The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society structure
In the passage by Jonathan Kozol, the author supports in part his thesis through the structure of the passage. The arguments made by the author are followed by specific yet short examples of how illiterate people suffer, even in daily activity. Most paragraphs begin with the word "illiterate" and the proceed to provide examples that demonstrate situations which are to the illiterate person's disadvantage. Each paragraph is begun with a short sentence that explains a disadvantage illiterates hold, and then the setrnces become substantially longer and more informative.
The structure portrays the author's opinions and examples provided. For example, when Kozol mentioned the incident in which an illiterate Detroit woman brought home a gallon of Crisco for her children he idea long sentence structure to appeal to the reader, "She had enough Crisco now to last a year- but no more to go back and buy the food for dinner (22)." Throughout the passage, sentence structure such as the one used in the Detroit woman's case is used by Kozol. Although the use of long syntax is evident throughout the passage, the author also uses staccato-like styntax to have a more frantic effect when revealing a fact to the reader.
Paragraph lenght varies greatly from paragraph to paragraph throughout the piece, hut every paragraph has the same effect on the reader. The author provides many real life examples from people that suffer from illiteracy, the examples support the point the author is making in the previous sentences. His use of example such as; "the hardest thing about is that I've been places where I didn't know where I was. You don't know where you are... You're lost" and "I tried it one day reading from the pictures. Donny looked at me. He said 'Mommy thats not right'", are strategically placed in order to appeal to the reader. The author idea formal diction to convey the disadvantage illiterates' face, even in ordinary days. His use of formal diction is more effective in making his point clear rather than using informal diction.
The overall lenght of the passage is short, but to the point. The passage is loaded with examples that portray all the negatives about illiteracy in the United States. Jonathan Kozol uses a simple structure that successfully displays the illiteracy that a percentage of American citizens struggle with during their lives. Each paragraph presents a new struggle, and each struggle is supported by a person that suffers from illiteracy.
In the passage by Jonathan Kozol, the author supports in part his thesis through the structure of the passage. The arguments made by the author are followed by specific yet short examples of how illiterate people suffer, even in daily activity. Most paragraphs begin with the word "illiterate" and the proceed to provide examples that demonstrate situations which are to the illiterate person's disadvantage. Each paragraph is begun with a short sentence that explains a disadvantage illiterates hold, and then the setrnces become substantially longer and more informative.
The structure portrays the author's opinions and examples provided. For example, when Kozol mentioned the incident in which an illiterate Detroit woman brought home a gallon of Crisco for her children he idea long sentence structure to appeal to the reader, "She had enough Crisco now to last a year- but no more to go back and buy the food for dinner (22)." Throughout the passage, sentence structure such as the one used in the Detroit woman's case is used by Kozol. Although the use of long syntax is evident throughout the passage, the author also uses staccato-like styntax to have a more frantic effect when revealing a fact to the reader.
Paragraph lenght varies greatly from paragraph to paragraph throughout the piece, hut every paragraph has the same effect on the reader. The author provides many real life examples from people that suffer from illiteracy, the examples support the point the author is making in the previous sentences. His use of example such as; "the hardest thing about is that I've been places where I didn't know where I was. You don't know where you are... You're lost" and "I tried it one day reading from the pictures. Donny looked at me. He said 'Mommy thats not right'", are strategically placed in order to appeal to the reader. The author idea formal diction to convey the disadvantage illiterates' face, even in ordinary days. His use of formal diction is more effective in making his point clear rather than using informal diction.
The overall lenght of the passage is short, but to the point. The passage is loaded with examples that portray all the negatives about illiteracy in the United States. Jonathan Kozol uses a simple structure that successfully displays the illiteracy that a percentage of American citizens struggle with during their lives. Each paragraph presents a new struggle, and each struggle is supported by a person that suffers from illiteracy.
I had not noticed that the paragraphs that have examples all begin with illiterate. That was a very interesting point. Furthermore, I too noticed how the author provided examples and split them up into their own paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteI liked your insights on sentence lenth and the syntax of the passage. I would recommend using synonyms for words like 'disadvantage' so that you're not repreating the same adjectives and nouns all the time. Also, make sure that when you comment on the syntax, you make it clear what type of syntax it is.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your use of examples, it made your conclusions believable and that much more accessible. I also agree with you on his technique/usage of having short sentences and examples.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really like your point about Kozol beginning nearly every paragraph with the word "illiterate." Maybe he did this to emphasize the perponderance of illiteracy as a problem. Your point about staccato was also really interesting. It breaks up his longer sentences in the middle of the paragraph so the read simply like the shorter ones at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about the repetition of the word "illiterate" as it places emphasis on the negative connotations of the word.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the repetition of the word "illiterate" and the diction were extremely significant to the author's message and what he was trying to portray about illiterates.
ReplyDeleteI like how you touched on the use of the word "illiterate" in the start of each of the paragraphs. Like classmates mentioned above, the repetition used really enhances the meaning of the word. Instead of being seen as a simple problem, illiteracy is turned into a form of dissability that seems unfixable. I also like how you mentioned the author using many real life examples, the examples allow us to really understand the point of views of the "victims".
ReplyDeleteThat is a great observation, I had entirely missed the fact the most of the paragraphs start witht he word illiterate, that makes for a powerful opening and it keeps the audience focused on the real proble. The people are illiterate. Kozol does appeal to the audience, I would sepcify by reaching out for sympathy and empathy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that he utilizes examples of daily life to show how grave the situation is. He uses this to make evident how this problem of illiteracy is affecting people's life every hour and every day of the year.
ReplyDelete