Charles W. Chesnutt :: essays research papers

Charles W. Chesnutt In spite of the fact that conceived in Cleveland in 1858, the grandson of a white man and the child of free blacks, Charles W. Chesnutt experienced childhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina where his family, having left the South initially in 1856, returned after the Civil War. Chesnutt who had minimal proper training shown himself and furthermore got coaching from relatives. Chesnutt is known as one of the incomparable American author and short-story journalists of the late nineteenth century. Chesnutt lived a large portion of his youth in Fayetteville, NC where he worked low maintenance in a family market and went to a school established by the Freedmen's Bureau. By 14 he had distributed his first short story in a Fayetteville paper. "I figure I should compose a book It has been my treasured dream and I feel an impact that I can't avoid calling me to the task."(1) At 15 Charles dropped out of school to help his family. By the age of 16, he had come to Charlotte to show the city's dark schoolchildren and furthermore to help his family. He had an extreme hunger for information. When barely any instructive chances existed for dark Americans, he contemplated math, music, writing and dialects. He left Charlotte to accept a vocation as partner head of the State Ordinary School. By age 22, he was its head. "There's time enough, however none to spare."(1) Absence of chance to propel drove him to go to New York City to look for some kind of employment at Dow, Jones and Company and furthermore composes a money related news segment for the New York Mail and Express. Soon thereafter his child Edwin J. Chesnutt is conceived. In November, he leaves New York for Cleveland where he starts to work in the bookkeeping branch of Nickel Plate Railroad Company. While in Cleveland Chesnutt examined Law. While in Cleveland Chesnutt underpins his mom and father while supporting his own family. Chesnutt starts to compose for Family Fiction. While working at Nickel Plate Railroad Company and composing for Family Fiction he keeps on contemplating law. After a year, he breezes through the Ohio Bar Exam and joins the law workplaces of Henderson, Kline, and Tolles. Chesnutt distributed "The Goophered Grapevine" in the Atlantic Monthly turned into the main work composed by a dark creator. The accomplishment of "The Goophered Grapevine" drives him to distribute "Po’ Sandy" and "Dave’s neckliss" in the Atlantic Monthly. Chesnutt chooses to begin his own firm of Attorneys, transcribers,

How to Develop an Evangelistic Lifestyle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The most effective method to Develop an Evangelistic Lifestyle - Essay Example In this book, the writer uncovers how one may keep the conviction that Gospel can plainly and successfully convey the message with no legalism that turns beauty befuddling. Besides, with the assistance of this book, one can become familiar with his definitive confidence in Christ as a Savior. As it is accepted and gospel message that all the adherents to Christ are the agents and the envoys for Jesus having duty to proclaim His message to the whole world, in certainty the fallen word. Messenger Paul is a huge case of a cherishing and strong agent for Jesus. He approached with the message of collaboration and compromise to every one of the individuals who interact with him. He was the individual who truly did reliable evangelism for an amazing duration. On the other hand, the greater part of us can't end up being Apostle Paul. For some adherents of Jesus Christ, the activity of evangelism is something this may transform them into blame and dread. For the greater part of the adherents, it's anything but an upbeat encounter than what it ought to be. Albeit numerous devotees put in incredible endeavors to create evangelistic way of life and proclaiming the radiant gospel’s messages and yet some neglect to comprehend the earnestness of this otherworldly sustenance. In this way, Dr. Moyer calls attention to what should be possible to grow increasingly steadfast evangelistic endeavors. In the principal section, How to Develop an Evangelistic Lifestyle, Dr. ... Christ orders to his delegates â€Å"Go into the world and lecture the gospel to each creature.† This refrain just tells that evangelism requires genuine commitment and the acquiescence of God. Then again, as per Dr. Moyer, a few people pardon while spreading the message of gospel to their environmental factors which is totally conflicting in accomplishing evangelistic way of life. It is additionally introduced in the book that those people who present themselves totally to evangelism likewise offer themselves to supplications. They likewise demand God to offer them with mental fortitude to talk about Gospel. This invigorated them to comprehend that God can do this or He will without a doubt do that. Individual contact is likewise fundamental in creating evangelism. We may have contact with non-Christians in a social affair or in a casual conversation in regards to otherworldly things. Also, we ought not let trepidation and frenzy set in our manner. With the assistance of this underlying data set forward by Dr. Moyer, clearly evangelistic way of life consistently manages genuine duty and acquiescence. It additionally requests true endeavors and contributions as opposed to simply building up an insignificant expectation. It is an incredible method to carry lost people to the correct way of God. Close to these underlying subtleties introduced by Dr. Moyer, the second part of the book under title How to Turn a Conversation to Spiritual Things is undeniably all the more fascinating. As indicated by Dr. Moyer, discussing otherworldly things is nothing troublesome except for just to the individuals who are as of now intrigued. Along these lines, the inquiry is that how to manage those non-Christians who are not inspired by such subjects. How we can raise the subject of Spiritual things to conversation. How we can divert the subject of conversation from Golf to God, from mainstream to

