Ashley Pence
November 23, 2007
Much of why I chose the topic for my paper comes from the people who inspired me. My inspiration ranges from my own family members, my community as well as my CD 315 professor. I would like to begin with my professor.
After choosing my topic I did quite a bit of research to prepare for what was to come. The core of my research consisted of poverty and literacy. Throughout my research I was guided by Mrs. McComas who was almost like a little voice in my head telling me how to acquire good research based on skills she had given us through discussion and readings. As time went on we were to meet with Mrs. McComas to go over our topic and foundation questions. At this point in time Mrs. McComas guided me in revising my question to make my paper the best that it could be. This required tweaking my questions slightly and doing a little more research on the new foundation questions. Therefore my “special help” came from her.
As mentioned in my preface my other inspiration came from my community. All I had to do was look around and see the affects that illiteracy has on individuals. My heart broke and still breaks for those who are stuck in this vicious cycle of illiteracy and poverty. This made me curious as to why there is such a cycle and if there could be a change.
Finally I would like to especially thank my grandparents who shared their thoughts on literacy as well as personal experiences. By interviewing them and listening to their stories I gained a whole new level of respect for them. Their lives were completely different when they were growing up compared to how an individual grows up today. Things were not quite as available to them like they are now. This meant they worked hard for little pay to help out the family and being literate was not even an option to their family. I learned that if they had even wanted to continue in school and go to college it would consist of them going far away to school as well as to obtain a job. This was not an option for them based on their desires as well as the needs of the family. Although they only went to 9th and 10th grade before dropping out they have worked on performing literacy practices daily to increase their literacy skills to a much greater degree. I thank them for working so hard and making things better for my mother and inspiring her to make life easier on my sisters and I as well all by increasing our literacy skills.
