Working Working Table of Contents

Phew! It has been so enlightening to go through everyone's posts again and get a better feel for the direction we want to go with our ebook about digiliterism... digitiliteraritism? Anyway! After combing through lots and lots of ideas that our class has come up with, I returned to our original idea, which was an ebook that outlines "how Kindle, Amazon, and Goodreads are influencing literacy and literary study today" (Dr. Burton, instructional blogpost). We have TONS of good ideas, but I think there are a lot of things we can shift and combine and cut in order to drive more toward a united purpose. So the broad idea is: how do modern methods of readership influence literacy and literary study? Specifically, we want to comment on the following platforms: Kindle, Amazon, and Goodreads. So for the purpose of helping myself to see how many of our chapters will relate to each platform, I divided up our chapters into the following four sections: How We Read: Kindle; How We Interact: Goodreads; How We Buy: Amazon; and Other (for those subjects that don't necessarily fit under just one platform). I think the division is uneven, but I don't know that we need to be concerned about that. What do you think?





How We Read: Kindle
- Meghan: How We Check Out
The Kindle changes the way we read and check out books. The advantages and disadvantages of renting ebooks, how it affects readers, authors, and publishers, and the possibility that renting ebooks could increase literacy. 
- Lauren: Accessibility is Power
The Kindle makes more literature available to readers (who have access to the Kindle, that is) and that access will increase literature and literacy (again, in those who have access to the Kindle.. that will probably be most readers within the near future). 
- Lauren: Isolation Doesn't Trump Information
Kindles give us the opportunity to "experience" more from the comfort of our own ... well, wherever the heck you want, but it doesn't replace social interaction (ok duh... maybe tied to Jenna's chapter in the Goodreads section) 
- Nathan: How DisConnecting on Kindle
Studies show that reading out of a physical book increases reading comprehension. How do we overcome this? 
- Leah: Reconsuming Literature on Kindle
The accessibility of classics on the Kindle platform is bringing many readers back to the classics and increasing literacy. 

Intro: 

- Leah: Overcoming the Initial Shock

Though transitioning from traditional reading to digital reading is uncomfortable at first, so is every other transition in life. Time to enjoy the new! 

How We Interact: Goodreads

- Shelby: How We Transition

Digital literature and readership questions the validity of social queues we were taught to adhere to as children.

- Meghan: How We Connect

Digital platforms have their own social queues that have yet to be definitively defined. 

- Emily: How We Write and Interpret Reviews (maybe two chapters and Jenna could write one)

Filtering through endless reviews can confuse a reader's opinion. There are guidelines that can make an online book review informative and helpful. 

- Jenna: Socializing on Goodreads

The isolation of the Kindle necessitates the existence of platforms like Goodreads. 

-Jenna: Who Can Tell Me What I Want to Read?

Goodreads' recommendation feature may enhance the 'echo chamber' in which many already live. 

- Saren: Creating an Online Identity 

The digital age is forcing readers to create literary online identities, and the permanence of the internet makes this endeavor more intimidating. 

- Nathan: Reading Out of Order

The digital age exposes readers to story lines, etc, before they even open a book. This could be a good thing and increase literacy. 

How We Buy: Amazon
-Emily: What We Want to Write or What They Want to Read?
Availability of reviews may be changing the way that authors write because they know quickly exactly how their audience feels about a text. 
-Jenna: Self Publishing on Amazon
What does this new phenomenon mean for readership? Ease of self-publishing may be affecting authors' rights for the worse. 
- Saren: Where We Review
There are different rules for writing reviews on different sites. (Outlines rules). 

Other 
- Shelby or Jenna: How We Write
The complications of literary piracy that come with easier accessibility online deserve attention and maybe even enhanced ownership/authorship laws. 
- Meghan: How and What We Expect
The digital age is changing our expectations for instant information and gratification. 
- Emily: The Author/Reader Relationship
The relationship between the author and the reader is changing in the digital age. Do authors need to "keep up" digitally (blogs, tweets, etc) in order to stay relevant? 


 Ok so that's how I've broken it down so far. Before beginning, I didn't think we had enough information on Amazon? I think our main point should be naming the ways that digital readership is increasing literacy and giving suggestions for improvements in the ways that it doesn't improve readership. We definitely need more information on how these platforms affect the classroom. Anyway, I think we've made a good start. What are your thoughts?