Does Eating Bananas Improve Your Mood

Does Eating Bananas Improve Your Mood Depression Treatment Print Does Eating Bananas Improve Your Mood? By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 15, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Glowimages / Getty Images More in Depression Treatment Medication Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Types Childhood Depression Suicide Serotonin is a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter (a type of chemical that sends messages between neurons in the brain). The body can make serotonin on its own, but sometimes not in the amount we need to function optimally.   You’ve probably heard about serotonin levels in relation to depression, as one of serotonin’s most important functions is balancing mood. In addition, the chemical contributes to an overall feeling of well-being, which is why several antidepressant medications are designed to increase levels of serotonin in the brain.?? However, these medications aren’t the only source of serotonin. Many of the foods we eat naturally contain serotonin. Bananas are a prime example of nutritious food that may help promote the mood-boosting benefits of serotonin. It’s an appealing ideaâ€"but is it based in fact? The Chemistry of Depression Bananas: Serotonin Superfood? While bananas contain serotonin, having one for a snack won’t immediately lift your spirits. Unlike other forms, the serotonin found in bananas doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier,?? which means it can’t get into the brain to supplement the serotonin thats naturally produced by the body. However, research indicates that bananas may play a more indirect role by shoring up the amount of serotonin the brain is able to produce.?? The body needs other nutrients to properly make and use serotonin, including vitamin B6,?? and bananas are an especially rich source of this vitamin.   If a diet inadequate in vitamin B6 is contributing to low levels of serotonin, dietary changes may helpâ€"but that doesn’t mean eating one banana a day will be enough to improve your mood. For adults (ages 19â€"50), the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin B6 is 1.3 milligrams (mg).?? A single medium banana has 0.4 mg (about 20% of the RDA). To get enough dietary vitamin B6 from bananas alone, you’d have to eat five a day (literally a whole bunch).   Bananas may not be a miracle mood-lifter, but that doesn’t mean they’re nutritionally worthless. For one, bananas are low in calories (on average around 105 calories) and contain virtually no fat.   According to the USDA, one medium banana (approximately 7 inches long) has around 3.1 grams of fiber, which is 12% of the recommended daily value.?? Bananas are also a rich source of potassium, an electrolyte that supports cells in nerves as well as the heart and other muscles. Having too little potassium in your diet can contribute to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure (hypertension).   Youll also get a decent dose of immune-supporting vitamin C from bananas; around 17% of your daily value.   Other Mood-Boosting Foods If you’re not a fan of bananas, there are plenty of other foods rich in serotonin and vitamin B6 you can choose from. For example, you can get vitamin B6 from several protein sources, including beef liver, yellowfin tuna, salmon, and chicken breast.??   Carbohydrate sources of vitamin B6 include fortified cereals and potatoes. A cup of boiled spuds has as much vitamin B6 as a medium-sized banana. Several B6-rich foods also contain serotonin, such as fish and poultry. Turkey also contains another key nutrient for mood: an amino acid called tryptophan.   Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin produced in the brain (the body can’t make the neurotransmitter without it). Another important compound, 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), also uses tryptophan.??  If the body is making too little, 5-HTP can also be taken as a nutritional supplement. Research has shown that when paired with antidepressants, the supplement may be able to help ease symptoms of depression?? (however, additional research and clinical trials are needed to strengthen these claims??).   Can 5-HTP Treat Depression? Along with bananas, turkey, and chickpeas, there are many other foods that are natural sources of serotonin, as well as the other key nutrients the body needs to produce the neurotransmitter, such as:?? Oily, fatty fish (such as tuna and mackerel)  Nuts and seeds (especially walnuts and flaxseeds)Beans (such as kidney, pinto, and black beans)Fresh produce (such as leafy green vegetables like spinach or kale)Probiotic/fermented foods (such as kefir, yogurt, and tofu) While a nutritious and balanced diet is beneficial for your physical and mental health, there is no one “mood-lifting” food that can be “cure-all” for depression. Foods to Help Fight Depression A Word From Verywell Research shows that diet changes to support healthy bodily function and mood may be one aspect of a successful treatment plan for depression. As a result, you may decide to change how you eat to help you better manage your symptoms. However, it’s best to ensure you have the support of your doctor, as well as others such as a registered dietician and therapist, to ensure that all of your nutritional and mental health needs are being met.

