Illiteracy vs. Literacy in America

Paper Summary:

Fifty percent of American adults cannot read a book written at eighth grade level, and twenty percent cannot read at the fifth grade level. This means approximately forty million people in the United States lack the ability to perform basic skills necessary to live in modern society (National Institute for Literacy). The author of this paper takes a close look at the problems caused by illiteracy as opposed to the benefits gained by being a literate individual. The author also examines the effects on society as a whole, in particular issues relating to place of work and health care.

From the Paper:

"The loss to society due to an individuals' inability to read and write is immeasurable. Who could say, but for the ability to read and write, and the proper education, one illiterate child would have grown up to be the next Albert Einstein or Marie Curie? This may be an extreme example, but clearly the benefits to self and society are greatly increased by being literate. Throughout all the issues and difficulties facing illiterate Americans, it becomes obvious that the standard of living for those who are literate is much higher than that of illiterate people. Literate workers make more money, are in better health, and are less likely to turn to crime. America needs to find a solution to this growing issue before it becomes even more epidemic."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Marcus, Erin N. "The Silent Epidemic - The Health Effects of Illiteracy." The New England Journal of Medicine 355.4 (27 Jul. 2006). 23 Oct. 2008 <http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/ full/355/4/339>.
• National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Home page. National Center for Education Statistics. 24 Oct. 2008 <http://nces.ed.gov/naal/>.
• National Institute for Literacy. 25 Oct. 2008 <http://www.nifl.gov/>.
• Tharoor, Shasi. "Letter From America: Illiterate America." Newsweek 30 Sept. 2002. 23 Oct. 2008 <http://www.newsweek.com/id/65757>.

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