Scribner and Lunsford's writings

After reading Scribner “Literacy in Three Metaphors” and Lunsford’s “Our Semi-Literate Youth,” I define literacy as a skill with evolving standards through time and space. As Scribner points out in her first metaphor, “literacy as adaptation” suggests that the definition of literacy changes from place to place and from past to present. In America, a part of being literate means to be able to apply one’s literacy skills to shop in a grocery and read or write in a more professional setting. Similarly, Lunsford portray two different scenarios in which a student studying at Stanford University may display different styles of writing such as informal texting and a formal assignment. Although the student can write in many styles, he/she acknowledges the environment and has the capability to control what he/she writes. Moreover, many different styles of writings exist, but choosing the appropriate style for the occasion is a skill that calls for adaptation.

Personally, I believe that Scribner and Lunsford’s writings greatly differ with that of Hedges and Carr’s in the way that Scribner and Lunsford understands that literacy is not a definite concept. For example, it can change from country to country depending on various factors such the social status of the overall nation. Scribner mentioned that the level of literacy in a third world nation cannot be expected to be equivalent to others. On the other hand Hedges and Carr, belittles the modern population for their deviations from the literacy as defined using records and documentation from the past.

Also, all four writers acknowledge social writing. Social writing is influenced by one’s surroundings whether it is technology, an academic settings, or such. Lunsford and Scribner accepts the role of social writing in the modern age whereas Hedges and Carr questions the intelligence level of people in modern times associated with it.