Illiteracy

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how literacy does not only deal with a person's ability to read and write but also enables a person to use printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one's goals, and to develop one's knowledge and potential. The paper further discusses how the problem of illiteracy still remains in our society with the majority of illiterates coming from third world countries. It also looks at illiteracy in Western countries and examines how several reasons have been implicated with this issue such as a poor education system. The paper contends that society is facing economic and social consequences as a result of this problem and that the only way our society can continue to survive the constant changes in the world is if each of us, adult, child, immigrant, or native, is enlightened through reading.

From the Paper:

"Surprisingly, the problem of illiteracy has not spared developed countries at all. Nearly a quarter of the 16 to 65 year old population among the richest countries is functionally illiterate (National Literacy Trust, 2007). This implies that a significant number of the adult population among these countries cannot understand and read brochures, train timetables, road maps and simple instructions for home appliances. The latest Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) study on 16 to 65 year olds in Britain reported that 22% of the population in England and Wales is functionally illiterate. France and Ireland outperformed the United States by 20 and 25%, respectively. The United States is ranked 49th among 158 countries based on literacy levels. There is an estimated 59 million Americans who are considered to be illiterate (Ntiri, 2008). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Credaro, A. (2004). Ataxia in the republic of letters? [Online] Retrieved Feb. 19, 2008 from the Website: http://warriorlibrarian.com/CURRICULUM/global_literacy.html.
• Kutner, M., Greenberg, E., Jin, Y., Boyle, B., Hsu, Y. & Dunleavy, E. (2007). Literacy in everyday life: Results from the 2003 national assessment of adult literacy (NCES 2007 - 480). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.
• National Literacy Trust. (2007). International literacy. [Online] Retrieved Feb. 19, 2008 from the Website: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/database/internat.html.
• Ntiri, D.W. (2008, Feb. 15). Literacy and workplace democracy in the US. [Online.] Retrieved Feb. 19, 2008 from the Website: http://www.eaea.org/index.php?k=12075.
• Prison Policy Initiative. (2008). Section I: Crime and punishment in the US--Roots of crime? [Online] Retrieved Feb. 19, 2008 from the Website: http://www.prisonpolicy.org/prisonindex/rootsofcrime.html.

More papers on Illiteracy:

• Argumentative Essay # 146188 : "Adult Illiteracy"
• Essay # 29398 : "Illiteracy"
• Analytical Essay # 24393 : "Illiteracy"
• Analytical Essay # 2251 : "Illiteracy: Today's National Crisis"

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