dan. “Can Reading Make You Smarter?” The Guardian. NP. 23 January 2014. Web. 13 March 2014.

“Reading: An Ideal Form of Brain Exercise.” Examined Existence. NP. 2014. Web. 14 March 2014.

“The Impact of Reading on Your Imagination.” Blogfully. 7 April, 2012. Web. 15 March 2014.

“Why Reading Makes You More Creative” Creative Market. 2014. Web. 15 March 2014.