“Why Literature Matters” “Why Literature Matters” written by Dana Gioia includes reasoning and evidence to persuade the audience to read more. Young Americans’ interest in literature has declined, and Gioia’s purpose is to portray the importance and effectiveness of literature; however, Gioia’s poor use of logic to link the decline in literature with negative results in society makes his article ineffective. In paragraph two, Gioia uses evidence to back up his claim that there is a decrease in Americans reading literature. Gioia brings up a 2002 survey of the Public Participation in the Arts, which is a reliable source, and claims that ‘arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that are measured...The declines have been most severe among younger adults (ages 18-24).” Throughout this paragraph, Gioia is just stating facts. He does not mention why the percentage of Americans reading literature is declining. He does not state the percentage, and he does not explain how the survey was measured. In addition, the range of the survey was small. Gioia did not prove that this actually has an effect on our society. Gioia mentions that not reading causes drastic changes in everyday life. Still, he does not provide evidence to his claim or even clarify what transitions he is referring to. He states, “the …show more content…
Then, he gives examples of how literary readers are more social than non readers. However, this is the first time in the article that Gioia ties the decline in reading with social life, and he still fails to provide evidence that the higher social activity is the result from the historical knowledge people gain from literary
Reading is on the decline and our reading skills are declining right along with the amount of reading we do. This is happening right across the board through both genders, all age groups and education levels, people are busy and they just do not have time to read books that they are not required to read for school or work. There are serious consequences to this neglect of reading that will continue to worsen if ignored. We need to take notice of what is happening to our culture and stop this situation from continuing, we must act to correct these issues that we are faced with. These things are discussed in the essay “Staying Awake’’ by Ursula K. Le Guin who uses the NEA essays “To Read or Not to Read’’ and “Reading at Risk’’ to support her argument that there is a decline in the amount of time that we are spending on reading and our ability to understand what it is that we are reading.
Francine Prose is a mother, a writer, a book reviewer, and most importantly, a massive critic of the type of literature that is demanded of children to read in American high schools. In a very defensive essay, Prose discusses a variety of books that she believes are a wast of actual literature. She uses a variety of rhetoric to attract the reader’s attention, and uses it to also persuade her readers to see things the way she does. Throughout the essay it becomes more apparent that the author makes multiple inferences of what she believes will happen to the generations that will entire a corrupt educational system. In the essay that Prose writes, she explains that the lack of eloquent literature is causing a demise to the education of teenagers
In the passage Why Literature Matters by Dana Gioia, the author explains how literature and reading is beginning to drop. He builds an argument on how the decline of reading in america will have a negative effect on society. Dana Gioia uses facts and evidence to support his claim.
In “Why Literature Matters” the author, Dana Gioia, argues that literature is very important in today’s society. He talks about the decline of reading over the years and the effects it has on different companies and communities. Gioia uses many persuasive techniques, such as evidence, jingoism, and diction, to try and persuade the reader that literature is important.
Andrew Solomon has some valid arguments in his article, and he tries to persuade the readers through logos, pathos, and ethos. Solomon wants the readers to understand the importance of reading, and how its decline can be harmful to the nation. To reinforce his arguments, Solomon shares a variety of examples, for instance, he mentions that reading helps improve memory and concentration, and the decline of reading is causing mental “atrophy.” He also calls upon the readers to take some sort of action to raise reading rates and help the society. This can grant the readers a form of power and control over the crisis that will lead to an em...
Seeing literature as useless is lacking to see the benefits of true aesthetics that it has to offer. Louis Rosenblatt emphasized the importance of teachers playing an important role in what students get out of the literary text and how they act upon it. What she is trying to explain to the readers is that each reading experience is unique to each person. An important part of the message she’s trying to get through to the readers is being referenced to students when she says, “He needs to understand himself; he needs to work out harmonious relationships with other people. He must achieve a philosophy, an inner center from which to view in perspective the shifting society about him; he will influence for good or ill its future development (3)”. Not only will the students need to associate all of
Albrecht, Milton C. "The Relationship of Literature and Society." JStor. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. .
Compare and evaluate the ways in which literature on the one hand, and the human sciences on the other may help us to know and understand human behaviour.
Moreover, literature matters because it helps the individual escape reality. Whether its a mother getting some time alone, a patient in a hospital room, or the youngster at their local cafe, anyone and everyone can read to escape the current situations of life. As Edmundson put it, “They read to be diverted, assuaged, comforted, and tickled” (Edmundson 1). As much stress a book can bring to a college student in class, reading comes as a great chain of entertainment and escape. It gives the human being the super power to transport themselves somewhere
Harry Levin suggests, “…the relations between literature and society are reciprocal. Literature is not only the effect of social causes; it is also the cause of social effects.”
Literature in Life Literature is the expressed influence of communities and the individuals in societies. Literature spans culture, beliefs, and attributes, the necessary component for corroborating how literature reflects, and portrays communities. The language from literature helps give cultural explanation of living in different society. Literature that is defined by the cultural aspect, gives details about such fascinating and affluent information or context. Certain works, and words used in literature, can help the reader understand and describe the sense of the community being read in the story.
Literature has many purposes, and opens doors to unique worlds. Through Literature, we discover ourselves and world time and again.
Today’s society makes myself wonder, why must I take courses in literature? Literature is a crucial course which adds color to life. It allows me to laugh and dream while it builds suspense for what to expect ahead. It might just be a read but it enables me to feel emotions and allows me to see the world from a different perspective. It allows me to see the social norms in society, along with providing society with a light of guidance. However, reading literature not only benefits one in gaining knowledge, but aids in breaking barriers between cultural norms and stereotypes with the bitter truth which allows others to appreciate past history.
...wan believes, one of the best things about our digital lives is the ease with which we can share ideas with others. It is now possible for readers to connect with each other worldwide, as well as recommend and share their opinions about a particular piece of literature. Our need to engage in “deep reading” will not go away, as Rosen believes. The act of how we read may evolve as it has been evolving since beginning of mankind. How we read and write has evolved from cave walls to stone tablets to paper to keyboards. The digital world will not change what we read, but how we read. Because the experience of reading, the love of narrative, and cravings for story-telling is instilled into our DNA. Reading is a basic human need, it is evolutionary. Even though our means of attaining information or story telling may change, the act of reading is literally forever-lasting.
Literature is incredible that reflects society, makes us imagine about ourselves and our society, allows us to take pleasure in languages and beauty, it can be informative, and it reflects on ‘the human condition’. It is the art form that arises out of the human capacity to produce language. Literature has undergone a great widening of connotation and has to come to mean ‘anything in print’-anything written. Literature in the factual interest, and characterized by permanence,