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The Power of Reading and Writing

            The power of reading and writing is immeasurable. Its power is the knowledge and ability to gain access to new knowledge and points of view. For example, Slaves were forbidden to read and write and thus lost the power to be individuals and remained thoughtless pieces of property. This was the point; to keep slaves less than human. Today reading and writing are still powerful elements of the world. They shift the world and cause the tides of our society to churn and turn.
             A slave was mainly seen as chattel. Their owners did not see them as anything more than that, a simple piece of property. Slaves were stripped of any rights affiliated with being free men. The slave owners wanted to make them as easy to manipulate as possible. This was only possible if the slaves were prohibited from any form of reading and writing, making them reliant on their owners. Stopping slaves from reading and writing was a law. There was a reason for this. The whites were "fearing that black literacy would prove a threat to the slave system – which relied on slaves' dependence on masters – whites in many colonies instituted laws forbidding slaves to learn to read or write making it a crime for others to teach them" (Goodell 1). Without reading and writing, slaves were at an ultimate disadvantage. If an individual cannot read and write, he/she is automatically perceived to be at a lower class than any other individual with even a slight education in literacy skills. Imagine the struggle of having to be illiterate and a slave. That was considered to be the lowest social class an individual could have been a part of during that time period. These slaves had no other choice though. The mere thought of a rebellious act could cost them their lives. .
             Although very dangerous, some courageous slaves made the very risky decision of breaking the law by learning how to read or write. In order to make this possible, a slave would have to illegally obtain books and/or find or bribe any individual who could teach him/her these skills, which also put the suppliers in danger.


Essays Related to The Power of Reading and Writing

1. The Benefits of Reading

Opening the Power of the Mind Benefits of Reading: Opening the Power of Your Mind It is extraordinary how people's minds can be expanded by reading. ... In addition, Valentine (2001) states, "Reading books expand your knowledge, introduces us to new ideas and may even improve our writing skills" (para1). ... Also when the reader imagines the author writing's, it allows us to see and to understand other people's point of view. ... Therefore, reading opens the power of the mind by getting us to have more concentration. ... Reading means building the power of the mind. ...

  • Word Count: 683
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Contending With Reading

Why is reading to learn and reading comprehension important? ... Through reading, knowledge is acquired and knowledge translates to power. ... If students are not reading on the grade level they should be, then they certainly are not writing and comprehending on the appropriate levels. ... Many teachers articulate that their instruction is driven by fundamental needs and interests of their students; however, when asked to incorporate vocabulary , reading, and writing into their daily instruction practices, it becomes a challenge and sometimes impossible to do due to every day constraints. ... ...

  • Word Count: 3505
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Oppressing Reading

Reading is being suppressed by various methods. ... If a child is not doing much reading it is because it has a problem doing so. ... That is why they create this laws and try to scare people away from writing about them, and their issues. People in government want to stay in power for their own convenience. ... Absurd laws give people the power to go and suppress other people's work. ...

  • Word Count: 1398
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Power of a Purpose

The Power of a Purpose I read Beowulf and Chaucer. ... How does reading English solve problems, heal wounds, comfort the weary, calm the fearful. I think of John Keats, who, having left the practice of medicine for a life of reflection and writing, sought "to do some good for the world" through his writing. ... Words do have power in them; and those who have words to use ultimately overcome those who wield weapons. ... So, the power of the pen--the power of words--words of comfort, strength compassion, faith and resolve may be, in fact, mightier than any weapon evil men may devise and ...

  • Word Count: 694
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. THE CULTURE OF POWER

The culture of power can be described as the group of people whose way of talking, writing, dressing, and interacting is accepted as the norm. ... Schools today are designed for the culture of power. ... The black child is therefore at a disadvantage when it comes to reading the textbook or understanding completely what the teacher is trying to teach. ... I think, however, her largest obstacle in school is writing. ... The advocators of this ideology are the culture of power. ...

  • Word Count: 728
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Power of Literature

The first example of Dante using a story to induce emotions is when Francesca is reading a book with Paolo and they are infatuated with each other at the words of the book that they read. ... Paolo also cries while she tells the story, and this goes to show the powerful nature of love and uncontrollable emotions that were invoked by the story that they were reading. ... Again, inclusion of these words are ways of writing a story that give stories such an emotional effect. Although it was wrong to do, Francesca and Paolo both commit adultery because of this sudden impulse that arose from the b...

  • Word Count: 1203
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

7. Comparative Essay

When it comes to reading and writing there are different views on how each task should be performed. ... Both authors believe the ideas of self-values, imagination, creativity, knowledge, and reality essential to great writing and reading. ... This happens not only in reading but in writing as well. ... Being knowledgeable is vital to good reading and writing. ... The concept of high quality reading and writing can be tedious. ...

  • Word Count: 717
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Who Really Has The Power?

Minority will refer to those who do not have the power and are under the control of someone who holds all the power. ... The narrator and the boss seem to hold every bit of power in this office and defiance only makes him wish to exert this power over his employees even further. ... In Walt Whitman's case, we now know that Whitman was a homosexual male and his works are evident that he includes this aspect of writing in his works. The idea of indirect power is when reading Whitman's works there is no outwardly expression of his homosexuality. ... Whitman's work "Song of Mys...

  • Word Count: 2175
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Revolutionary War - Rise to Rebellion

Jeff Shaara began his writing career when his father died and he was asked to continue a series that his father had started. ... He never had any experience as a writer before he started writing to continue what his dad had started. ... The thesis of this book was the Revolution itself was about not just the power of armies, but the power of a people to decide their own future. ... The author wrote about the events accurately and that is good because giving the right facts is crucial in writing about a subject in history. ... It doesn't seem like you are reading but instead it seems like ...

  • Word Count: 768
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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