Week 2 Essay 2

"Of Studies" By Sir Francis Bacon

Central argument: Learning is beneficial because it entertains us, it helps us in argument, and it helps us in business; studies can also help cure people’s mental frustrations.

         Studying and learning are often seen in very different ways by different groups of people. Many students despise studying and reading, but many adults love to read and learn in their spare time. In “Of Studies,” Sir Francis Bacon argues that learning is beneficial because it entertains us, it helps us in argument, and it helps us in business, and also that studies can actually increase one’s wit. Although studying can be interesting, can help us in argument, and help us in business, studies do not always increase one’s wit.

         Many people enjoy and find studying very interesting. For example, some people are fascinated with the history of war and battles join Civil War reenactment groups or history clubs in their free time. In addition, many adults enjoy studying music and learning more about the musical craft, as many join adult bands and orchestras and take lessons. Studying can be very rewarding simply for the sake of interest and acquiring knowledge. Many adults appreciate the rewards that studying can bring.

         Studying can help one tremendously in argument, as well. For example, reading a book about the art of rhetoric, like Thank You For Arguing, can greatly increase one’s chance of performing well in an argument, by providing one with strategies to use in persuasion. If one doesn’t simply list off rhetorical strategies and actually uses them in conversation, one can greatly enhance their persuasive power. Choosing the right words and tone and style can greatly improve a speech or presentation.

         In addition, studying can help one advance in the corporate world, by providing one with more knowledge about business strategies and ideas. Books like The Black Swan can provide one with invaluable tips on how to run a business and make crucial entrepreneurial decisions. In addition, reading books and even just fiction books is a great way to improve one’s writing and communication skills, skills that are highly important in the business world.

         However, studying does not always fix one’s mental shortcomings. For example, many students who study in English class all year still have difficulties writing essays. In addition, many students fail their classes when they study the wrong things, like studying the art of playing video games and the art of using Facebook. In this case, studying makes a student lazier and teaches them bad habits, like swearing—something that happens in video games chat rooms—and using improper diction in formal writing—like using emoticons—a bad habit learned on Facebook. Although learning can have a positive effect on one’s mind, it doesn’t have to.

          In conclusion, studying can have many positive effects on one, including improved skills and enjoyment, but it can be dangerous when one studies the wrong thing. One needs to be smart enough to apply what he or she studies to reap the positive effects from the practice.