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Jayde Boyd
Professor Lawson
English 113A
10 December 2014
Narrative Essay
1,731
Books as Battery

When it comes to reading and writing, or some might say literacy and language, it
might be easy for others but the hardest challenge for some. Reading is a way of life and the key
to knowledge but someone else may want to avoid it at all costs. Reasons for this avoidance can
include, the lack of time, the boring endless tan, black and white pages that show up abruptly in
every book, or the sick feeling when you know you have to read it.. My name is Jayde and for
the past seven years of my school education, reading has been included in every year, whether I
liked it or not. I guess I would all say this started in about the 6th grade, where vocabulary tests
and getting our names called as one of the A+ papers in class meant a lot. Not only was I good
at spelling, but I also enjoyed reading aloud in class. My hand was always up for volunteering to
read, I was proud of my reading skills, especially aloud when there was a purpose and an
audience to listen. I Never went below a B on any spelling test. However that was not the case
with writing. Ive always talked properly, I never used any type of slang or anything to that
affect my vocabulary in a negative way, so you would think my writing would not be horrible.
All it was, was writing down simply the thoughts and ideas in your head, which would be the
same if you spoke them on a paper, well at least that's what I had thought.

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Reading was never really my forte either. Books did not really peak my interest that
much. I can name the amount of times on two hands in several years that I have enjoyed reading
and writing. Over the past years, I have had assignments such as, book reports, documentaries,
history stories, research essays, narratives and just reading because I had to and was forced to. I
feel as if, being forced to do something, automatically takes away the fun or enjoyment in
whatever the assignment may be. In most cases this causes the reader to lose interest in the
assignment. In one case, I have even had a teacher talk about an assignment of a reading of "our
choice" she said, then handed us two books to pick from. This is one of the situations that makes
reading a complete turn off for me and possibly for others. Usually there was some type of
writing assignment, such as an essay or things in that area that was the second part of the
assignment as well. Essays weren't the best from me, my average grade was a C or in some
special occasions a B.
In about 7th grade, I was given a book report to do on any book from the whole entire
class, which had book shelves full of books. Now this writing assignment, I wasn't too fond of
neither, but I didn't think it was horrible, because I got to choose my own book. I do enjoy
reading, but things in my preference, such as; text messages, articles, magazines and stuff that is
just interesting to me. This makes me enjoy reading, and also broadens my vocabulary and
sentence structure. The more you read the better the understanding you have in different type of
texts because you will understand the difficult or abstract vocabulary thats in all types of
readings. Just knowing the vocab will make reading better for anyone. You wont have that lost
confused feeling and want to stop or even get frustrated and quit. Picking your own book will
start you into a better understanding of reading because you will actually want to read, which
will help in a variety of things in language and literature. I chose the book "Number the Stars"

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by Lois Lowry, it was about a Jewish girl who was telling the story of her and her
families experiences with Nazis during World War II and how they survived. This book was so
interesting and full of excitement. I loved every page, cover to cover. I felt as if I was with her
during every adventure and attack. No one would ever think that just being able to do something
so minute as choosing a book to read would have such a broad effect on a reader. Most would
think that it is not important, but it is very significant. So perhaps if teachers invested time in
learning what students would like to read, there would be a better outcome in the interest that
students have for reading books.
A couple years later in the 9th grade, I was assigned a research paper. I could choose any
topic I wanted as long as the outcome in some cases leads to death. I chose depression. Not for
any specific reason, it just popped up on a website while I was searching for topics. While doing
this paper, I discovered so many interesting facts and feelings that I could actually see in other
people around me. While reading these tons and tons of articles I had caught myself. I must of
read about 6 or 7 different articles about 4 pages each on depression that night and hadn't even
noticed. At this point I realized, maybe it isn't the act of reading that makes it such a pain to me.
Maybe it is what you read that makes it so horrible at times. The mind frame you have on
reading changes the whole aspect of it, reading could be positive or negative depending on how
you feel about it. From that week on, I turned in my essay that I had written on depression and
received a B+ on it. From then on my perspective on reading was different, I was starting to
think it wasn't a pain after all.
The following year, it was time to choose my classes. My counselor had told me I had to
sign up for an Honors class, so I chose Honors English. Of course I thought it would be a

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definite challenge but I was willing to try my hardest. After the first week of school we started
off with what I use to call spelling test but now were called Vocabulary tests, where we had to
know how to spell the word and the definition. I did horrible. I felt as if I had lost my mojo. I
was no longer good at vocabulary. This went on for essays also, my average of a B dropped to a
C-. The books that I had been assigned to read were no longer interesting. My grade caused me
to drop the class and take regular English in place of it. So here I go almost about the 4th month
of school in a brand new English class. At this point, Im not sure how this is going to go. In
that first week, I noticed that everything that they were doing I had did in the first month of my
English Honors class, so I did learn a lot from that class, which did put me ahead of everyone
else, resulting in a A in my final grade of that English class for the semester.
Over the course of years, I have had different situations within reading, writing and
speaking. In some cases all these did not workout in my favor. I have failed at some of these
courses but excelled in others. What I thought was a horrible decision now to take English
Honors turned out to still help me with regular English. My book report that I was not to fond
of, helped me discover that all books were not boring and the problem, it was what peaked my
interest that I enjoyed to read. I have had ups and downs within literacy and language, but I have
learned a tremendous amount of knowledge from each experience. Even the worst situation can
be turned into a good outcome in the end.
In the story "Literacy: A Lineage" by Melanie Luken it is basically speaking of how her
father loved reading and writing. Almost every activity they did involved some form of literacy
and language. She had stated "......so our entertainment consisted of what we could create
ourselves or what we could gain from books" (Luken 134). I felt as if I could sympathize with

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her on this. In class, I was not allowed any other form of entertainment but to sit at my desk and
read, everything else was to be put away for the time being. Reading and writing was pushed on
me the same as it was for Melanie. Melanie however, did have an advantage, when you grow up
having family around you, that you look up to that actually reads daily and encourages and
makes you read, there might be an easier transition and a willing to make that happen for them
because that is what you are used to. I did not have anyone to look up to while growing up that
fancied reading such as Melanies father. I had a teacher breathing down my throat, telling me
to read and threatening me with my grade dropping. Even though we as people might not like
the way reading was pushed on to us, it could have a great impact for the good. In her case, she
had a very successful outcome, pushing her off into future places to further her love in English.
In my case, it did help to open my eyes on reading and writing and to see that books are filled
with much more then tan, black and white endless pages.
When it comes to reading and writing, some people may like it and some may feel its
a waste of time. I, after several years, have learned to enjoy it and now know what exactly
makes me like reading. Yes it is possible to grow up being pushed into doing something such as
reading of someone elses preference and actually enjoy it. I am almost positive that there are
multiple ways and stories of people not liking reading, writing or even speaking aloud. But this,
this is my story and how Ive overcome it and seen the bright side of the situation, and hope you
can too.

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Works Cited
Luken, Melanie. Literacy: A Lineage. Everyones An Author. Andrea Lunsford. et al. New
York: W.W. Norton, 2014. 132-136. Print.