Lately, I've been reviewing for an English proficiency exam. I came across a topic in the writing task which I found interesting because I had something to say about it and especially since it involved books. I was kind of restricted though as there was a time limit, it needed to be formal and academic, and there was a word limit as well. So, I thought I should share what I had written for this sample writing test.
Technology has evolved so much over the years. Most people these days have become avid users of gadgets from computers to smart phones. Recently, e-books are introduced to the world, making reading more convenient and less bulky. With this new technological development, people are torn between thinking that printed media will become a thing of the past and believing that the existence of e-books will not cause the disappearance of the former. People always run back to the basics when all else fail. Printed media is a basic reading material and it will not be replaced that easy.
With the birth of tablets in the technology world, many have opted to invest on e-books rather than purchase heavy and bulky books. Techy readers can have all the editions and volumes they want in their iPad or Kindle with just a touch without the burden of carrying a huge bag or having to stack piles of books on the table. They can read their favorite novels in the first bus and scan the newspaper articles in the second bus at an easy click. It cannot be denied that e-books provide convenience to readers.
Readers who were already book lovers before technology introduced e-books are very fond of the feel of pages on their fingers and the crisp sound as they are turned. When readers open their book, they love smelling the vanillin scent of the yellowing pages before starting to read. Such moments bookworms have with their books are priceless and special. E-books cannot give these out of the ordinary feelings that traditional book readers experience. the goal of filling up the shelves with their favorite authors' masterpieces can only be realized with real books.
E-books may be convenient and practical but such advantages cannot lead to the extinction of printed media. The priceless feeling of holding a read-worthy book is enough to compensate for the money and space used up by it.
