Summary
The ability to read, write, and understand language well is considered literacy. It is important because it helps you communicate effectively and take part in society. It is not just about reading and writing, but also about thinking carefully, figuring out if information is trustworthy, and being able to make smart choices based on what you know. In today's world, where there is a lot of information everywhere, being literate helps you understand complex things and have a say in important discussions. For example, if you are good at literacy, you can read news about something happening, decide if the news is believable, and then share your own smart thoughts with others. Literacy gives you the skills to learn, think, and be an active part of your community.
As a result of my work on this unit, I learned literacy is more than reading books or writing words; it is about comprehending what you read and expressing yourself in writing. After watching John Trischitti's TedTalk and doing my own research, I realized this skill is important because it enables you to communicate well and be part of various aspects of life, like school, work, and your community. Overall, literacy is like a key that unlocks the door to effective communication and active participation in the world around you.
John Trischitti defines literacy by defining illiteracy which is the basic inability to understand or produce written information. He also explains that there are many forms of literacy like computer literacy, health literacy, financial literacy etc. If illiteracy were a disease, Trischitti believes that it would be considered a pandemic. He states “90% of welfare recipients are either high school dropouts or illiterate. 85% of individuals that interface with a juvenile court system are either functionally illiterate or do not read with proficiency.” Trischitti stresses the importance of literacy to succeed in life and avoid becoming one of those statistics. Illiteracy is the reason many people who come from poverty stay that way throughout adulthood. I agree with his statement. Finishing high school, going to college, and starting a career are ideal ways to escape poverty. To overcome those obstacles, you must be able to comprehend reading and writing.
Ashley Tineo
One thought on “Conversation 1:”
I totally agree after watching the video it helped me understand that there’s more to literacy. I personally didn’t know much all I was we had to read and write in order to complete materials given to us in general. But there’s more beyond that. Like when he said he had food stamps and free lunch . And that basically he didn’t care if had all the free stuff, he was taking advantage of the free things he can get. He’s telling us to better . Telling us to take Advantage of whatever we get in our hands because it sure does helps . And to better understand the world.