Illiteracy is defined as the inability to read and write. The essay “Texting Makes U Stupid” by Niall Ferguson and the essay “The truth About the causes of Illiteracy” by an anonymous author, are based on illiterate people. I agree with both authors. Ferguson argues that texting provokes many teenagers to write with poor grammar, will ignore their surroundings, and not read books. The anonymous author argues that poverty, learning disabilities, and technology are causes of illiteracy. The anonymous author has more solid facts which iswhy his or her argument is stronger.
Ferguson argues that many teenagers are over using phones to text with poor spelling and many mistakes. He believes that teenagers prefer texting rather than site seeing and reading books. He also argues that people don’t even read books for pleasure at all. He feels like even though he sends emails himself, it’s okay because he reads many books and it is a habit he picked up as a child before cellphones were invented. Now that this generation already was introduced to technology like phones, many people don’t signify books. While these people text, they say ridiculous things with poor grammar. He feels that texting is a disadvantage from books and recommends that people should be reading more books.
Ferguson mentions in his essay that texting is an unmissable trend. I agree with the author that many teenagers do text with poor spelling and grammar. He states that, “Seconds before the earth is hit by a gigantic asteroid or engulfed by a super tsunami, millions of lithe young fingers will be typing the human race’s last insane words to itself: C u later NOT :(.” This statement proves that many teenagers ignorantly text. The poor use of wording and mistakes in that message show that the author’s argument is correct. Clearly the message itself made no sense and had no significance. If these teenagers were taught to appropriately read and write, then why do they write like this? It only makes them look bad and unintellectual. Technology like phones is provoking these teenagers to forget correct spelling and grammar.
Texting also provokes teenagers and many people to ignore their surroundings. Feguson mentions “Take a group of teenagers to see the seven wonders of the world. They’ll be texting all the way. Show a teenager Botticelli’s Adoration of the Magi. You might get a cursory glance before a buzz signals the arrival of the latest SMS.” It shows that texting is a disadvantage. It provokes teenagers to prefer their phones rather than sites or places they don’t get a chance to get. These phones distract teenagers so much that they are unaware of what they are missing out on. If they stay on their phones the whole time, how can they even take advantage of gazing at sites? Phones just make them oblivious to their surroundings. The author’s argument is correct. When I go out of state, all I do is text on the way. Even when I go to someone else’s house I’ll pay more attention to my texts than the people I am visiting. It was a habit my mom noticed in me a few months ago. I don’t do that anymore. It is rude to be so oblivious and text in that manner.
Many teenagers lack the preference to read books for enjoyment or even read books at all. Ferguson stated that, “it was already the case that fewer than one in three 13 year olds read for pleasure every day. Especially terrifying to me as a professor is the fact that two thirds of college freshman read for less than an hour per week. A third of seniors don’t read for pleasure at all.” This statistic proves that many teenagers are bound to become illiterate. They keep texting as a leisure, whether their grammar is correct or not. This is a disadvantage. Texting and phones are keeping them back from reading. It will not help them improve their spelling errors. Though, this is not the case for everyone. At times texting is useful. Some people use their phones for spelling corrections and to ask others for commentary.
The anonymous author argues in his or her essay that poverty, disabilities, and technology are the contributing factors of illiteracy. He argues that certain lack of things cause people to be illiterate. He also argues that certain things can lead people to be illiterate. Many kids tend to drop out because of their illiterate conflicts and it leads to adult illiteracy. He believes that most of the people that are illiterate grew up in homes where the income was below or at the poverty line. Many poor developing countries don’t have funds to educate people. Books are being replaced with games and computers.
The anonymous author mentions that poverty is a contributing factor of illiteracy. The anonymous author stated, “In Asia, for example, poverty can keep people from having access to an education. Textbooks cost money as do teachers. For many of the poor, developing countries, there simply is no money to fund education.” This statement shows that poverty leads to illiteracy. Clearly if there is no help and no money, education cannot be provided. If there is no education then there can be no improvement in the rate of illiteracy in the poor developing countries.
Next to poverty, another cause of illiteracy is a learning disability. The anonymous author mentions that, “The chief one is dyslexia. In the United States, where the system of recognizing kids with dyslexia is supposed to be at a very high level, many are still slipping through the cracks. And many people who know they have dyslexia will drop out of school rather than take advantage of the opportunities available to help them.” This reveals that a learning disability leads to illiteracy. It’s the fact that so many people face it and do not receive help. Of course this is a disadvantage. A learning disability prevents one from reading and writing correctly. It frustrated the victims of dyslexia so they just give up and drop out. They can get help though. In the United States especially, many resources and medical centers can help improve this disability. How can they help though when so many people don’t even try to get help?
Technology is another factor that causes illiteracy. The anonymous author states that, “one of the causes of illiteracy is the failure of parents to take time to read to their children. The busyness of everyday life has reached a point where parents no longer take the time to read bedtime stories to their kids or encourage their children to read at an early age. Today books have become increasingly replaced by computers and gaming systems.” This exposes that parents are leading their kids into illiteracy patterns. If they continue to let their kids replace books with computers and games, it will lead to an inability to read and write correctly. They should be read to and that is how they will learn to read. What will help them read, is encouragement which many families lack nowadays.
There are many causes of illiteracy. Some things cause it, while others provoke it. In some case people themselves are the reason for illiteracy. Both of the essays arguments were on illiteracy. Ferguson got his point across that many teenagers are unaware of their surroundings because they are too indulged in their text messages and it leads to them becoming illiterate. The anonymous author backed up his or her information on the causes of illiteracy with, poverty, a learning disability, and technology. Both authors are correct their facts and my observations help support this. It is concluded that illiteracy is amajor problem today and many people are not taking advantages to make improvement.
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