Literacy

work on prompt 1 only

add 2 pgs to the attached prompt 1

Prompt 1

Literacy, as far as I am concerned, is all about knowing or understanding something. Literacy thus depends on the context at question. For example, one can say that someone is computer literate, it means that the reference person knows how to use computer or understand how computer is used. On the other hand if we say someone is only literate, it means that he or she has general knowledge. He can write, calculate or talk using standard language such as English. Consequently, my understanding of literacy is that it is all ability to know something and that literacy depends on the  context. The thesis statement guiding my definition of literacy is that literacy is functionally and contextually described because no one can be literate in all aspects.

The literacy described by Knoblauch that interests me is functional literacy. Functional literacy, as described by Knoblauch aims at justifying the fact that different people can be literate for socioeconomic benefits and that not all people have the same literacy. In other functional definition of literacy indicates that a person can fit him or herself to roles that are superficially free to choose but that have been prepared as a range of acceptable alternatives. In other words, functional literacy is based on existing social order and that the advocates of this form of literacy are contend to recommend the training of persons to take narrowly beneficial places in society. The only criticism is thus the fact that it does not offer much freedom to members of society.

The reason why I believe that this is the best form of literacy is that it is better than any other forms of literacies mentioned. Specifically, with this form of literacy, it would be easy for someone to acquire other forms of literacy because this literacy suggest that a person can acquire specific literacy that he or she feels that it conveniently suit him or her. Although Knoblauch argue that functional literacy is based on existing social order and that the advocates of this form of literacy are contend to recommend the training of persons to take narrowly beneficial places in society and that this form of literacy does not offer much freedom to the members of society, I believe that this is not a major hindrance to the acquisition of knowledge. The impact of society is currently not too much. This is because the restrictive societal forces that tend to fix one to a particular area are getting weakened by the increase in information, education, and globalization.

Based on the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that although there are many forms through which one can define the term literacy, functional definition of literacy appears more comprehensive and conclusive than other definitions. Despite criticisms put forth, the discussion has shown that the critic put forth by Knoblauch is being weaken by education and globalization.