Description
Book SynopsisThe idea behind this book is that in complex societies like our own there are different worlds of literacy that exist side by side. People belong to different cultural groups: we lead different lives, we read and write different things in different ways and for different purposes. The idea that literacy is embedded in social context, that there are different literacies, is now accepted. This book presents a range of case studies describing some of these worlds of literacy and is carefully organised by theme, so as to bring out both the differences and connections between them. It will be a source book for students on courses of literacy studies. The case studies span the whole age range, but the book focuses particularly on the variety of uses of literacy in adult life, both inside and outside of formal education. The authors argue that in order to understand literacy and help people learn to read and write, we must look beyond school to the everyday uses of written communication. The contributors come from diverse backgrounds: they include students and teachers in adult basic education, higher education and schools: others are community publishers and researchers, several of whom are internationally known. They share a commitment to plain, accessible language. The book is extensively illustrated and 'sign-posted' to enable readers to move easily between case studies and themes. This makes it a book to dip into which can also be enjoyed by anyone concerned with the role of written communication in education and society as a whole. The themes that are dealt with include different voices, literacy and identity, the role of literacy in making choices and change, collaborative writing and creating new forms of written expression; gender and literacy, bilingual literacy, spoken and written language, children and adult learners, public and private uses of literacy, and bureaucratic literacy.
Table of ContentsPreface: David Barton: Literacy Practices and Literacy Events
Mary Hamilton: Introduction: Signposts
Section 1: Bringing Together Our Worlds of Literacy
1. Brian V. Street: Struggles Over the Meaning(s) of Literacy
2. Jane Mace: Reflections and Revisits
Section 2: Different Voices: Handling Multiplicities of Literacy
3. Tricia Hartley: Generations of Literacy Among Women in a Bilingual Community
4. Paul Davies: Long Term Unemployment and Literacy: A Case Study of the Restart Interview
5. Nichola Benson, Sarah Gurney, Judith Harrison and Rachael Rimmershaw: The Place of Academic Writing in Whole Life Writing
6. Agnes King: Literacy and the Travelling Communities
7. Carol Morris and Hubisi Nwenmely: The Kweyol Language and Literacy Project
8. Susan Benton: Networks of Communication Between Home and School
Section 3: Constituting Identities
9. Shirley Cornes: Gender-Engendered Literacy Needs
10. Nigel Hall and Anne Robinson: Power and Control in Young Children's Writing
11. Irene Schwab: Literacy, Language Variety and Identity
12. Sarah Padmore: Guiding Lights
13. Paul Davies, Stella Fitzpatrick, Victor Grenko and Roz lvanic: Literacy, Strength and Identity
Section 4: Choice and Change
14. Jenny Horsmann: The Problem of Illiteracy and the Promise of Literacy
15. Margaret Herrington: Learning at Home: Distance Learning in Adult Basic Education
16. Jane Hudson: Catherine's Story: A Young Child Learns to Write
17. Mukul Saxena: Literacies Among Panjabis in Southall
18. Mandy McMahon, Denise Roach, Angela Karach and Fie Van Dijk: Women and Literacy for Change
Section 5: Collaboration and Resistance: Challenging Words
19. Pecket Well College: Forging a Common Language, Sharing the Power
20. Angela Karach and Denise Roach: Collaborative Writing, Consciousness Raising and Practical Feminist Ethics
21. Victor Grenko and Stella Fitzpatrick: Creating 'A Guide to the Monsters of the Mind'
22. Susan Benton, Mary Hamilton and Sarah Padmore: Breaking and Remaking the Rules
