While people participate in various methods of everyday reading and writing, there are extensive benefits to be gained from extending the experience to apply these abilities to literature. In the beginning chapter of Literature: A Portable Anthology, third edition the benefits of reading, analyzing, and writing about literature is explored, while also explaining literature class expectations, at a college or university level. Reading literature expands horizons by exposing readers to various perspectives, locations, and interactions, which molds opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. Taking this a step further to include analysis of the reading serves to train the brain to contemplate information and expand attention spans. Finally, writing about
In “Why Literature Matters”, the Dana Gioia emphasizes the importance of literature. Using logos and pathos, he justifies his claim on how the waning interest in literature is affecting America’s society in many negative ways. In the sixth paragraph, he uses logos to appeal to the working class by referring to a poll in 2001 taken by the National Association of Manufacturers. The poll was taken on their members about the skill deficiencies among their workers.
Dana Gioia uses facts and evidence to back up his claim that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society. Throughout the passage, Gioia gives examples and facts from studies to show how and where the society is altered negatively. In paragraph 2, Gioia uses facts to tell the readers that “the most worrisome finding in the 2002 study” are the “declining percentage of Americans, especially young adults, reading literature.” Gioia uses this is in his passage to show the readers that the study is real and that real factual evidence came out of doing the study.
Within Dana Gioia’s written piece — “Why Literature Matters,” there are various types of persuasive techniques that Gioia uses in order to persuade the audience in a particular direction. These persuasive techniques allow authors to influence reader’s opinions and acknowledge the presence of emotion and word choice within the entirety of the essay. Gioia educates the readers on the negative effects the decline of reading will have on society as a whole. Within the essay, the author uses two significant persuasive elements that each play a prominent role: ethos and cause and effect. One of the most influential persuasive techniques throughout the essay is ethos.
Imagine a world where books are banned and illegal. There is no critical thinking or freedom to reflect. For those who hate reading or school, this might seem great, like a dream come true. But without books, people are mindless, unaware of their surroundings, and addicted to their parlor walls. The government controls everything and has censorship over any kind of media, but people are still oblivious.
In the article, “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, the author presents information on the decline in literature among young adults in America. Gioia builds the argument and persuades the readers through various mediums such as; the use of surveys, making connections to other fields related to the subject, and further explaining possible consequences of the problem. Throughout the article Gioia often refers to various surveys as sources to statistically support her argument in the decline of literature. These include, the “2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts”, and “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America”.
In the passage “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia he supports his assertion, which is “the interest young Americans showed in the arts -- and especially literature -- actually diminished.” he uses statistics, direct quotes, and facts to back up her main assertion. The author is writing this piece to make the audience realize how greatly literature is diminishing and trying to scare us into being intrigued into the arts which will hopefully change our world for the better. One of the great ways Dana supports his opinion was by using exact quotes from a survey that was taken. That survey stated “ a population study designed and commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts, arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of
Modern society eliminated all intellectuals: prohibiting new ideas from being created. In a conversation between Montag and Clarisse, the reader learns that reading books is considered ludicrous: “‘Do you ever read any of the books you burn?’ He laughed ‘That’s against the law!’ ‘Oh, of course’” (Bradbury 3).
In Fahrenheit 451 and the real world, there is disconnection from and devaluation of Books/Learning/Education. Faber backed up as if he feared the book might vanish if he took his eyes from it.” (Bradbury 81) This shows that in both worlds there is a loss of reading books but in their world, they are told not to read and for ours, we are just choosing not to. “In recent years, literacy rates have started to decline in most parts of the world.”
As the digital age comes upon us, more and more Americans become dissatisfied with the state of literacy in this generation. Because the Internet paves the way for shorter and shorter interactions, namely articles versus novels and six-second viral videos versus films, many people that grew up in the age of the Internet have a preference for this condensed form of entertainment. Dana Gioia of The New York Times asserts in his essay “Why Literature Matters” that the decline of reading in America is destined to have a negative impact on society as a whole. Gioia opens his essay with a bittersweet account of which trend is occurring in the twenty-first century America arts scene. He notes that as college attendance rates blossom, the interest
In this essay, "Why Literature Matters", author Dana Gioia sets up an argument about literature. Which she uses various ways to persuade her audience be in favor of her proposal; by showing statistic evidence, facts, and historical evidence, as well as some ironies, diction, and the appeals to reader's emotion. First of all, Gioia begins with strong appeals to reader's logos by clearly laying out the statistic source. For example, "According to the 2002 survey of Public Participation in the Arts, the reading population of the Americans is declining. " In turn, is an attempt to point out the thesis statement and make the readers to think out about this topic wile reading through her essay.
Literature is made to express ideas, provoke thought processes and allow readers access to otherwise unknown experiences along with many other things. Literature has also been used to pinpoint different times in history to be able to understand how our past is affecting our current society. Occasionally, literature is used to concoct propaganda that which can be harmful to our community. In the speech “The American Scholar”, Ralph Waldo Emerson states the greatness and weakness of literary works. “Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst,”.
Humans are ever evolving. From the first civilizations to modern times, much has changed. Very few things from the beginning of man’s reign on Earth have stood the test of time. Technology has advanced, groups of people have been conquered, country borders have shifted, and lifestyles have adapted to suit new conditions. Despite this, literature has remained as an art that has endured since the very beginning.
In the article, “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, he states that the decline of interest in literature—especially from young teens—will have a negative outcome in society. Notably, he informs the readers by utilizing strong vocabulary, as well as rhetorical appeals to persuade his audience that the decline in reading will have a negative outcome. This allows readers to comprehend his views and join his side of the argument. Gioia’s word choice assists in showing the magnitude of the text by stressing the meaning and importance of his argument.
The book was not what I assumed a high school senior would ever read. I assumed the focus now would be the core of literature and all the complicated terms that comes with it. Instead, this book starts off by teaching something students should have been but were not taught in the elementary years. I learned why we write. Writing has the power of change and we, all with are own unique perspectives, have a role to play.
