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.

Today, no one seems to give much value of literary works or reading. Not because it doesn’t give anything beneficiary, but because not everyone had the urged to at least finish a book. We now live in a world where social medias almost dominates our daily activities. It’s unlikely to have a place for us to consume a non-fiction or fiction book. As absurd as it sounds but that’s how people often think. We now live in an egalitarian society, where everyone is given the freedom and right of its own.

It is agreed that if an author is stating his assertion to a topic, then he should incorporate what the opposing view has to say; therefore, without the other view he writes nothing but fallacies. However, in Gurdon’s case she offers support from the other side allowing them to state their claim. She recognizes the use of first person in these particular YA books, permitting the reader to take on the “persona of the narrator” (Gurdon 2). Then, she detects the claim of the book industry writing that “kids have a right to read whatever they want” and that “the world is a tough place; and that there’s no point shielding children from reality” (Gurdon 3). Refuting this assertion she calls out the incorrect logic of the claim stating that in other words the authority adults have over the content children absorb should “somehow vaporize when it comes in contact with the printed word” (Gurdon 3). The things children read teach them what to presume about the world around them, and that “books don’t just cater to tastes. They form tastes” (Gurdon 4). Subsequently, she offers her proposal that people associated with the publication of books would “exercise better taste” (Gurdon 2) than that of every teen experience. The comprehension of Gurdon’s claim becomes clearer after integrating the opposing view and using it to support her

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.

　　In the essay “Reading and Thought”, Dwight MacDonlad talked about the kind of poor reading people are attached to in modern society. MacDonald believed reading materials such as Times and New York Times are too overwhelming for the readers. Readers tend to skim through the reading materials because most of the reading do not have any connections with their daily lives. Moreover, MacDoanld claimed that the readings people do these days are not thoughtful. The readings are rather irrelevant toward the readers. It is because the journalists to produce dull pieces of readings which are meant to be skimmed through without having too much thoughts involved. As the journalists do not have much consideration of the materials they produced. To the journalists the readings they produce are just a series of news that should be read driftly and left behind with no thoughful idea needed to be informed. These effects caused modern society to have a poor reading habits because people do not reflect and give time to think about the readings they did. Readers casually accept the readings even though they do not have provide any resourceful information for the readers.

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.

Dana Gioia claims that the decline of reading in america will have a negative effect on society. Gioia uses studies and facts to appeal to her audiences logical and emotional sides. By adding these studies, Gioia strengthens her claim and makes her audience worry for the future society of America. Throughout the essay, Dana Gioia uses surveys, studies, and facts to draw her audience's attention to the issue at hand.

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,

In the passage, “Why Literature Matters”, Dana Gioia creates his argument to persuade his audience that decline of reading in America has a negative effect on America. He mentions studies and surveys done on younger Americans that were done to observe how readers versus non-readers participate in society and also to observe young Americans’s knowledge on the “historical and political awareness among young people”. Dana mentions early in his argument that as Americans “income rose… [and the] college attendance ballooned” that the art interest of young Americans decreased. He later mentions a survey done by the National Endowment for the Arts, observed that the number of young Americans participating in art has decreased in relation to the number

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.

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.

Art has been around for centuries, it has been used as a hobby, form of communication and for school purposes. Gioia uses facts from surveys like the 2002 public participation survey and the 2001 National Association of Manufacturers survey to support her claim that the declining of reading in America will have a negative effect on society.

As I read, “The Dark Night of the Soul” by Richard E. Miller, I found it to be an interesting read. He inquires, why we read, why we write and what might literate arts be said to be good for? In his essay he describes the school massacres that have occurred throughout the years. As he describes these events, he asks a deeper question, “What is the point of continuing to read, write and learn in the face of such underlying dangers. I think that with all that is happening, individuals/students should continue with education because reading, television, writing and communication makes a difference in the lives of individuals around the world. The bottom line is that literary art has a way of touching students unexpectedly one way or another and students should not just throw the art away because of society’s perception.

The Premature Obituary of the Book: Why Literature is an essay written by Mario Vargas Llosa. In this essay Llosa writes that it is crucial for literature to be a part of people’s lives. In Why Literature he writes that reading is important for the mind, communication, and developing knowledge about life and democratic ideals. Reading is not only important for one’s self but for the world. Just as he mentioned in his quote, it’s not just about the leaf, or the person, but its about seeing the world in different ways and being able to experience and gain knowledge on all subjects. Through his writing he gives many valid points as to why reading literature is important to people of all ages and genders all around the world. Llosa’s persuasive essay is relatable and can get readers thinking about the importance of reading by using many valid points in his essay. Llosa presents his reading to many different audiences and he effectively persuades the audience through his points given in the reading. He does this because he wants the reader to understand why it is necessary for people to learn and experience new things through reading literature and other texts.