Reading Response Week 11
The article “Made Not Only in Words: Composition in a New Key” by Kathleen Blake Yancey compares and contrasts the different ways writing has been changing between the 19th century and the 21st century. The main idea that is been emphasized is that the emergence of new technology contributes on the creation and the distribution of new genres. It has been pointed that this changes can potentially limit literary if we do not adapt to the new literacies that emerge. The emergence of new literacies had move from words on paper to words on images, audio files, videos, web, e-mails and presentations. According to the author, whenever a writer adapts to this different genres they learned to think, organize, and to act within these forums without instruction and self-assessment. The author also points three suggestions such as develop a new curriculum, revisit and revise our writing across the curriculum efforts, and develop major in composition and rhetoric which will help a writer simplify their work when doing a composition. Overall, the main point that is being reflected is that rhetoric literacy is a powerful tool for navigating through the complexities of life which will enrich the citizen’s ability to approach writing in any given circumstance.
(The literacy has keep advancing throughout the years and we have to adapt to them in order to approach writing in any circumstance.)
The reading helped me realized the importance and the main goal of the assignment of the advanced visual argument which is to learn how to connect literacy with a specific genre.
What I least enjoyed about the reading is that it was too long as I ended up with a big headache. Also, I sometimes lost track about the main idea. However, I want to point out that I really like was a quote that summarizes the whole context and seems to be relevant, “No longer…can students be considered truly educated by mastering reading and writing alone. The ability to negotiate through life by combining words with pictures with audio and video to express thoughts will be the mark of the educated student” (Yancey, 2004). What this means to me is that if we do not keep ourselves updated, for instance in technology or writing, we will get stuck and limited to new learnings and skills. However, it is also important to master the basic principles in order to keep advancing.
(Don’t get stuck!....Keep updated and expand your skills and learnings.)
This reading has made me think about some few questions like, Can our usage of pen and paper be negatively affected if we keep updating ourselves with the new medias? Could our learning become affected? How can I become aware and updated with the various medias available?
This reading connects to my major, “Nursing”, by realizing that it is true that keeping updated in technological advancement is very important. A simple example that comes into my mind is the usage of the manual and automatic blood pressure cuffs. A manual implicates a different procedure compared to the new automatic ones. A nurse has to be aware of such differences in case of an emergency. For example, if she just knows how to use a manual, but the hospital only has automatic ones she will probably face a hard time.
