The article “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia is about how the decline in reading literature by American young adults has a negative effect on society. Although, the effect of reading has diminished in America, the negative effects on society are lack of imagination, becoming less informed, and young adults becoming inactive. In the article, the author used the 2002 survey of Public Participation in the Arts, an article from Wired Magazine, and the Reading at Risk Survey. He used these sources to back up his claim that reading is declining among young Americans. If they were substituting literature for history, biographies, or political works it would not be as bad, but the fact that they aren’t reading at all is a concerning trend(Gioia1,2).
…show more content…
The “reading at risk” survey backs up the claim that nonreaders are becoming less informed. The declining reading rates are related to the declining levels of historical and political knowledge of young adults .(2) A 2003 of civic knowledge by the national conference of state legislators study of 15-26 year-olds concluded that “young people do not understand the ideals of citizenship and their appreciation and support of the American democracy are limited.(2) When young adults become less informed it also leads to inactivity. Finally, Gioia claims that nonreaders become inactive. “The reading at risk survey” supported that people who read are more likely to go to a museum, perform charity work, or attend a sports event. The “reading at risk” survey gives a broader view of the reason that readers attend these social events is because they are more engaged in literacy and more informed thus becoming active. If young adults were reading it would diminish the negative effect on society, improve imagination, make them more informed on political and historical topics, and develop creative skills to create higher up
The “reading at risk” survey backs up the claim that nonreaders are becoming less informed. The declining reading rates are related to the declining levels of historical and political knowledge of young adults .(2) A 2003 of civic knowledge by the national conference of state legislators study of 15-26 year-olds concluded that “young people do not understand the ideals of citizenship and their appreciation and support of the American democracy are limited.(2) When young adults become less informed it also leads to inactivity. Finally, Gioia claims that nonreaders become inactive. “The reading at risk survey” supported that people who read are more likely to go to a museum, perform charity work, or attend a sports event. The “reading at risk” survey gives a broader view of the reason that readers attend these social events is because they are more engaged in literacy and more informed thus becoming active. If young adults were reading it would diminish the negative effect on society, improve imagination, make them more informed on political and historical topics, and develop creative skills to create higher up