Critical Reading Discussion

Critical Reading Dialogue:

• Choose one article to focus on for your critical reading. For example, let's say you choose "Think You're Great at Multitasking? Think Again."

• Highlight key points in the article and reflect on your reactions. For example, if the article mentions how multitasking affects productivity, you could jot down:

  • "I agree with this—sometimes I feel like I’m more distracted when doing multiple tasks at once. However, I also find that I can complete quick, low-priority tasks at the same time."
  • "The article suggests that the brain can't focus on multiple things at once. Is that true for all tasks, or just complex ones?"
  • "What does the article mean by ‘attention residue’? Does it apply to me when I'm trying to switch between work and emails?"

  Compare these insights with your own experiences—perhaps recall a time you tried multitasking and the results weren’t as expected. Ask questions like, "What would help me improve my focus on one task at a time?" or "How can I incorporate more breaks instead of multitasking?"

• Create annotations directly on the text or summarize your thoughts in a separate document.

Outline (for the article you’re working with):

Here’s an example outline for "Think You're Great at Multitasking? Think Again":

1. Introduction

   • General statement about multitasking’s appeal
   • The article’s argument that multitasking isn’t as effective as it seems

2. Body

   • First argument: Multitasking reduces focus and efficiency
     • Example: A study showing decreased productivity when people juggle multiple tasks
   • Second argument: Multitasking leads to cognitive overload
     • Example: The brain can only handle one high-level task at a time, leading to mistakes
   • Third argument: Attention residue and its impact
     • Explanation of how switching tasks leaves part of your attention on the previous task

3. Conclusion

   • Call to focus on one task at a time
   • Suggestion to use breaks and focus exercises to improve productivity

Summary (for the article you’re working with):

"Think You're Great at Multitasking? Think Again"argues that multitasking is counterproductive and harmful to our cognitive function. The article explains that while many people believe multitasking makes them more efficient, it often leads to lower performance and mistakes. This is because the human brain isn’t designed to handle multiple complex tasks simultaneously. The article discusses the concept of “attention residue,” explaining how switching from one task to another doesn’t allow the brain to fully focus on the new task. Ultimately, the article suggests focusing on one task at a time and using breaks to improve overall productivity.

Reply to Classmates:

After sharing your submission, review your classmates’ posts. If someone shared insights about multitasking you hadn’t thought of, you might reply with:

• "I agree with your point about multitasking affecting quality over speed. I’ve also found that when I multitask, the end product often isn’t as good as when I focus on just one thing."
• "You mentioned that multitasking is useful for low-energy tasks, but I wonder—do you think that could be a way to trick our brains into feeling more productive?"

This way, you’ll have not only read critically but also engaged with the material and your peers, deepening your understanding of the topic.