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Wheelock, 1Lauren Wheelock English 101.15WA2 / Final DraftReading, Writing and Literacy, Oh My!Literacy is something that we use almost every second of the day, weather we realize it or not. Literacy is not just when we sit down and decide to crack opena book, or when we have to write a paper; literacy is everywhere.It is when we read the total on the cash register during a purchase.It is when we brush our teeth and see the label on the toothpaste. Itis when we listen to music in the car; I even believe that dancing is a form of literacy. So,literacy is all around us, but how many times do we use it a day, and where?The first thing that most people see as literacy is when they wake up and see the time ontheir alarm clock. Even though sometimes you do not consciously tell yourself to read your alarm clock, just by glancing at it, and that timeregistering in your mind, that is literacy. After that, Itake a shower, and literacy is there as well, when I attemptto distinguish my shampoo bottle from my conditioner byglancing at the label. After my shower, I getdressed, and as I take time to decide what shirt to wear thatday, I see the varying labels and designs on my shirts, thatis literacy. When I finally reach my class, after reading street signs, and seeing literacy throughvarious other ways, I sit and listen to the professor talk, reading what he is writing on the board,realizing that this, too, is literacy. Literacy finds you in the simplest of tasks, but, although all of these examples are about literacy being seen through reading, literacy is so much more than that.

Exercising literacy throughtyping one of many English papersReading street signs as I pass them

Wheelock, 2After classes, I go on about my day which includes going to the café, working out at theactivities center, doing homework, watching TV, and hanging out with friends. During all theseactivities, I am using literacy. When I walk to the caféto eat, I read the menu to see what they are serving.Even if I go out to eat, I read the menu at the specificrestaurant and also the prices. When I am working out,I see tons of forms of literacy. Mostly reading, as I amwatching the time tick higher and higher as I walk moreand more, watching the TV and reading the captions,and also reading all the various signs explaining the equipment and the rules. After my workout,I go back to my room and finish any homework that I have left, while simultaneously listening tomusic. Music is literacy because it portrays ideas and a strong social connection from the singer to the listener. Even though there is a musical beat behind it, a message is still being transmitted,therefore, music and listening to music can be defined as part of literacy.Literacy is writing, when you jot down an assignment as the professor dismisses youfrom class, when you take notes over the lecture that is being given, when you complete ahomework assignment through either typing or eventhe basic pen and paper. A major form of literacy thatmillions of people do every day is texting. ManyAmericans do not see this as a form of literacy, becausethey are stuck on the textbook definition of literacy, butwhen you look at it, what are you doing when you are texting? You are sending notes throughcell phones, communicating with someone else through writing. Just because it is usingtechnology does not mean it is not literacy. Many people are unaware of how many text

Reading the lunch menuExercising literacy through writing