JavaScript Programming

Italian Phrases to Use at the Train Station

You’ve been in Rome for a few days, and you’re ready to venture out of the city to somewhere with a slower pace, like Orvieto or Assisi—or perhaps you just want to see more of Italy and you’re heading out to places like Venezia, Milano, or Napoli. Wherever you want to go, Italy is well-connected by train, so it’s easy to get around without having to brave the streets in a rented car. Of course, you’ll run into inconveniences like gli scioperi or strikes when taking the train and it’s likely that there will be a delay, but overall the system works. To help you get around Italy, here are some phrases to use in train stations and on trains. Phrases for the Train Station Dov’à ¨ la stazione dei treni? - Where is the train station?Dove si comprano i biglietti? - Where can I buy tickets?Quanta costa il biglietto a Orvieto? - How much does the ticket to Orvieto cost?Un biglietto per (Venezia), per favore. - A ticket for (Venice), please.Vorrei comprare un biglietto per (Roma). - I would like to buy a ticket to (Rome). A train ticket can be†¦ ...di sola andata - one way ...(di) andata e ritorno - round-trip ...di prima classe - first class ...di seconda classe - second class A che ora passa l’ultimo treno? - What time does the last train come?Da quale binario parte il treno per (Orvieto)? - What platform does the train for (Orvieto) leave from?Dov’à ¨ il binario (otto)? - Where is platform (eight_?Quali sono le carrozze di prima classe? - Which cars are for first class? You might hear†¦ Il treno à ¨ in ritardo. - The train is late.C’à ¨ un ritardo di (cinque) minuti. - There is a 5-minute delay.Oggi c’à ¨ uno sciopero. - There is a strike today.Il treno numero (2757) à ¨ in partenza da binario nove. - Train number (2757) is leaving from platform nine.Il treno numero (981) à ¨ in arrivo a binario tre. - Train number (981) is in arrival at platform three.Ci scusiamo il disturbo. - We apologize for the disturbance. For all of the phrases above, it’s very useful to be able to say and understand the numbers. Phrases on the Train Quanto tempo ci vuole? - How long does the trip take?Qual à ¨ la prossima fermata? - What is the next stop?La prossima fermata à ¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ - The next stop is†¦Ho l’Eurail pass. - I have a Eurail pass. While you’re on the train, it’s very likely that a person, called il controllore, will come by to check your tickets. Most likely, they’ll say something like, Buongiorno / Buonasera, biglietti? - Good afternoon / Good evening, tickets? You’ll simply show them your ticket—either ones that your printed from the Internet or the ones from the ticket counter. If you got your tickets from the counter, remember to validate them at any of the machines in the train station prior to boarding. If you don’t, you could be fined fifty or more euro. È questo il treno per...? - Is this the train for...?Questo treno va anche a (Firenze)? - Does this train also go to Florence? When you look at the boards with all of the arrivals (arrivi) and departures (partenze), you’ll notice that the only destination shown is the final one, so it’s more reliable to depend on the number of the train as opposed to the city that’s being shown. FUN FACT: There are three main types of trains: 1.) Fast trains - Frecciabianca (or Frecciarossa) / Italo 2.) Intercity - IC 3.) Local trains - Regionale/Regionale veloce TIP: Never buy a first-class ticket for local trains as the carriages are all the same and they’ll charge you more for first-class. You can check the timetable for the trains online at Trenitalia or Italo. You can also buy tickets at the ticketing office of the train station or at the self-service machines using both credit card and cash, although some machines may only take cards. If you are doing longer bouts of train travel, you may want to consider taking a high-speed train. If you do that, you can determine your carriage number and seat by looking at the bottom of the ticket. Finally, if you know you’ll be traveling a lot throughout Italy, you can save some money by buying a eurail pass.

