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Zack Riggs
Prof. Agosta
UWRT 1101-007
7 September 2016
Literacy in Three Metaphors
The term literacy is difficult to define solely on the fact that it means different things to
different people. In some areas of the world, it is simply the ability to read and write but the
standard goes up depending on how advanced your surroundings are. As the excerpt explains,
these standards change over time because of new technologies and ideas from other areas.
Access to education and the quality of that education also has an effect on society and how
quickly it advances. Although this usually takes a few generations to have a major effect.
I feel that the author provides a very good explanation about literacy as being used as a source
of power. Unfortunately, I dont have much cause of a direct connection to my life with this
point. This is due to the area in which I was raised. In the United States, school is required up
until the age of sixteen and reading and writing is required in those schools so there is a different
feeling among most students about literacy. I have noticed that a lot of people my age dont read
books unless it is required by their professors for an assignment and even then there is a lot of
groaning about it. However, in countries that dont have school systems like the United States,
the ability to read is probably a much bigger deal. Being able to read and process new ideas can
inform people to make their own opinions on things or make and opinion for the first time.
When a lot of people become informed and have the same opinion they can create waves of
change that impact the lives of thousands and cause them to want to become informed and join

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the cause or even go against it if they believe in that. Literacy just give people the option to be
exposed to another kind of environment that thrives on individualism and freedom of expression.