Illiteracy Essay

1438 Words6 Pages
Illiteracy Illiteracy is the inability to read or write with efficiency in everyday life. The problem with illiteracy is not only bigger than people think, but much more damaging to one’s life than they think. Illiteracy has always been a problem, since words became a part of civilization there have always been those who were not able to read or write. In the past, being able to read or write was not as much of a problem since it was not necessary to function in everyday life, but today there is no way to make a living without having to read something. These problems are exactly the thing Kozol writes about in his essay, “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society.” Illiterate people face many different problems in their lives, and these problems affect them physically, mentally, and socially. In “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society,” Kozol strategically reveals the problems that illiterate people face to draw on the emotion of the reader to make his argument. Kozol’s argument is that illiteracy is a major problem in this county and that something needs to be done about it. Kozol never directly states his argument but make it clear as he gives personal accounts of illiterate people that have suffered because of their problem. Sometimes Kozol will list an overwhelming number of problems. In this, Kozol challenges the reader’s moral fiber, making him feel guilty for not doing anything about illiteracy. Through the entire essay, the one thing that is focused on the most is not the problem of illiteracy, but the problems that illiterate people face and the way those problems affect them. Giving personal accounts or the effects of illiteracy helps the reader understand what the illiterate people go through. Kozol knows that most U.S. citizens don’t fully comprehend what life is like for illiterates. So he paints a picture for those who take literacy for granted,
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