The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture Free Essays

string(27) " their ideas into writing\." Though many theories have been formulated about literacy and how to apply proper education to it, few seem to grasp the fact that true literacy involves lots of different aspects. Though many educators have tried to put the term literacy into a strict definition, it is best understood as a complex educational aspect. Literacy combines elements of culture, both nation and international. We will write a custom essay sample on The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now It involves picking up essential skills that can be taught in the classroom, as well. In addition to all of that, it involves a person learning the advanced art of articulation. Speaking well, writing well, and understanding how to get a point across are three things that should be included in that discussion, as well. How a person understands literacy is dependent upon which of these theories that person accepts as being the standard. According to Dr. Robert Needlman, literacy needs to be understood in a broad sense, as it is very important to all other forms of learning. In a recent article on the matter, Needlman wrote, â€Å"Literacy is more than just being able to read and write. Literate children see reading as fun and exciting. They use reading to learn about a wide range of subjects, and they use writing to share their ideas† (Needlman). This means that teachers must learn to teach their students how to read and write at the most basic level, but that is rarely enough. True literacy can not be gained without a wide application of many different principles. One position that has become very popular among educators in recent years is one that employs a strategy of teaching students to communicate. Learning how to frame words in sentences and paragraphs is not enough in order to truly teach someone to be literate. In order to be literate, a person has to be able to take those words and put them into coherent thoughts. This position is probably the one that most closely represents what today’s educators should be aiming for when they frame curriculums for students. Skills based literacy is the building block from which all other things have to come. This is generally accepted by most educators out there. The problem is that some of these educators are not going beyond that. Though literacy starts with the basic skills, it certainly cannot stop there. It can only be effective if it is combined with a literacy program that teaches students cultural literacy and communications skills, as well. Teaching one without taking the time to teach the other is like teaching a person how to fish, giving them all of the equipment, and then forgetting to tell them where the pond is located. Though learning the actual skill of reading and writing is obviously an important part of the process, the cultural aspects are even more important. Especially in the United States, cultural literacy has not been nearly as much of a concern as other aspects of education. This is partly because teachers have been teaching with their eye on standardized tests and partly because no real value has been placed on cultural literacy. Now, the value and importance of both understanding how to read and write and understand how to put those things into context is being stressed more and more in schools and to America’s youth. Certain school districts have taken the initiative of instilling this sort of program within their curriculum for students. According to literature put out by the Poway Unified School District, cultural literacy is important to the development of students. Their website states, â€Å"The best lessons for cultural literacy come from the many students who sit in front of us each day in our classrooms. Their cultures, heritage, and stories formulate the most powerful cultural literacy curriculum† (Poway Unified School District). Elementary schools are not the only ones taking notice in this. College writing programs have implemented strategies as well to give their students a chance to become fully literate. Reed College, for example, has an entire writing program that is dedicated to teaching students the proper rules for communicating in their writing. This program not only focuses on writing, but it also teaches the value of things like drama and other liberal arts. Hampden-Sydney College is another college in the United States that has put an emphasis on this type of education. Their rhetoric program must be completed by all students who come through the school, whether those students are business majors or history majors. In the full context of a college liberal arts program, writing takes on a huge level of importance. Universities that offer these programs need to instill a writing intensive program across the board. This does not mean that just journalism or English students should have to concentrate on refining their skills. It means that in history courses, religion courses, philosophy courses, and other sorts of classes, a bunch of writing should be required. By incorporating writing into the curriculum of these other subjects, students will further learn how to communicate with their writing and they will become better at the other subjects, as well. Without an emphasis on writing, a liberal arts program is doomed to failure. Successful communication is a necessary aspect of these programs, as well. That cannot be gained without learning how to write critically, though. As E.D Hirsch is quick to point out, the English language lends itself to much interesting diction for writers. In his book, Hirsch wrote, â€Å"Literature in English excels in every kind of writing. Its particular glory is its poetry. For historical reasons, the English language acquired a vocabulary that is unusually rich and nuanced, combining words of Germanic root (such as see and glimpse) with words of Latin root (such as perceive and envision)† (Hirsch). There are quite a few different approaches to organizing a program such as this. Some colleges have started specific writing courses that teach students how to put their ideas into writing. You read "The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture" in category "Essay examples" More times than not, these classes are put into freshman year experience programs. These are the programs that teach students how to learn and how to be good college students. More times than