Marty Cullen

Professor Agosta

UWRT 1101-005

18th January 2017

Scribner Reading Log

1. Critical reading can be described as the ability to analyze, synthesize,

interpret, and evaluate ideas, information and texts. Critical reading
differs from other types of reading because it requires the reader to
look deeper into the text, take ideas and theories from it and use that
information to produce connections and patterns. Critical reading for
me has always been a difficult task. Ive resented the idea of reading
for classes and usually tried to find a way around it. However, my first
semester at UNC Charlotte has completely changed my attitude
towards reading, especially critically reading. Critical reading has been
necessary for me to understand the content of my classes, and by
doing so, I have started to learn more about the subjects Im studying,
instead of just remembering information to pass an exam.

2. To me, literacy has simply been the ability to read and write. A basic
definition that has been engrained in me since I was young. However,
as Ive grown up Ive come to understand that the term literacy is more
than a simple definition. Its so heavily involved in the word, its the
fundamental basis of communication which simply cannot be defined
as the ability to and read. As the article talks about, there is a lot of
disagreement and confusion of the definition of this term. There are so
many levels to literacy which means its near impossible to develop an
accurate, universal definition. I like the part of the piece that talks
about how literacy is a social achievement. National and global literacy
rates are determined by individuals ability to read and write. But
literacy is an impossible individual achievement. It requires the work of
society to ensure people become literate.

3. Scribner talks about how the definition of literacy would affect the
approach of education because different definitions shape our
perceptions of individuals who fall on either side of the standard.

4. As I mentioned in my response to second question, Scribner talks

about the idea of literacy as an attribute of individuals and literacy as
a social achievement. These two ideas regarding the definition of
literacy can heavily impact our views and perceptions of the subject.
 When thinking from the standpoint of literacy being an attribute of
individual, its easier of us to think of simple ways to define it, such as
the ability to read and read. However, this becomes complicated when
we understand that literacy cannot be taught between a single person
and the environment. It requires people to work together and to teach
and pass on information. Now, when you think of literacy as a social
achievement, defining it becomes a lot more difficult. There are many
factors to include, that could potentially influence the style of
education across the world because we learn and discover new things
about literacy.

5. .

Literacy as Adaption

- Today, functional literacy is conceived broadly as the level of

proficiency necessary for effective performance in a range of settings
and customary activities. Page 9

This sentence immediately caught my attention because it presented me

something I have never read about, or even thought about. The topic of
functional literacy is also interesting as it proposes the question of; What is
the level of proficiency necessary for effective performance in a range of
settings and customary activities? Different groups of people have different
requirements for effective performance in life which presents the issue of
how to teach literacy effectively. I understand this topic because in my own
life, Ive only ever felt the need to be as literate as I needed to be, to be
successful in my everyday activities. However, my daily literacy needs could
be vastly different from someone elses.

- An equally important question concerns the concept of uniformity.

Page 10

This quote is important because it presents us with a very difficult situation.

It requires to think about everyones needs and how to go about educating
people to suit these needs. This is an example of how literacy is a social
achievement and how deeper we must look into it to truly understand it. As I
mentioned before, I have different requirements for effective performance
than my neighbor, but would it be unfair to provide different levels of
education to meet different requirements?

Literacy as Power
 - Historically, literacy has been a potent tool I maintaining the
hegemony of elites and dominant classes in certain societies Page
11

My understanding of literacy throughout history has always been that the

rich upper class were only people that got the opportunity to become
literate. This resulted in a cycle because if only the upper class are literate,
theyll become powerful, and continue to maintain their status. Even though
this doesnt apply to modern society as much as it used to, it still has
relevance in relation to defining literacy.

- Effective literacy education, in his view, creates a critical

consciousness through which a community can analyze its conditions
of social existence and engage in effective action for a just society.
Page 12

I think this quote provides an important insight to the effectiveness of

literacy. It fits the status quo that in more developed, democratic countries,
the literacy rate is higher. It provides people with the resources to analyze
and assess the situation around them and work towards fighting injustice.
Literacy is crucial for creating change.

- How can these cultural variations be taken into account? Page 13

This question is regarding different groups variation of the definition of

literacy. Unfortunately, I do not possess an answer this question. However, I
believe its a very important question that needs to be asked because its
another factor that adds to the complexity of defining literacy.

Literacy as a State of Grace

- the tendency in many societies to endow the literate person with

special virtues Page 13

I have noticed this in my own life. Throughout school and growing up, the
stereotypes and assumptions were that the person who could read and write
better than everyone else, would go on in life to become more successful
than everyone else to their superior intellect. Literacy almost acted as the
primary assessment of ones intellectual capabilities.

- The metaphor of literacy-as-grace, like the others, as boundary

problems.

I chose this quote to finish with because of its relevance to the other
metaphors and this entire task. No matter how hard we try to understand
and define literacy, there will problems that stand in our way force us into a
new way of thinking. This is essential though, the constant of change, and
new theories and ideas, is what leads is to find a true understanding of a
subject. Literacy is vital. Everything and everyone in this world rely in on to
perform the most basic to the most advanced activities. This is why we
continue to research and develop our knowledge on the definition of literacy.