Celeste White Mrs.

Elliot English 111 1 October 2013 Literacy

White 1

Literacy has different meanings. Origins that lead to this word are literate and illiteracy, and literacy was created in the late nineteenth century. The use of literacy increased in the 1900s, continued to increase to 2010, and then decreased a little bit. Related words might help give more of an understanding of literacy. Some people might not understand this word because they have trouble with understanding meanings overall. Their literacy rates are low. Multiple definitions may throw people off, too. Personally, I think literacy is when people can read, write, and comprehend the meaning of ideas and words. Understanding certain areas more than others can also be a part in literacy. For instance, reading out loud, writing essays, or comprehending ideas may be learned differently, depending on who the person is. Learning to read and write can help someone achieve throughout life. Graduating high school, going to college, and getting a steady job all involve literacy. Without those skills, it will be hard to accomplish throughout life. All careers will involve some kind of writing or reading, having literacy is the best way to be prepared for them. Some other definitions of literacy from dictionaries and other sources could be a little bit different than my own. Merriam Webster defined literacy as the ability to read and write; the

White 2 competence or knowledge in a specified area. This is similar to my definition, but it may be interpreted differently. Being able to read and write is the general idea of literacy, and I feel as if there should be more included. Literacy leads to major events in life and school. In school, assignments, tests, reading requirements and anything along that line requires literacy. Knowledge needs to be included while learning, and literacy is a big part in knowledge. The dictionary should emphasize more on how important literacy really is. The definition describes how it is the ability to read and write, but thats not enough. Some people may think that is not a big deal when it is. Literacy will get you so far through high school, college, and careers. That cant be stressed enough that literacy will help you learn anything. A good point about the dictionary definition is that it does state the main ideas of being able to read and write because thats basically what literacy is. More should be added to the definition to be understood and emphasized more. Another definition of this word would be stated as the familiarity with literature and to a basic level of education obtained through the written word; quality state of being literate. This is not a good definition because it doesnt state that literacy is the ability to read. Literacy is not just the familiarity with literature but knowing how to comprehend your reading and being able to write well. In my opinion, this definition is not the best to be using for literacy. Most people just think of being able to read and write as literacy. They dont understand that comprehending what is being read is more of literacy. The class, Literature, describes the whole point in literacy. We had to comprehend the stories we read in that class, and then papers had to be written about them. This describes the meaning of literacy very well because it brings

White 3 together all the ideas of the word. Anyone can write, but can it be done well? Reading can be done, but was that reading comprehended? Was the story understood? This is what people dont realize. Literacy means to read and write well, and to be able to understand what has been read or what has been written. This needs to be understood, and not just having the ability to do it. Understand what is being done. Comprehend the ideas given and write them well. Words related to literacy are culture and reading. Culture is related to literacy because the ability to read and write can be a part of ones culture. Literacy can help describe the backgrounds and ideas of that culture. Reading is related because part of literacy is being able to read. Some synonyms are erudition, knowledge, learnedness, learning, education, and scholarship. Literacy rates are low right now. National Adult Literacy Survey(NALS) and National Assessment of Adult Literacy(NAAL) found that 21 to 23 percent (40-44 million of 191 million) American adults are at the lowest literacy rate. The functional illiteracy rate in Michigan is about eighteen percent. The functional illiteracy rate in Detroit is about forty-seven percent. Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write. Most people dont understand that it is being able to comprehend what was read and being able to write well. Some definitions may be different, but just know that literacy is the ability to read and write but more. Related words and synonyms may help describe and define literacy as well. Low literacy rates are being detected right now. Literacy can lead anyone far in life.

Works Cited

"Detroit Literacy Coalition." Frequently Asked Questions. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept 2013. <http://www.detroitliteracy.org/faq.htm>. "Merriam-Webster." Literacy. Merriam-Webster, Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Sept 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literacy>.