Essay Outline (1) Reading less popular than twenty years ago Decline in reading due to cable TV Wide variety of choices Comedy, drama and sports Popularity of computers Availability of laptops Electronic games Compare books to TV and computers No pizzazz No quick gratification

Paragraph One (Intro) Reading is less popular than it was twenty years ago. With the growth of cable TV, people have become hooked on watching instead of reading. The availability of laptops has led to people spending more time on the Internet. Compared to TV and computers, books are a slow-motion activity.

Paragraph Two (Body) The growth of cable has resulted in people getting hooked on watching instead of reading. There’s a wide variety of programming to choose from. TV channels feature comedy, drama, police, courts, old movies, documentaries, politics and sports. There’s something for everyone.

Paragraph Three (Body) The recent availability of laptop computers and various accessories has led to a change in people’s reading habits. People spend inordinate amounts of time surfing the Web, participating in chat rooms, and emailing everyone they know. Downloading music and movies, and playing electronic games are also popular.

Paragraph Four (Body) Compared to TV and computers, books are a slow-motion activity. Typically books are in black and white. There’s no pizzazz. Reading a book requires patience and imagination. The reader must visualize the author’s words in order to bring the book to life. There’s no quick gratification. Most books take days to read.

Paragraph Five (Conclusion) Reading has taken a backseat to more flashy forms of entertainment. More people than ever have turned to computers and cable. Books can be as exciting as electronic entertainment but the reader must make a commitment. It takes more than the touch of a mouse or a remote control to get a reader involved in a book. It’s just too easy not to read.