Jimmy Press

Mrs. Rebecca
UWRT
18 January 2016
Scribner Reading Log
1. Read the University Writing Programs description of Critical Reading in our
full syllabus (can be found on Canvas). After reading this statement, describe
what critical reading is. What makes it a particular kind of reading? What is
your typical process of reading for school? Reading articles like this? Do not
feel compelled to tell me what the teacher wants to hear. How do you
honestly approach reading for your classes?

Critical reading is the interpretation and response to the writers words. It is the
reflection of the of words and the interactions that people have with the text. What
makes a piece a particular type of reading is the category it is placed in. For
example, science fiction, sports, drama etc. Each category has an impact on the
reader that could be beneficial or harmful in their daily lives. My typical process of
reading for school is first I analyze the text and look at the title to see what I think it
is about. Then I read the paper and make sense of it so that I can understand it
fully. Then I make connections with the words that are being said. The big articles
can be changeling at times like the Literacy in Three Metaphors because there is an
overwhelming amount of words. I try and break through this challenge and do my
best. For reading for my classes I honesty try hard and interpret the best I can.

2. The title of the piece is Literacy in Three Metaphors, and the author goes on
to offer us three ways of viewing literacy. Consider what you know about
literacy. What does this term mean to you? Describe that here.

Literacy to me is the ability to comprehend and understand writing. Someone with

a higher literacy rate might be better at reading and writing rather than one who
has a lower. Personally, I think an individual can improve their literacy over time.
Thought an individuals life their literacy rate is improving. The people and
interactions made every day has an impact on ones literacy rate.

3. In the first four paragraphs of this text, Scribner describes some issues
surrounding research of literacy. Why is this a tricky subject to research,
according to Scribner?

According to Scriber, literacy is a problem of pressing national concern. This is a

bold statement to make considering that he is talking about the nation. There has
been extensive research on this topic and many have tried to formulate the concept
and definition of it. Each individual has a different response to the question What
is literacy and interpret it in different ways. It is hard to put a real definition on
literacy because the subject is always shifting. In the third paragraph it says,
Definitions of literacy shape our perceptions of individuals who fall either side of
the standard (what is a literate or nonliterate is like). This statement is powerful
in meaning that each person can formulate an opinion based on how literate they
are. Personally things should not appear this was because everyone should be
equal. One should not judge poorly just based of their literacy. This goes back to
how the individual was raised and what type of learning environment that he/she
grew up in. The quote in article four sums up my argument being, these
champions of the case of literacy crusade for a national effort to make literacy a
reality without establishing what that reality is. This means that individuals make
opinions on each other based on what they dont even know about the person. In
other words they cant formulate an opinions based on their literacy because they
do not know the extent of their literacy.

4. At the end of page 7 onto page 8, Scribner asks the reader to consider the
following. In this paragraph, Scribner differentiates literacy as an attribute
of individuals and literacy as a social achievement. Try to parse out what
she means here how do the two different views change how we see,
understand, and define literacy? Which view does Scribner advocate?

Literacy can be described and interpreted in many ways. One of the ways Scribner
describes the concept of literacy is, literacy as an attribute of individuals. This
means that the individuals literacy is the only thing that defines them. Society
might see having a literacy of intelligence is not the only factor. Literacy can also
can be described as an social achievement. If an individual is well off on social
achievement it can benefit them greatly. The environment can be a major factor in
becoming literate or not. For example, if an individual grows up in a society
without writing systems they are not literate. Even though the individual might not
have literacy they benefit from the social aspect of achievement.

5. At the end of page 8, Scribner notes, In this essay, I will examine some of
them [meanings of literacy], organizing my discussion around three
metaphors: literacy as adaptation, literacy as power, and literacy as state of
grace. Each of these metaphors is rooted in certain assumptions about the
social motivations for literacy in this country, the nature of existing literacy
practices, and judgments about which practices are critical for individual and
social enhancement. She goes on to note that any of these metaphors taken
individually will only reveal a partial understanding of literacy. Literacy is a
many-meaninged thing. Here the author makes a turn to show what she
will be adding to the conversation about literacy. This is what we should
expect to get as a reader three metaphors that help us make sense of
literacy.

Read from page 8 through the top of page 15. There, Scribner articulates
each of her metaphors: Literacy as Adaptation, Literacy as Power, and
Literacy as State of Grace. In the remainder of your reading log, aim to select
2-3 quotes from each of these sections (6-9 in all). Next to or below the
quote, annotate with your thoughts. Annotations can include: reactions, notes
 about understanding Scribners points, questions, connections to your
personal experiences or current events. You can write this in paragraph form
or in a table. Please track and note what page the quote is coming from.
Make sure each quote has a follow-up annotation.
Literacy as adaption
And basic educational programs have a similar obligation to equip adults
with the skills they have to secure jobs or advance to better ones. (Scribner,
9).
When I chose the quote, it made me have new thoughts about literacy and
made me think deeper. The education programs that are available for society will
benefit the individual for the better. Every day each individual has the opportunity
to advance. Scribner makes a great point being, they have to secure jobs or
advance to better ones. This idea of literacy comes into play because in-order to
advance in the workforce one must possess those skills. This also correlates to the
idea of adaption by he/she adapting to their environment for the better. Even
though the obstacles put into place like accepting people from different culture.

New technologies and communication media are likely to reduce literacy

requirements for all. (Scribner, 11)
In this quote, it states that new technologies will reduce the literacy requirement for
all. Now, this statement will be a problem for the conflicting sides of the people
who supports new technologies vs the people who do not. The people who are in
favor of new technologies and communication media think that these new programs
would be advancing society. Personally, I think it would hurt society because it
would reduce literacy requirements for all. This would make it so society would
become dependent on technology and not care about literacy. Literacy is very
important to society and should not be reduced.

Literacy as Power
literacy per se mobilizes people for action to change their social realityremains to
be established. (Scribner, 12)
This quote stood about to me because it is saying that literacy can change
someones social reality because they act a certain way. This goes to show how
much literacy can affect an individuals life. To me literacy should not be taken to
this severity. An individuals social reality is basically their whole life and how they
see the world.

If literacy has not emerged as a priority demand, should government and private
agencies undertake to mobilize communities around this goal? (Scribner, 13)
 I chose this quote because it brings up a good question being should the
government interfere with communitys because literacy is not a demand.
Personally, I think the government should interfere into these communities.
This is because low income rural areas literacy rates are low as of now and if
the government interferes it would improve society function better. Even if
the government helps one community at a time it would still benefit greatly
in the long run. Literacy has a powerful impact on society and is worth it to
help.

Literacy as a State of Grace

the tendency in many society many societies to endow the literate person with
special virtues. (Scribner, 13)
I chose this quote because it says a lot about society as a whole and the way they
view literacy. Society tends to praise the literate people and not give notice to the
illiterate people. Society gives they more praise because they can interpret
different types of culture and traditions into their lives. For example, it states on
page thirteen paragraph two, understanding scripture is the core of many religious
traditions. Therefore, individuals that have higher literacy rates will be praised and
respected more than lower literacy rates. The fact that literacy affects culture and
beliefs goes to show how important it is.

Literate and non-individuals presumably are not only in different states of grace
but in different stages of intellectual development as well (Scribner,14)
This quote is important because it states that literate and non-literate individuals
have different stages of grace and intellectual development. This means a lot
because having different stages of grace is not beneficial to an individual. Grace is
something that an individual should have and a person with low literacy rates is
lacking grace. The people who are literate have an avenge in society because they
are intellectually developed and they have high levels of grace.