Literacy

Baron Summary
In his article, "From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies", Dennis Baron, attempts to explain and give his opinion and certain examples of how technology has changed the world of writing in negative ways. He argues that using technology is an easy way of becoming literate, but that it takes away some aspects of writing. He describes it as lazy writing.

QD
2. I do agree with Baron that the new technologies are fundamentally changing the shape or nature of writing, I believe too many people rely on technology in order to live their life.
4. Disposable cameras, typewriter, and little portable keyboards I remember having in middle school. These all still exist and the ideas are all still present, they have just been made into bigger and better things.
6. It was cool that he included the pictures in his writing more, they distracted from the words and proved some of his points.

I think this article was interesting because I am one person who has a love/hate relationship with technology. I sorta kinda hate it because I do believe it takes away from a lot of social interaction people should experience in life, but it is soooo helpful there is no way I could ever fully hate it. I'm so thankful I have the ability to be able to use it.

Malcom X Summary
In his article, "Learning to Read", Malcom X attempts to tell his story of how he learned to read and write when he spent his time in prison. He argues that anyone can gain the ability to read. Many who knew him would think he got a further education than eighth grade, but in fact he was the one that taught himself. He used the dictionary to rewrite the words and definitions. He found that he was able to remember the words and their meanings which improved his literacy in every way.

QD
1. Malcom X's audience is everybody struggling in some way. He proved that there is a way to defeat an obstacle that is holding you back wherever you may be in life.
2. He describes literacy as understanding words, their concepts, and how things form together. Once he starts to remember the meetings of the words he was able to tie them together in order to make sense of things he wanted to say.
3. His literacy sponsors were the prison, the books he read, and himself. I think he was able to learn everything from the books that he read and he used the motivation from inside his self to do these things.
4. I feel like Malcom might've misinterpreted some things because he was so set on having one thought an snot changing.
6. I believe the motivation to read has to with your drive to learn. Personally, I like to read for enjoyment, to have entertainment flooded into my brain through my eyes. I think when you really have the urge to fill your brain with new information and want to prove a point to yourself than the motivation to read is that more intense.

AEI
1. Technology helps everyone communicate and learn in a newer and easier way. I believe that because it is so easy, more people can become literate.

I enjoyed this article. I love to read inspiring stories, and I think it's awesome that Malcom X was able to teach himself. It was interesting reading what he had to say and comparing it to the topic we are now studying.

Alexie Summary
In his article, "The Joy of Reading and Writing", Sherman Alexie attempts to explain how he became to be a frequent reader, what he enjoys about it, and how he overcame his lower class. He argues that he began reading through comic books and figuring out the pictures and that his father was his reason he loved to write. He read all of the time and his love for reading and writing influenced his daily life.

QD
1. The expectations of society affect a child in many ways. As a child grows up they are influenced by the people around them. They follow the expectations that they are given because that is what they believe to be correct, each child struggles with figuring out their feelings for themselves. One example of children following the expectations of what people may have for them is, when children are born into a racist family and they see how racist their family is, they believe that the expectation is for them to be just as racist, to follow in their families footsteps. When a child sees something they believe that is what they must do.

AEI
1. yes, I believe that by reading these two stories readers believe that anyone can overcome poverty and discrimination in order to become literate or anything in the world. They are proof that it is possible which is an inspiration to all. I think one must focus on the certain aspects of what they are being tuahgt and their drive inside to overcome their problems.

I enjoyed this article very much. I think it's awesome that he was able to overcome discrimination. I also think it's nice his father was such a reader and writer and created such a great atmosphere for him to live in. With hundreds of books laying around a child is likely to stumble upon them.