The other side

Scribner and Thompson have now shed the light on the other side of this whole idea that the internet is killing America’s literacy. Their combined literacy metaphors and Harvard research made the American literacy problem seem just a little bit less extreme. In fact the light they shed on the “new” style of literacy makes it seem as if our technology and new ways of writing are helping to promote kids literary skills. Scribner does a good job of bringing in examples that relate literacy to people’s social and economic status as well as showing that literacy just has a perpetually changing meaning. However it does cross my mind that Scribner did write this in the eighties, and a little bit has changed. So how valid is it? I think that it is still valid, because the ideas and instances are set in history, which we must always take into account.

Thompson’s article really caught me by surprise. I was not expecting to agree or appreciate this until I read it. He has the great point that, “writing is about persuading and organizing and debating, even if it's over something as quotidian as what movie to go see”. I believe in this whole heartedly. Thompson found that kids are writing in this style more, and this style is called kairos. Or writing for a specific audience, purpose, and writing in the moment. All of which I can honestly say do seem to be happening a little more easily for myself. There is one limitation however, this new writing that is emerging in this time of technology will only hold valid IF youth and people in general keep the practices of Reading with comprehension and higher level thinking. We must still fight to stay out of a picture and media run state.