In the article "The Three R's of Inquiry: Teaching Literacy in Academic Cultures", the author, Raymond McInnis, states: "Reading is the most efficient method at our disposal for acquiring information." Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.

When I first read this statement, I disagreed with it. I feel that reading is only one efficient method at our disposal for acquiring information. I would also have to say that it probably depends on the person who acquires the information. For me, reading isn't necessarily a good tool. Sure, I read to acquire information on a daily basis, but one has to wonder: how much of that information do I actually retain and use later on down the road? I wonder sometimes after reading certain required readings for class how much of the infomation I actually obtained by reading what I read. Most of the time, I find the
answer to be NOT VERY MUCH. I have found that when it comes to reading, I have the attention span of an ant. I could be reading something that is very exciting and that I personally have an interest in, but most of the time, I will just skim through and inevitably, I miss important information.

For me, the most efficient method at my disposal for acquiring information is Research. Granted, if people did not read to acquire information, research, in an academic sense, would not exist. However, I feel that research in a broader sense (experimenting, hands-on learning, and active learning) is the most efficient way that I acquire information.

Writing must not be overlooked as well. I also find that if I have a problem, I can simply "write it out", meaning I can write about it until I come up with a soloution. With writing, one can acquire an abundance of information. It has been my experience that I can find out so much about myself and other people by just reading over some of my old journal entries. In an academic sense, writing can be used as a means to an end. A student may have a question or a problem pertaining to academic subject matter that he or she would like to address. Writing about the question or problem can sometimes lead this student to a possible answer to his or her question or a possible solution to his or her problem.

I have concluded that I do not fully agree nor disagree with the statement made by the author. I believe that reading is imporatant in acquiring information; however, I feel that "it depends" on the person who is acquiring the information as to what is the most effecient way for them. Information cannot be acquired through reading only, writing
only, or reasearch only. Thus, Reading, wRiting, and Research are collectively the most efficient ways to acquire information.

Heather P.