Jonathan Kozol: What Makes A Good Writer

Based on his argument using a piece of story from his past, the writer conceptually supported his explanatory point of views on how skills can be developed with a passion of understanding the writer’s intention. I believe that the writer of this article addressed fundamental thoughts that should be useful in the process of reading as a writer, and on how to become a better writer.

In the short essay, “Becoming a Writer,” penned by Russell Baker, he spoke of a memory from his past that later changed his perception of writing. After reading his piece, I reviewed the response questions listed below the essay to further my understanding of the piece. Almost like looking through a list of prompts as Russell did.

Are illiterates just people who exist? Do they just walk around aimlessly, never knowing what to do? “Illiterates live, in more than literal ways, an uninsured existence,” says Jonathan Kozol. In Kozol’s article, “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society,” he intensely describes how illiteracy can impact both the illiterate and those surrounding him. There is a tragic human cost for an illiterate society. If people are unable to read, then what can they do? In this case, the least taken-for-granted tasks in a literate’s life could suddenly become the difference between life and death for someone who cannot read. They are lost in this world, “half citizens” whose “rights exist in print but not in fact,” Kozol describes them. Illiteracy leads to a void in certain areas of life; illiterates are not living, just existing. Scariest of all is that illiteracy is creating a population of “half citizens,” which consequently results in many tragic human costs.

In the essay “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” is written by Jonathan Kozol, published in “Reading for writers” in NY. 2013. The author Kozol is a nonfiction writer, educator and social activist. In the essay, he writes about illiteracy occur in American society, illiterates who cannot read are getting trouble with many issues in their life. He is successful in affecting readers by using rhetorical throughout his essay. Kozol has also shown his talented skill of writing with logos, ethos and pathos. With logos, he is well-developed on the core of his argument, talented in appeal to readers’ emotion with pathos, and impressing readers to believe in his reliable with ethos.

Imagine living in a simple world with no color, no imagination with truly no meaning to life, just taking everything day by day. Now relate that to reading, without knowing how to read you would not be able to learn about people, places, past and present events, or even the great unlimited things that go on in this world. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. Seuss. When we read our brains automatically translate the words into pictures. Some may be able to do it better than others but that is something we all do when reading. If you are a person who has reading and writing challenges it is best to tackle that obstacle quickly. Not being able to read or write is a

In the essay, “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” written by Jonathan Kozol and originally published in the book, “Illiterate America”, is a bundle of examples of how people who are illiterate live every day. It showcases the hardships they go through, and how much of a problem it is. He had quotes from various interviews with people who are illiterate, and how many become distrustful of people trying to explain what the written document or form says, for they can never know if they are telling the truth. Kozol heavily uses rhetorical strategies, mostly pathos related, to showcase these struggles and make us take notice of this problem. Overall, he uses the strategies of logos, ethos, and pathos to push his point across.

Alongside the many other skills required for this task, I have listed and defined a few. Research and analysis are key points. A person must not only have the ability to find the information they need from various sources, but the skills to analyze the information they have. Other necessary skills are communication, wording, and structure. Communication is always used in the way of both written and unwritten words when it comes to the readers themselves, and any audience the writer speaks to. As a person writes, the reader pays attention to the wording, it is what draws in readers, keeps them in, and has to be able to relate to people you have never met and will probably never meet. Wording is the language, the style, and the theme. A writer then has to ensure their grammar is correct, the structure is sound, and it is creative enough to get

What does it mean knowing how to read and write. I take literacy skill very seriosly that will help me in the future. I know such skills don't come easy, it requires hard work, sleepless night. The reason why I go to school is to make mistakes, correct them and not to repeat them again. I always improve my skills through curiosity to learn something new, not being able to read and write would keep me in a darkness without seeing beautiful things that surround me.

You need to be able to empathize with your readers. Be able to step into their shoes.

Alvin Toffler, American futurist and writer, redefines illiteracy, while simultaneously redefining literacy. Toffler states that “The illiterate of the 21s century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who can learn, relearn and unlearn.” He redefines illiteracy because the context has changed. A couple centuries ago, only the upper class had the luxury of being educated, while the lower class didn’t have the free time or funds to go to school. Now, with the widespread of public education, reading and writing are one of the most basic skills. Due to the commonness of literacy, being illiterate is a disability and it cripples the ability to express. Since widespread illiteracy is a thing of the past and literacy is a bare minimum,

In becoming a writer, author junot diaz reveals a theme hard work pays off. The story is about how a writer becomes a very well known person by working hard each day to complete his book. The story takes place at his house everyday at his desk at 7AM. The author writes, “it wasnt that i couldn't write i wrote everyday i actually worked really hard at writing at my desk by 7AM, would work a full eight and more. He spent his dinner time to write and his grind never stopped until he got to where he wanted to be.

Grammar, spelling and punctuation all play an important role in the relationship between the writer and the reader. Grammatically correct texts are easier to read. Also, when you have a proper understanding of grammar is also makes the writing process

The biggest factor that plays in good writing in my opinion is how much emotion the writer puts into his or her work. Honestly, a good reader will be able to tell how much effort was put into a writing from the first couple of sentences. If the reader gets a sense of the writing trying to force words into a sentence or trying to stretch out a page you will lose your reader right then and there. If you honestly believe in what you are writing and have interest in the subject matter the reader will be able to read between the lines and actually have a feeling of being there,

There are many facets to writing a good novel. In Stephen Kings book On Writing he offers advice to aspiring writers on using the tools necessary to be a good writer. The first section, is a personal memoir, the reader has an opportunity to understand King from an intimate perspective. The second part of the book allows the reader to be seated upfront in a writing class, humorous, to the point and informative; King offers advice through personal experience.

The following saying “Good readers need to be good writers and good writers need to be good readers.” can have multiple meanings but to me I’m not sure. When I read this I think of when it says “good readers need to be good writers” I don’t think this is all the way true. You can be a good reader and not like to write at all and even if that person is a good reader and can read multiple things and have a meaning for whatever that is being read and be able to put it in their own words. But in general being a good reader does not necessarily mean that you need to be a good writer. Being a good reader can vary a lot, according to the context that is being read. It can mean one thing in a classroom and another when you are reading for