Readings from The Norton Reader associated with this theme (choose one or more to quote from):
“Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass p. 190
“The Sanctuary of School” by Lynda Barry p. 186
“Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff p. 197
“Blue Collar Brilliance” Mike Rose p. 202
Assignment:
Write a 3 1/2 – 5 page essay discussing your own story about how you became literate (i.e. a literacy narrative). Use first person “I” but avoid second person “you.” Do NOT write a story but an essay; use topic sentences that make focused claims that each paragraph develops, supports and illustrates with text examples. Create an overall point about your process in the thesis statement. Here are ideas to choose from:
how you learned to read (and/or write) and how it shaped your identity
how you learned multiple languages including but not limited to English
influential persons who inspired or instructed you
unfavorable conditions where you persevered past negativity
how a special kind of literacy like computers, art, photography, etc. shaped your hobbies, career goals and interests
how travel affected your knowledge of others
what you took from each level of schooling
What is your vision of literacy and education? What hopes do you have for your own education? How might the economic, personal, and cultural values of students versus those of a college education be understood in relation to each other? How did those early experiences shape who you are today and who you plan to be in the future?
