Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
ENC1102
DISCUSSION POST
BRANDT
Deborah Brandt's "Sponsors of Literacy" discusses how literacy can be twisted and
manipulated for one's own benefit. Brandt goes into detail on how these sponsors have such a
huge impact on our society and some don't even know it. Sponsors can include a wide variety of
people such as teachers, parents, mentors, etc. Now what makes these ordinary citizens so
powerful? It's there instructional ability to shape and mold young (for the most part), vulnerable
people in a literary perspective. This includes what is being taught, provided texts and forms of
writing. Also, Brandt talks about how literacy does change from generation to generation due to
the fact that people sometimes draw their own conclusions regardless of their literacy history.
Sponsors of literacy aren't necessarily part of the cult that attempts to brainwash those for
political and economic purposes. Those who do are the ones you really need to be careful around
because they might be molding you in a way that you're not okay with. Then again, how is one
supposed to identify these manipulative people when still in early grade school? Lastly, Brandt
describes another issue concerning "the literacy crisis" which is the perceived gap between rising
standards for achievement and people's ability to meet them (Brandt, 169).
Interesting reading I must say! It really exemplifies how our minds are being molded by what
seems to be harmless individuals that might have an alternate agenda. This isn't a passage that
can be stomached after one reading because I do feel that it demonstrated some inaccuracies
based on my opinion. Then again, maybe I was molded differently? Very intriguing, but I would
say that this passage is to be read with a grain of salt.
Brandt, Deborah. "Sponsors of Literacy." 49.2 (1998): 165-85. College Composition and
Communication. Web.
-----------Reply-----------Excellent response Erin! This passage definitely had my mind racing but when it comes down to
it, whether we believe it or not, are minds are being molded and shaped by other human beings
that have the instructional advantages (sponsors). In my personal opinion, the whole concept of
literacy sponsors seems pretty accurate, but the whole idea about molding minds for political and
economic purposes seems a little too far-fetched.