Rebecca Honeycutt Professor Padgett English 1101 11 September 2012 Literacy as a Process What does literacy mean?

According to Websters Dictionary, it means the ability to read and write. If you ask me, it means much more than that. To be literate you need to understand and grasp what you are reading or writing. Being literate takes a lot more work than just to be able to read or write; it requires knowledge and effort. I often struggle with my vocabulary but through the years of consistently writing papers and learning new words, my vocabulary became increasingly strong. When I first started to read I did not know what a period meant. The teacher told me it meant that you had to pause before continuing on to the next sentence. Therefore, when I read aloud to the class I took deep breaths after each period. I was confused when my teacher told me that was not what I was supposed to do. Once she thoroughly explained to me what I was doing wrong, I finally understood the concept of the period. I will never forget this day because it was the first time I actually comprehended punctuation. The point is, once you understand the meaning of a word or phrase, it is stuck in your head forever and you have gained knowledge that no one can ever take from you. I remember the day my teacher wrote a note to my parents about my writing homework; she said that I needed to write in between the lines. I was in first grade and could not
Comment [AP5]: Is this semicolon needed? Comment [AP4]: Not sure this is true. I read sentences all the time that I later forget. Comment [AP1]: It is cool idea to define a word, but I cant tell you how many papers I get that start with according to Websters Dictionary. So thats getting a bit clich. Also, you arent defining this word in a new light or in a way that spins its meaning. While you then go and spin the definition (which is a very cool and creative idea), I think you can just start off with your new definition. Comment [AP2]: Im not really getting your distinction here. You seem to just be defining it the same way with different words. Make your distinction much more clear. Comment [AP3]: Periods dont really mean anything. They have a function, but Im not sure they have meaning.

write in between the lines, embarrassing, right? After reality sank in, I was determined to have the best handwriting in the first grade. I practiced everyday and every night; each day only getting better. I realized that it did not matter if I had the best handwriting in the first grade as long as I was satisfied with my own work. Being confident in your writing is the most important thing for success. Knowing that you did your best and nothing less will make for an incredible writer. If I believe in my writing, I know that nothing can stop me. Literacy plays a huge role in sports; you have to know the correct terminology to understand what you have to do. When I first started playing basketball, I had to learn all the rules and terms they used. If you did not know the difference between offense and defense, you would be very confused. I had to start out young and learn so that I would be more familiar with these rules and regulations. Basketball is like writing:; they are both processes. You have to learn how to dribble and shoot before you can actually play in a game. Likewise, you have to learn how to read and write before you start forming sentences. Texting is one of the most disgracing things known to writers. Some argue that texting makes a persons literacy plummet, but I would have to disagree. I think texting actually can help ones literacy. For example, spell check is a great tool to have when you are texting. If you are unsure of a word, you can use spell check and the work is done for you. When spell check repeatedly corrects a word for you, you learn to spell it the right way. In addition, texting is a way of communication, you arent going to misspell and abbreviate every word because then no one would have any idea what you are trying to say. When I got older and started writing papers, I would sometimes write them without meaning. I would write a paper strictly going by the guidelines and answering every question on

Comment [AP6]: Not really embarrassing. You were in the first grade.

Comment [AP7]: I feel like you are relying on inspirational clichs here.

Comment [AP8]: I feel like youre meandering here. Im losing the point/purpose of this essay. Comment [AP9]: Really? Not to me. And also, Im not sure what you mean or how you came up with this idea. Comment [AP10]: Like who?

Comment [AP11]: But is this promoting literacy? Or laziness?

Comment [AP12]: Untrue.

the rubric. My teachers always told me that my writing was good, but was that the truth? I knew deep down my writing was not up to par. I never connected with what I was writing, I was merely going through the motions. My hands would be writing, but my mind would be somewhere else. It took me a few years to increase my writing skills and learn how to be a better writer. Over time, I learned that you have to make the audience connect with your writing and at the same time, understand your purpose. What good is a paper without a purpose? Better yet, what good is a paper with an unclear purpose? I actually enjoy writing; it is a way to put my thoughts into words. Writing can be very powerful and effective. I like to think of myself as an effective writer; I know how to get my point across. My writing is nowhere near perfect, but it has increasingly matured and developed with time. It used to be extremely mediocre until I reached my junior year of high school; this is when everything about my writing changed. I began to notice my mistakes in my writing and became more creative. Without the years of analyzing my fellow classmates work and receiving feedback about my writing, I would not be where I am today. I still have much more to learn, but I am positive I am heading in the right direction. .Rebecca,
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0" Comment [AP15]: Again, I need more specifics. Comment [AP16]: Which is where? Comment [AP13]: Using very ambiguous language here. Be more specific. Say what you mean. Comment [AP14]: Increase implies quantity. Do you want more writing skills or to improve writing skills?

I really like your discussion of how writing is a process. About how you evolved as a writer and reader. The problems I have with this paper is that you seem to get way off topic. This is especially true when you discuss literacy in terms of sports and texting. You write about how writing needs purpose, while I think this piece could certainly use a much more focused purpose.

You bring is back around in the end, but in the body, I get a little lost. Also, Id like for you write with much more specificity and to about general or ambiguous statements. Also, reconsider your use of semicolons. The semicolon is a strange piece of punctuation that isnt used often. So try to use it sparingly and not gratuitously.
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"