200 words, roughly. “Literacy, like land, is a valued commodity in this economy, a key resource in gaining profit and edge” (Brandt 558). If literacy is so valued, why might so many of us have such complicated relationships to reading and writing, perhaps two of the most important features of literacy? Make a text-to-text or text-to-self connection in your response. (15 minutes)
Literacy, although very important to our society is difficult. We all have complicated relationships with it because it is hard and challenges our mind in ways we haven’t prepared ourselves for. It makes us question our own situation as well as others. Reading on its own teaches us so much, and for some it adds perspective that they may not support. For some that is a reason to keep reading, and for others it pushes them away. When it comes to writing we are challenged in every mental way to make things perfect, and while some people enjoy the challenge, many seek other forms of challenge that don’t include literacy. So although literacy is valued, by almost everyone, we all have very different perspectives on how it makes us feel. Even though one person may love writing, writing for another person may challenge them in a way that makes them feel almost lesser than the person who can. Over time that small split becomes bigger, almost a hatred for something that is really important. With reading its very much the same, reading is not inherently difficult, but it does challenge our brains, and for the people who seek other challenges they avoid it.
200 words, roughly. Table 1 identifies eight distinct cultural narratives of literacy (Alexander 615), and the bulk of our reading selection is dedicated to discussion of these types. Pick any two “little narratives” that interest you, explain each of the little narratives and Alexander’s view on the type, and discuss your reasons for being interested in each type. (Note: “Success” is not a little narrative, so it is off limits for this question!) Remember: Quote & Explain. (15 minutes)
Hero: “emphasizes individual, rather than literacy, perseverance, self-reliance, and determination.”
Hero narratives are the stories that show how one person, an important person, makes it through their own struggles, whether it be withe people, society, or the world. Now it may just be because i have read a lot of fantasy books, but this is my favorite kind of narrative. I connect the most with it because in my mind this is how you truly succeed in this world, especially in school. To succeed you need perseverance, and self-reliance, but you also need to know when to get help. Even the greatest heroes of our time have been guided and taught by someone. This world shuns individuality, and that is why it is so important for us to put ours out there for everyone to see.
Rebel: “Does not necessarily dislike reading or writing but attacks and rebels against established beliefs and institutions.”
Rebel narratives are the outside the box thinkers. They don’t like being trapped to the same beliefs we have had for centuries. It is a new world, and for some their minds can’t be settled into hundred year old beliefs and institutions. Personally this makes me think about my own literacy narrative, especially my disagreement with Gee at parts. Although his ideas are by societies standards brilliant, years after his writings I would rather disagree with him than support his beliefs.
200 words, roughly. Every literacy narrative has both the student/writer and a person (or persons) that Brandt might call a literacy sponsor. Williams notes that it is “intriguing to consider the identities students construct for teachers” (344). Choose any two of Alexander’s categories and consider how students represent the identities of the relevant sponsor(s). Be sure to quote and explain. (10 minutes)
When it comes to identities students make for teachers I very often see Rebel and Victim. Throughout our own personal schooling we have almost all associated with one or both narratives. Victim when something happened in reading, or we didn’t enjoy what we had to read. Alexander states that a victim “discusses how someone took the fun out of reading and writing.” In class you often see this as a moment when a student had to read or write something they really didn’t like which them lead to them hating it. For Rebel I once again look at our analysis of Gee, as well as just class. As students we question everything, maybe because we want to learn, maybe because it stalls class. But either way we question things that may not have normally been questioned or learned just because we don’t agree with it. The world is very different than it was when Gee wrote his paper, so we question his beliefs because not all of them hold up in our current life.