not, these classes are taught alongside a study skills course. After all, most students are going to have to write multiple essays when they enter college and writing will be an essential part of their life. It only makes sense to preach the importance of writing from the very beginning of the college experience. This is not enough, though. In today’s world, being able to write and communicate is essentially important. Just about everything revolves around it, including the business world. According to the Educational Testing Service, which handles much of the student testing in the United States, the situation is extremely dire. They state, â€Å"As society becomes more technologically advanced, the quantity and types of written materials are growing. Adults are expected to use information from these materials in new and more complex ways and to maintain and enhance their literacy skills through lifelong learning activities. Literacy skills are critical not only for the personal achievement of individuals, but also for the social and economic development of each nation. These skills are no longer linked to a single threshold that separates the literate from the nonliterate† (Educational Testing Service). This quotation does much to state the overall importance of literacy in society and it also hammers home the point that literacy is becoming more important and more relevant, despite what some might think. In fact, it is dire, according to C.H. Knoblauch. In his Literacy and the Politics of Education, Knoblauch writes, â€Å"However, if literacy today is perceived as a compelling value, the reason lies not in such self-interested justifications but in its continuing association with forms of social reality that depend on its primacy† (Knoblauch). In addition to that, there is sentiment from other literary sources about the American situation. The Formation of National Cultures states, â€Å"In America, the reality is that we have not yet properly achieved monoliteracy, much less multiliteracy† (Foundation of National Cultures). This means that the United States still has to work on both the simple parts of literacy, as well as the more advanced aspects. One of the staples of any liberal arts program is a good history department. History courses are interesting because of the fact that they incorporate many different aspects of reading, writing, critical thinking, and lots of other skills. Students are not only forced to write and read critically, but they are often forced to do these things in a cultural sense. History courses not only teach what happened and when it happened, but they study cultural trends. Writing and reading have to be a huge part of any history course. Framing a history course with an eye on literacy is easy. In fact, it would be very difficult to even consider teaching any sort of history class without the inclusion of these things. As far as the actual setup of a course is concerned, it would not be all that difficult to integrate. The course would need a strong textbook, which must be read each and every night. In addition to that, the instructor of the course would teach the class in a lecture/discussion format, where students have to get used to both critical listening and critical communication. During each class period, students would have to listen to an instructor and take notes on what that professor is saying. This is one way to not only teach students the art of writing, but it also teaches students to think about the most important things that they are hearing. From that, they will react to that knowledge. The course would not be taught with only lectures, though. There would obviously be some grading that would be required. Writing would be integrated into the course in both essays and in tests. For the essays, students would be required to submit a number of them, depending upon length. This would give students a chance to not only explore the liberal arts staple of history, but it would also make them learn how to express themselves in a logical way. Essays would require proper writing skills, as well as good organization and good understanding of the material at hand. This would be an appropriate test of the knowledge and a good way to further integrate literary skills into the course. When it came time to give the test, writing would be on that, as well. Some part of the test would include an essay, where students would have to prepare a concise thought without too much time to research the issue. By doing these things, writing, reading, and critical communication could take their rightful place of importance in the liberal arts field. Without them, the courses would be naked and barren. By including writing and reading in liberal arts programs, a university would not be precluded from also offering advanced writing courses. Traditional definitions of literacy have come up with the conclusion that it is actually a skill that must be learned and mastered. Though the cultural literacy idea has become much more popular in recent years, the idea of literacy being a skill has still not been lost. With the right amount of instruction, students can learn how to both read and write at a very high level. Like with other subjects in a curriculum, writing programs must take the opportunity to teach both the basics and the advanced aspects of writing and reading. Colleges would be well advised to offer a literacy major or minor within their course catalog. With this program, the university could offer tens of classes on writing and reading. Everything from critical writing to business writing could be offered within this major. With that knowledge, a student would be able to go on to many different careers, since it has been established that writing and reading is such a large part of the business culture today. As long as literacy is a skill, it is something that must be harnessed and taught in universities and in lower levels of schools, as well. Elementary, middle, and high schools would be smart to adopt similar programs, which would further prepare students for the rigors of college literacy programs. In short, this would take a concerted effort at every level of academia if it is going to be successful. This is something that Allan Bloom takes very seriously in his book, The Closing of the American Mind. In there, Bloom writes, â€Å"I used to think that young Americans began whatever education they were to get at the age of eighteen, that their early lives were spiritually