Essay Outline

(Outline)

Part 1:

I have chosen to write on different individuals and groups literacy practices.

I plan on focusing on how literacy is a tool that assists in the development of a community, how communities create literacy practices, and on the relationship between that community and identity formation, hegemonic, and/or counter narrative discourses.

I chose this topic, because religious literacy development is a big part of my life and the way it has helped me put my life together. In relation to that I would like to see if others are able to enjoy or develop their own life through shared literacy practices. It can be through study sessions, religious gatherings, individual literacy development, and etc.

I plan on attending different study sessions, maybe try to have a one on one study session, visiting a religious sermon, visit a religious lecture (Quranic study, Bible study, etc.) And from what I learn, try to see if any progress is made before, during, or after these events, how it may improve an individual or community, and see if it maybe included into others (including mine) lives for self development.

Part 2:

. When brought together for the same purpose and goal, success is almost guaranteed. So when I was able to attend a study session for my Physics class, and pay attention to the ease that my classmates had gotten after studying together was somewhat of an eye opener. It is like we were made to think we know it all, and even though it maybe unintentional, we might never think we could use the extra hand. For a class like Physics you need to be able to pay attention to every little detail and note in order to make sure you are not heading in the wrong direction. One of my classmates had asked me a question, and I replied to the best of my knowledge with the most confident answer. And even though it may have seemed right at the time, we would have never known that I had made a slip up in one of the small details in the question. Making my “confident” answer, maybe the reason why someone else may have struggled later on. When there is more than one head involved in a study, great ideas, many mistakes, and endless outcomes can come about. Two will always be greater than one, so imagine how great many more can be.

. Religion is a big part of my life, and most likely for many more as well. One thing I had realized growing up is that religion is probably the greatest study today that many take for granted. The religion of Islam may seem like a hand full to someone who is used to living the “free-life”, where you have this idea that you only live once, and the you should live it up. But when you actually take the initiative of seeing what is really on the other side, you will open your eyes to the bigger picture. I was born and raised in the U.S.A, so a lot of my religious practices seemed bogus and extra in my childish eyes, since everyone around was “allowed” to do what they wanted. But it wasn’t until I began to learn why Islam is Islam, in my early 20’s, that I started to view this bigger picture that was made for not just me but the community.

• Why I don’t drink or smoke, “even though I can control myself”?                    (For the ones who can’t)
• Why I should “American” date?                                                                                        (The open windows for unwanted circumstances; pregnancies, heartbreak, rush for love, etc.)
• Why I pray 5 times a day?                                                                                                        (A self check-up to see if my mind is in the right place.)
• More optional practices, but those are probably the main ones.

Part 3:

In depends on which part of my research you are talking about. In my group study session, the idea of coming and working together is usually promoted so it would be a hegemonic.

But in the religious case, it would be a counter narrative discourse.

Part 4:

In the Middle East and Arabs weekly topic we were able to see how misjudged and misunderstood people were tormented and stressed, because of a lack of proper religious understanding. But if group sessions were held in order to properly understand a people, then the small details that someone may miss can be cleared.

Part 5:

For your own self-benefit. Imagine being that person, who would scold, talk down on someone, say the wrong the things, and so on. Just so at the end you can be the same person looked at with complete shame and embarrassment. You can never know enough, especially when you are the one gaining.

And with the same knowledge you know, you can help teach others, you can know how to treat others, and you will have an idea of what to do now when you find or meet something or someone new.