Critics have long tried to set a concrete definition for the idea of literacy. Critics like Gerald Graff believe that everyone has their own form of literacy that you cannot find in modern school systems, while critics like Sven Birkerts believe that the key to literacy is through the traditional reading of books, unlike the modern way of learning through a computer screen. Intellects such as Marshall McLuhan, and Janet Murray help explain why technological learning and multimedia platforms may be the key to the collective academic success of young people. In addition, being an individual growing up with the same education that is being criticized, I have personal experiences with myself and others alike that can further dissect this broad and complex question.
- would like to have Birkerts as my mentor, even though I do not agree with much of what he says. I think that Birkerts is very confident in his writing and manages to be very straight forward with the reader. That is something I like to do. Blunt, straightforward to the point, no BS. Although Birkerts does this in an unconventional way, and tends to piss off a lot of people in his writing, I think my style of writing along with his could be extremely effective on multiple topics, not just this one. I also like his use of personal anecdotes and that’s when I feel that I write the best
- Specifically in this paper, I will have to develop my logos, because of the extensive use of anecdotes and ethos I used. I will have to forward more texts and I will develop more of the text that we have come across during this third portion of the course. Specifically Murray and McLuhan, (maybe luminous airplanes?) that are pro-technology. I will argue with them (MEDIUM). Technology is the future. McLuhan’s medium idea is great because it allows people to interpret anything the best way that they can, using the medium that they want to. (Stupid example: Read nonfiction books on WWII, read fictional book based on a true story, watch documentaries, watch fictional movies based on a true story, play video games about WWII. People can essentially get the same information out of all of these different mediums, everyone just does it differently.
- Grammatically/technically, I will have to state my argument sooner as well as my evidence instead of vice versa. I tend to lead up to the evidence with analysis. A lot of my topic sencences were at the end as a “transition,” but they just needed to be at the top. Obviously these topic sentences will be changed a bit because my argument is overall changing.
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