empty and they arrived at the university clean slate unaware of their deeper selves and the world beyond their superficial experience† (Bloom). The need for education at early levels is of the utmost importance to people like Bloom. No matter what definition of literacy a person subscribes to, the fact remains that it is a very important part of education that must be addressed. At current standing, schools are not doing nearly enough to teach the skills and to instill the type of cultural knowledge that is essential in order to truly communicate. Literacy is far more complicated than many educators have been willing to give it credit for. The first step to truly teaching literacy in a correct way is to understand that it is a changing thing. According to the folks at the Perkins School for the Blind, literacy includes many different aspects that must be accounted for. Their website reads, â€Å"The development of literacy is founded upon our experiences – beginning with birth – and our interactions with the world and those around us. Over time, these experiences enable us to develop the ability to connect meaning to words and letters. First, though, the path to literacy requires establishing communication and connecting meaning to objects, events and people in our world† (Perkins School for the Blind). This means that literacy is constantly being learned by everyone, each and every day. With this sort of knowledge in hand, it is easy to conclude that literacy must be included in every aspect of education. When talking about a classic liberal arts education, this is especially true. No matter if the skills-based literacy interpretation is correct or the other interpretations are correct, one must concede that all aspects of the idea should be considered. When shaping the plan for literacy training within a liberal arts program, lots of things must be considered. Luckily for those people who frame curriculums,   many liberal arts classes already require many pieces of literacy to be included to begin with. From critical writing to reading to other forms of communication, literacy will always be a part of history, philosophy, English, and the other subjects within liberal arts. With that in mind, the key is to highlight those skills and make sure that students are given an opportunity to enhance them. Works Cited Bloom, Allan. Closing of the American Mind. Educational Training Service. What is Literacy? http://www.nocheating.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.c988ba0e5dd572bada20bc47c3921509/?vgnextoid=2a8eaf5e44df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRDvgnextchannel=6773e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD Hirsch, E.D. Cultural Literacy. Knoblauch, C.H. Literacy and the Politics of Education. Perkins School for the Blind. Perkins Panda Early Literacy Kit. http://www.perkins.org/literacy/panda/ Poway Unified School District. Cultural Literacy. http://www.powayusd.com/projects/edtechcentralnew/culturallit.htm â€Å"Formation of National Cultures† Needlman, Robert. What is Literacy? http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5133,00.html          How to cite The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture, Essay examples

The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture Free Essays

string(27) " their ideas into writing\." Though many theories have been formulated about literacy and how to apply proper education to it, few seem to grasp the fact that true literacy involves lots of different aspects. Though many educators have tried to put the term literacy into a strict definition, it is best understood as a complex educational aspect. Literacy combines elements of culture, both nation and international. We will write a custom essay sample on The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now It involves picking up essential skills that can be taught in the classroom, as well. In addition to all of that, it involves a person learning the advanced art of articulation. Speaking well, writing well, and understanding how to get a point across are three things that should be included in that discussion, as well. How a person understands literacy is dependent upon which of these theories that person accepts as being the standard. According to Dr. Robert Needlman, literacy needs to be understood in a broad sense, as it is very important to all other forms of learning. In a recent article on the matter, Needlman wrote, â€Å"Literacy is more than just being able to read and write. Literate children see reading as fun and exciting. They use reading to learn about a wide range of subjects, and they use writing to share their ideas† (Needlman). This means that teachers must learn to teach their students how to read and write at the most basic level, but that is rarely enough. True literacy can not be gained without a wide application of many different principles. One position that has become very popular among educators in recent years is one that employs a strategy of teaching students to communicate. Learning how to frame words in sentences and paragraphs is not enough in order to truly teach someone to be literate. In order to be literate, a person has to be able to take those words and put them into coherent thoughts. This position is probably the one that most closely represents what today’s educators should be aiming for when they frame curriculums for students. Skills based literacy is the building block from which all other things have to come. This is generally accepted by most educators out there. The problem is that some of these educators are not going beyond that. Though literacy starts with the basic skills, it certainly cannot stop there. It can only be effective if it is combined with a literacy program that teaches students cultural literacy and communications skills, as well. Teaching one without taking the time to teach the other is like teaching a person how to fish, giving them all of the equipment, and then forgetting to tell them where the pond is located. Though learning the actual skill of reading and writing is obviously an important part of the process, the cultural aspects are even more important. Especially in the United States, cultural literacy has not been nearly as much of a concern as other aspects of education. This is partly because teachers have been teaching with their eye on standardized tests and partly because no real value has been placed on cultural literacy. Now, the