Thursday, October 11, 2012

Project 2 Progress

Literacy Data from WAW 460-1
I learned to read and write from my grandma/babysitter, my parents, and my older sister before I went to kindergarten. 
I've written a lot for school and scholarships. I've written letters to soldiers- and one in particular. I used to write songs to play on guitar. I write tons on the internet. I used to spend literally hours coding my myspace to look awesome...
I enjoy letter writing, song writing, and posts on the internet-- not so much writing for school (too systematic for me)
I HATED term papers in high school…but in junior high I played saxophone and I learned to read and write music and that was pretty cool for me. Im not a band-aid anymore but the skills stuck. 
I remember reading this book about a chicken when I was four. Its still in my house somewhere, but I was so excited when I finished I remember running down the hall to tell my mom. As for writing, I actually remember one of my mom's friends teaching me to draw stars when I was about 3 or 4. My grandma taught me to write my name when I was four as well- that's when I started writing. 
As I was learning to read and write, I thought I was the coolest kid ever since the adults praised me for it. I guess that's what made me realize how valuable the skills were going to be as I grew up. 
When I read in school, I hated coming across words that I didn't know. I was 2 years ahead of my grade in reading- so when my friends were reading 1st grade books, I was tested on 3rd grade books. I didn't think that was fair and I would've liked to stay on the same level as my friends. However, once I finally understood a word or once I quit having so much trouble with the vocabulary, it was refreshing.
I definitely prefer fiction.
The majority of the writing I do at this time in life is for English 1510… but in general, I do so much school work involving reading and writing that I don't have time to do anything else. If I had it my way, I would go back to writing some music and Id have more time to email friends or text or something. I just hate being told to read/write this by this time. I like to do things on my own time at the spur of the moment. 
This class has kind of made me hate reading- though if I came across a good fiction book in the future, I think my hope for reading would be restored. As for writing, I don't think I'm too bad at it so I guess it doesn't really bother me that much. Id rather right on topics on my choice though. 
It is ultimately my early family influences and school that has made me the reader and writer I am today. Technology, music, and long distance writing has influenced me at different times in life. 
Literacy sponsors: Grandma, Mom, Dad, older sister, Army ex-boyfriend, teachers/school, technology, music, the library, ….we probably share many sponsors. 

These are the answers to the self study questions in WAW. 
For a little more personal insight on the history of my literacies, check out my literacy narrative. 
http://smaccombs.blogspot.com/2012/09/literacy-narrative.html

Summary of Emerging Argument
As a group, we feel that having the choice to choose the topic you write on is better than being given a topic. Having the  freedom to write on what pleases you enables creativity and is more enjoyable in our opinion. This theme of freedom can be related to hooks' article because she is progressively more free from her past as she continues to write about it. Also, Malcolm X became literate by choice, not because he was told too. He read topics of his choice and became a writer due to all of it. Aside from what we have learned in class for evidence, we intend to question others' views on this topic and present them and our conclusions to the class.

Group Notes and Contributions
I feel to best portray group notes and contributions, a view of our work is necessary. Here are our notes. We have decided that due to Kenneth and Garrett's strong background in movie production, our presentation will be through a video. Also, we intend to interview professors for and against our topic, below are possible interview questions I have jotted down. I feel that all three of us are working efficiently and will produce a great investigation about literacy.


6 comments:

  1. Stephanie--
    Your group seems to be forging an important argument about literacy: students should have freedom to shape their literacies rather than being receptacles in which a teacher pour his/her topics. Ok, so if students should have this freedom, what next? Take your excellent argument to the next level. I like where your group is going with this. Would you say that required topics disempower literacy? Excellent connections to hooks and Malcolm X. In terms of the movie...this is excellent! Consider also including non-profs too.

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  2. Another point to consider: do we ever act in society with complete freedom?

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  3. The following statement did not go unnoticed: "This class has kind of made me hate reading- though if I came across a good fiction book in the future, I think my hope for reading would be restored." This is an important statement for your argument...on another level, however, this is a bit disconcerting for me. You hate the content of the texts, right?

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    1. Yes! I'm sorry, don't think that I was talking about you. I meant the readings from the books, not you! :)

      Also, I don't think we do ever get to act with complete freedom in society, but perhaps writing could be the one exception!

      I'm glad to hear you like the direction that we are headed in.

      Sorry for the misunderstanding.

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    2. I was worried that this writing class was making you hate reading! I know the readings can be a bit dry, so when I read your paragraph, I was worried!

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    3. No worries. This class will help me in the big picture, so although most of the reading are dry, it's no big deal. I still like to read things that I can choose and some of the pieces we have read in class are actually interesting. So, all is well :)

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