Hunter Street English 1103 10-05-11 In all of the essays explaining what literacy is and how it comes about,

all of the anecdotal accounts telling how each individuals literacy was shaped and all of the class discussions in which we deliberate on the matter of defining literacy, there has been a significant element that is the central vein connecting each interpretation of literacy: that literacy is achieved through social interaction with language. Scribner writes that, Literacy is an outcome of cultural transmission Literacy abilities are acquired by individuals only in the course of participation in socially organized activities with written language. Because literacy is learned through social interaction with a knowledgeable person like a teacher or parent, the degree to which one becomes literate is dependent on the person with whom the social interaction is taking place. Brandt gives a name to these people in her essay: sponsors. Ones literacy is affected in all aspects of life, including in academic institutions, in the home, in the community and in the workplace. When considering the process of becoming literate, one genre of sponsors that is immediately thought of is teachers. While the most obvious sponsorship of literacy by a teacher can be seen in younger grades where a child is learning to read and write, even high school teachers and college professors sponsor students literacies by instructing how to read and write effectively.1 The literacy of writing, no matter what the form or function of the writing may be, is improved due to help I like how you are separating different levels of literacy here. I believe it is very helpful, and perhaps elaborating wouldnt hurt anything.
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from academic sponsors. This is an excellent example of the assertion that repeated interaction with language improves ones literacy. A teacher not only helps students to better understand the writing process, but gives them opportunities to practice it often as well. Teachers also help improve students reading literacies, which also necessitates repeated interaction with the process. Practicing reading comprehension and learning how to look for symbolism, rhetoric, and other literary devices, allows a deeper understanding of a piece by the reader, improving their literate abilities. Assigned reading in schools is also significant to ones literacy because it gets the ball rolling to improve ones literacy outside of the classroom; it creates a bridge between two domains of literacy: academic institutions and the home. The decision to read the books that I choose to read for pleasure is nearly always influenced by what I read in school. For example, I loved reading Slaughter-House Five in school, so for my birthday that year I got three books by Vonnegut. Pleasure reading is an important aspect to ones literacy that is often overlooked in favor of school reading. Reading at home is not only important because it gives another opportunity to practice that literacy, but it also presents a form of identity by showing what a reader is truly interested in.2 Madera writes in her essay that Although we are getting a great education in school, it was the language we learned outside of school that determined our speech. While the uses of language that are learned in school are an imperative This is great, but I feel it might be stronger if you include something about writing at home. Literacy in the home is typically more relaxed, so I think people tend to forget its importance and need extra reminders.
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aspect of literacy, language used in the domain of ones community is equally important. In the case of Madera, she learned proper English in school, but had an entire different way of speaking in her neighborhood. My leisurely style of language is also influenced by my community, most importantly, my friends. The difference between my proper language and leisurely language can best be seen in the different ways that I write: while I write with intention when writing an essay, when I am writing a letter to a friend, like I often did in high school,3 I would not plan ahead what I was going to write, but simply let loose and write whatever came into my mind. I have innumerable sponsors for this sort of literacy; while I still have teachers to thank for teaching me writing skills, the language that I use is the product of interaction with my friends. I write in a casual and carefree way when I write to a friend. This sponsorship has allowed me to develop my writing identity by giving me my own personal writing voice.4 The domain of literacy that is given the least attention is the workplace. However, there are very few jobs that do not require some level of reading. For me, my literacy has not developed in the workplace, but it is utilized. One job that I have done for a few years is babysitting. The child that I care for is of the age when he is developing his own literacies. One activity that we regularly take part in is reading. Whether it is a comic book or his grandfathers old boy scout manual, he practices his literacy with me as his guide. In this situation, I have become the sponsor.

Maybe consider taking the like I did in high school bit out. It will help the sentence flow, plus it is slightly irrelevant. 4 Multiple ways of expression through literacy = epic win. This works well.
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Had I not had the level of literacy that I currently have, I would not have been able to be the literate sponsor of the child who I babysit. Brandt explains that sponsors are any agents, local or distant, concrete or abstract, who enable, support, teach, model as well as well as recruit, regulate, suppress or withhold literacy. In the case of my linguistical5 literacy, I have been received6 sponsorship in three of the four domains, which allowed me to, in turn, become the sponsor in the workplace domain. Even in the instance that I am the sponsor, however, I am still utilizing the skills that I gained from my own sponsor as I learned to read and write. This cylce of the sponsored becoming the sponsor shows that every literate person became that way through interaction with someone who has already undergone sponsored literacy.7

I think its linguistic. Thats alright, though. I make up words sometimes too because it does make sense. 6 been receiving or received. I think everything else is good grammar-wise. 7 Its cool how you brought attention to the cycle of literacy. I never thought of it that way, but now I see how important it is.
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