value and importance of both understanding how to read and write and understand how to put those things into context is being stressed more and more in schools and to America’s youth. Certain school districts have taken the initiative of instilling this sort of program within their curriculum for students. According to literature put out by the Poway Unified School District, cultural literacy is important to the development of students. Their website states, â€Å"The best lessons for cultural literacy come from the many students who sit in front of us each day in our classrooms. Their cultures, heritage, and stories formulate the most powerful cultural literacy curriculum† (Poway Unified School District). Elementary schools are not the only ones taking notice in this. College writing programs have implemented strategies as well to give their students a chance to become fully literate. Reed College, for example, has an entire writing program that is dedicated to teaching students the proper rules for communicating in their writing. This program not only focuses on writing, but it also teaches the value of things like drama and other liberal arts. Hampden-Sydney College is another college in the United States that has put an emphasis on this type of education. Their rhetoric program must be completed by all students who come through the school, whether those students are business majors or history majors. In the full context of a college liberal arts program, writing takes on a huge level of importance. Universities that offer these programs need to instill a writing intensive program across the board. This does not mean that just journalism or English students should have to concentrate on refining their skills. It means that in history courses, religion courses, philosophy courses, and other sorts of classes, a bunch of writing should be required. By incorporating writing into the curriculum of these other subjects, students will further learn how to communicate with their writing and they will become better at the other subjects, as well. Without an emphasis on writing, a liberal arts program is doomed to failure. Successful communication is a necessary aspect of these programs, as well. That cannot be gained without learning how to write critically, though. As E.D Hirsch is quick to point out, the English language lends itself to much interesting diction for writers. In his book, Hirsch wrote, â€Å"Literature in English excels in every kind of writing. Its particular glory is its poetry. For historical reasons, the English language acquired a vocabulary that is unusually rich and nuanced, combining words of Germanic root (such as see and glimpse) with words of Latin root (such as perceive and envision)† (Hirsch). There are quite a few different approaches to organizing a program such as this. Some colleges have started specific writing courses that teach students how to put their ideas into writing. You read "The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture" in category "Essay examples" More times than not, these classes are put into freshman year experience programs. These are the programs that teach students how to learn and how to be good college students. More times than not, these classes are taught alongside a study skills course. After all, most students are going to have to write multiple essays when they enter college and writing will be an essential part of their life. It only makes sense to preach the importance of writing from the very beginning of the college experience. This is not enough, though. In today’s world, being able to write and communicate is essentially important. Just about everything revolves around it, including the business world. According to the Educational Testing Service, which handles much of the student testing in the United States, the situation is extremely dire. They state, â€Å"As society becomes more technologically advanced, the quantity and types of written materials are growing. Adults are expected to use information from these materials in new and more complex ways and to maintain and enhance their literacy skills through lifelong learning activities. Literacy skills are critical not only for the personal achievement of individuals, but also for the social and economic development of each nation. These skills are no longer linked to a single threshold that separates the literate from the nonliterate† (Educational Testing Service). This quotation does much to state the overall importance of literacy in society and it also hammers home the point that literacy is becoming more important and more relevant, despite what some might think. In fact, it is dire, according to C.H. Knoblauch. In his Literacy and the Politics of Education, Knoblauch writes, â€Å"However, if literacy today is perceived as a compelling value, the reason lies not in such self-interested justifications but in its continuing association with forms of social reality that depend on its primacy† (Knoblauch). In addition to that, there is sentiment from other literary sources about the American situation. The Formation of National Cultures states, â€Å"In America, the reality is that we have not yet properly achieved monoliteracy, much less multiliteracy† (Foundation of National Cultures). This means that the United States still has to work on both the simple parts of literacy, as well as the more advanced aspects. One of the staples of any liberal arts program is a good history department. History courses are interesting because of the fact that they incorporate many different aspects of reading, writing, critical thinking, and lots of other skills. Students are not only forced to write and read critically, but they are often forced to do these things in a cultural sense. History courses not only teach what happened and when it happened, but they study cultural trends. Writing and reading have to be a huge part of any history course. Framing a history course with an eye on literacy is easy. In fact, it would be very difficult to even consider teaching any sort of history class without the inclusion of these things. As far as the actual setup of a course is concerned, it would not be all that difficult to integrate. The course would need a strong textbook, which must be read each and every night. In addition to that, the instructor of the course would teach the class in a lecture/discussion format, where students have to get used to both critical listening and critical