Reading Journal
| Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page | Brandt, Deborah. The Sponsors of Literacy. National Research Center on English Learning & Achievement, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1997. |
| Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words | The Sponsors of Literacy by Deborah Brandt names, defines, and examines the various factors that affect literacy levels of adults in America. “Literary Sponsors” are what Brandt defines as the means by which a person is taught to read and write. Through interviews that provide detailed recollections of different individuals’ literary learning experiences in America, Brandt breaks down the differences between the literary potentials of people raised with different privileges. What’s confirmed through Brandt’s work is that, in many cases, race and affluence both have strong influences on one’s access to literary sponsorships, and in the long run cause vast differences in career potential. |
| Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.
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Literary Sponsorship (noun) – The means by which a person is taught to read and write
Vicissitude (noun) – A change in circumstances or fortune, typically a change for the worse Latent (adj) – Existing but not yet developed or revealed Subvert (verb) – To undermine the authority and power of a system or institution |
| How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?
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I found that Brandt’s text relates to that of Elbow. In what we read of Elbow’s work, he briefly touched on how differences in race, socioeconomic status, residential area, and educational system result in different levels of literacy. Brandt’s essay takes this further into detail, examining individuals and their unique stories and factors. |
| Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion. | What literary sponsorships have you, or haven’t you been granted in learning literacy? |