February 8th homework

Baron:

In his article “From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies,” Baron talks about “the histories of writing technologies that we are unlikely to even recognize as “technology” anymore.”(p.422) He claims, “old technologies become automatic and invisible” (p438) because we all become more concerned with the new technologies and that we think of the older technologies used for writing as “natural” because we are so used to the writing technologies.

QD:

2. I think that one of his messages is that we don’t know if new technologies will fundamentally change writing or not.

4. Cameras that weren't digital, VHS movies, and walk-men were all high in technology at one point and are now barley recognized.  They all have new improved inventions.

6. The images give visual examples of what he is saying to give a better understanding.

Reflection:

I thought Barons article was very long and I wasn't necessarily interested in the topic. I'm not sure what it will help me with in the long run but once it is discussed in class I'm sure I will have a better understanding of what it will help me with.

Malcolm X:

Summary:

In "Learning to Read," Malcolm X talks about the process he went through while he was in prison, writing letters and rewriting the dictionary.

QD:

1. His papers intended audience was people who struggle with literacy or haven't learned, I know this because it was very encouraging to people.  

2. He defines "literacy" as understand what is being said to you or what you are reading. 

3. School until he was in the 8th grade, prison supplying books, and the books he read. I think the books he was able to read were the most influential because they helped him the most.

4. Not understanding really what the books said sometimes because he did not understand all the words is an example of how he would misappropriate.

6. When I read it is usually because its an assignment for school I don't really read anything outside of schoolwork. So him reading more than college students makes sense to me. 

AEI

1. I think technologies make it easier to be literate now because we have so many more resources that we can use that help us with being literate.

Alexie:

Summary:

In "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me," Alexie talks about when he first understood reading the and how he was naturally good at it along with all the different things that he read that helped him. He talks about all the things he read even comic books helped him with his writing. 

QD:

1. If a child isn't held to high expectations a lot of the time the child won't try to their ability because they are expected to. When a child is expected to do well the child will work harder to do well than a child who doesn't have expectations to do well in most cases. If certain races to expected to be "stupid" then these kids may not want to be "different" than the other so they will not try as hard to do well. When I was growing up my parents had high expectations for me to do well and so did the school system I was in so I felt pressure to do well so this helped me with trying to do well in school. This shaped me because it made me try harder. 

AEI:

1. I think that it is difficult for people to overcome poverty and discrimination but if people are determined enough they could probably find a way to overcome it.

Reflection:

I thought this was a interesting essay to see someone in a different situations obstacles that they overcame to read and write. Im not sure how this is going to help me in the future but it was interesting for me to read.