Dana Gioia's Why Literature Matters

Larissa MacFarquhar’s essay titled,“Who Cares if Johnny Can’t Read?” , was published in the Slate magazine in 1997, rebuts the misconception that Americans in today’s society don’t read as much as people did in the past. MacFarquhar presented factual information to back up her claim that Americans do read and that they read more now than they ever did. In addition, people do not read classics as much as they read genre fiction and self-help in today’s society. MacFarquhar also stated that reading books is better than television. According to MacFarquhar, she believed that reading can stimulate emotions and allow people to participate unlike television. Later, she acknowledged that certain television can also stimulate emotions and allow people

In the article, “Why Literature Matters,” Dana Gioia predominantly focuses on the use of logos, logical fact-based evidence and stimulating, emotional-based language to entice the audience. Gioia elaborates on the theme of correlation between young adult Americans and the decline of literature in this age group. He continues his argument with the consequences with the decline of literature in the lives of these Americans.

In the passage “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, Gioia states that the decline of interest in reading in America is decreasing. She then claims that this lack of interest will hold negative effects on the future of our society. Gioia uses facts and evidence to support her claim.

Dana Giona persuades his audience on how the decline of reading in America will impact society negatively by incorporating a precise set of diction usage and including irony in his article.

Dana Gioia calls out millennials and younger generations in america, to spark a conversation about the increasingly declining and destructive behavior of NOT reading! Gioia makes very many fantastic points and uses very many persuasive elements on why literacy actually is vital to to our society and the negative effects that come from this lack of literacy. She gives us factual evidence and credible sources to pull the reader into her side of the argument.

Gioia starts his piece with an explanation of the problem at hand. “The interest young Americans showed in the arts - and especially literature - actually diminished,” he informed us in paragraph one. By clearly identifying his topic and issue of choice, we know exactly what to expect from the rest of the essay. His first piece of factual evidence, found in paragraph 2, tells us that “arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that are measured,” but he focuses his concerns on “the declining percentage of americans, …, reading literature.” These statistics are true and accurate,

Dana Gioia's purpose of this essay is to explain to society that reading less will mentally impact them. She is trying to get the message across to everyone, so that they understand the image that there setting on themselves, and impact that is has on them outside of literature. It is also impacting them in the business world. With there decline in reading, it holds there brain from opening up and really creating artistic ideas.

She claims initially that.” The declines have been most severe among younger adults (ages 18–24).” She sets a very clear age range to add credibility to her stands. Her target audience is clearly stated to be Americans older than the ages 18-24 so that they can agree that the loss of interest in the Arts can be logical especially because the age range are of individuals that are not so mature yet and have different interests. She then proceeds to add,” As more Americans lose this capability, our nation becomes less informed, active, and independent-minded.” Gioia presents her audience the complicated situation that has risen with the loss of reading. She motivates the reader to understand that not one individual but the nation is tragically being affected in several ways. Finally, she adds,” Author Daniel Pink states… When asked what kind of talents they like to see in management positions, business leaders consistently set imagination, creativity, and higher-order thinking at the top.” Dana makes the argument even more intense by presenting her audience how not only the young are in danger of the consequences yet them too. Her audience in engaged even more when they realize that due to poor reading habits they might be in danger of losing their higher paying job opportunities. This is a very effective strategy to do her part because that

In the passage “Why Literature Matters,” Dana Gioia uses facts and statistics as well as strong word choice and tone to help persuade the audience.

Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade american citizens that the decline in reading in america will have a negative effect on society. The decline of reading in the point of view of dana will decline americans knowledge

Dana Gioia is the author and is speaking as someone of concern over the amount of literature young americans are reading presently. The circumstances surrounding her writing are americans stopping reading as a whole, therefore she is trying to persuade why young americans should be reading very much more .

In response to the American declining reading trend, New York Times author Dana Gioia writes an editorial piece on the subject. In her piece she uses various national studies and surveys, the workplace and the civic duty to make her point of the negative effects of diminished reading habits.

Dana Gioias argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society is written so that the audience will be persuaded to agree with him. He uses Logos, Pathos, and Ethos throughout his article to persuade the readers.

As we roll down the information highway via Google and other popular internet search engines, myriad facts, figures, and opinions are instantly at our fingertips. The question arises, does all this easy access of information add to our comprehension? Not necessarily. Noted American writer, philosopher, and educator, Mortimer Adler’s 1972 revised publication of How to Read a Book explores such ideas some 25 years before the widespread usage of the World Wide Web. Charles Van Doren, of 1950’s game show scandal fame, co-authored the revised version of the book. In the first chapter, “The Activity and Art of Reading”, Alder delves into contrasting several concepts that distinguish types of reading and their results. First, Alder explains the

Fictional novels are not only stories made up by the author, but are tools that educate people, helping them learn to read and comprehend information. Fictional books allow the reader to expand their vocabulary and their mind. In the article, “Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming” by Neil Gaiman, Gaiman states that people who are limited in academics will more likely end up in prison. Gaiman writes, “How many prisoners are there going to be...they could predict it very easily using a pretty simple algorithm, based about asking what percent of ten and eleven year olds couldn't read” (Gaiman 6). Gaiman explains that by using a simple method, they are able to find a correlation between illiteracy and crime. When adolescents