cognitive surplus

        The article is about spare time people have and the way it should be used. When people have spare time on their hands they should do something that requires thinking. When this happens it is called cognitive surplus. Literacy in this article is being defined as having the ability to understand things without having to dig below the surface of what something actually means. Literacy is not said to be the ability to dig deep and analyze the literal meaning. People should be able to know the information and how to use it as well.
        This article is important because it stresses the importance of using our time wisely. In our spare time we should exercise our mind and be creative. We should try to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems we are facing.
        Repetition:

• fad
• cognitive surplus
• transform society
• at least they're doing something
• looking for the mouse

        Strands of similarities:

• taking advantage of the surplus
• better to do something rather than nothing

        Anomalies

• information society knows without really knowing it

The repetition of "at least they're doing something" is very important because it goes back to cognitive surplus and what that means. The phrases "at least they're doing something", cognitive surplus, and "better to do something rather than nothing" actually tie in together and are equal in importance. They all give the same message in different ways which lets us know the point the writer was trying to get across.