communication. During each class period, students would have to listen to an instructor and take notes on what that professor is saying. This is one way to not only teach students the art of writing, but it also teaches students to think about the most important things that they are hearing. From that, they will react to that knowledge. The course would not be taught with only lectures, though. There would obviously be some grading that would be required. Writing would be integrated into the course in both essays and in tests. For the essays, students would be required to submit a number of them, depending upon length. This would give students a chance to not only explore the liberal arts staple of history, but it would also make them learn how to express themselves in a logical way. Essays would require proper writing skills, as well as good organization and good understanding of the material at hand. This would be an appropriate test of the knowledge and a good way to further integrate literary skills into the course. When it came time to give the test, writing would be on that, as well. Some part of the test would include an essay, where students would have to prepare a concise thought without too much time to research the issue. By doing these things, writing, reading, and critical communication could take their rightful place of importance in the liberal arts field. Without them, the courses would be naked and barren. By including writing and reading in liberal arts programs, a university would not be precluded from also offering advanced writing courses. Traditional definitions of literacy have come up with the conclusion that it is actually a skill that must be learned and mastered. Though the cultural literacy idea has become much more popular in recent years, the idea of literacy being a skill has still not been lost. With the right amount of instruction, students can learn how to both read and write at a very high level. Like with other subjects in a curriculum, writing programs must take the opportunity to teach both the basics and the advanced aspects of writing and reading. Colleges would be well advised to offer a literacy major or minor within their course catalog. With this program, the university could offer tens of classes on writing and reading. Everything from critical writing to business writing could be offered within this major. With that knowledge, a student would be able to go on to many different careers, since it has been established that writing and reading is such a large part of the business culture today. As long as literacy is a skill, it is something that must be harnessed and taught in universities and in lower levels of schools, as well. Elementary, middle, and high schools would be smart to adopt similar programs, which would further prepare students for the rigors of college literacy programs. In short, this would take a concerted effort at every level of academia if it is going to be successful. This is something that Allan Bloom takes very seriously in his book, The Closing of the American Mind. In there, Bloom writes, â€Å"I used to think that young Americans began whatever education they were to get at the age of eighteen, that their early lives were spiritually empty and they arrived at the university clean slate unaware of their deeper selves and the world beyond their superficial experience† (Bloom). The need for education at early levels is of the utmost importance to people like Bloom. No matter what definition of literacy a person subscribes to, the fact remains that it is a very important part of education that must be addressed. At current standing, schools are not doing nearly enough to teach the skills and to instill the type of cultural knowledge that is essential in order to truly communicate. Literacy is far more complicated than many educators have been willing to give it credit for. The first step to truly teaching literacy in a correct way is to understand that it is a changing thing. According to the folks at the Perkins School for the Blind, literacy includes many different aspects that must be accounted for. Their website reads, â€Å"The development of literacy is founded upon our experiences – beginning with birth – and our interactions with the world and those around us. Over time, these experiences enable us to develop the ability to connect meaning to words and letters. First, though, the path to literacy requires establishing communication and connecting meaning to objects, events and people in our world† (Perkins School for the Blind). This means that literacy is constantly being learned by everyone, each and every day. With this sort of knowledge in hand, it is easy to conclude that literacy must be included in every aspect of education. When talking about a classic liberal arts education, this is especially true. No matter if the skills-based literacy interpretation is correct or the other interpretations are correct, one must concede that all aspects of the idea should be considered. When shaping the plan for literacy training within a liberal arts program, lots of things must be considered. Luckily for those people who frame curriculums,   many liberal arts classes already require many pieces of literacy to be included to begin with. From critical writing to reading to other forms of communication, literacy will always be a part of history, philosophy, English, and the other subjects within liberal arts. With that in mind, the key is to highlight those skills and make sure that students are given an opportunity to enhance them. Works Cited Bloom, Allan. Closing of the American Mind. Educational Training Service. What is Literacy? http://www.nocheating.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.c988ba0e5dd572bada20bc47c3921509/?vgnextoid=2a8eaf5e44df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRDvgnextchannel=6773e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD Hirsch, E.D. Cultural Literacy. Knoblauch, C.H. Literacy and the Politics of Education. Perkins School for the Blind. Perkins Panda Early Literacy Kit. http://www.perkins.org/literacy/panda/ Poway Unified School District. Cultural Literacy. http://www.powayusd.com/projects/edtechcentralnew/culturallit.htm â€Å"Formation of National Cultures† Needlman, Robert. What is Literacy? http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5133,00.html          How to cite The Development of Multi-Faceted Literacy in American Culture, Essay examples