Scavenger Hunt!

Dustin Hunter, Matthew Chumas, Krishana Oxner, Kimberly Cruz Pena,

Maryah Dinane

Question 1
1 Create a definition of literacy.
The definition of literacy cultivates many forms. The exact definition of
literacy is to be able to read and write in its basic form, how adequate ones
reading and writing is may vary to subjectivity. Another definition of literacy
is to be knowledgeable in a specific subject. The pre-conceived definition of
literacy tends to apply to an academic cognition, however there are just as
important literacies such as computer literacy, multicultural literacy, visual
literacy, and many more. These literacies also involve critical thinking and
mastery.

What do you think it means to be literate?

I believe that being literate varies with different cultures. In the United States
being literate may involve your position on the academic hierarchy. However
in countries that are traditional and collectivistic like most Asian countries,
may consider literate as how well they express their religion or how well they
respect their heritage.

What kind of people are literate? What kind of people are illiterate?
If we are referring to the exact definition of literacy, being able to read and
write, in the 1950s during the civil rights movement most colored individuals
were thought of as illiterate even though most knew how to read and write.
Being literate is a social label that individuals present in order to fit into a
society and different societies have different literacy definitions. However,
those who commit themselves to education are the basic form of literate, but
do they abide to other literacies such as social or media literacy? There are
so many forms of literacy that it cant be compressed into a single being.

Where do you typically hear the term used and for what?

Typically literacy or the word literate is used in an academic setting, referring

to an individuals intelligence. Literacy is also used on social media when one
is not following social situations or social constructs.

Can you provide examples from your own life that may explain how you
arrived at your definition?
I actually believed literacy was solely a word used in an academic situation,
however since I was introduced to different types of literacies from his class I
have expanded my definition of literacy. I respect the different types of
literacies and am curious about different types of literacies. Literacy is
something people should be cognizant about to understand different types of
cultures and why people operate the way they do.

Question 2
1.Give nine rules for the use of capital letters. Name, States, Book Titles,
Beginning of a sentence, Religion, Acronyms, Contractions, Months and Days.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
Noun, pronoun, adjective, determiner, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction,
and interjection.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
Stanza- four lines in a poems
Verse- a single line in a poem
Paragraph- a piece of writing (a group of sentences)
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of lie, play,
and run.
Base/present, present participle, past, past participle
Lie- lies, lying, lied, lied
Play- plays, playing, played, played
Run- runs, running, ran, ran

5. Define case; illustrate each case.

Case is the form for letters. A- uppercase a- lowercase
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
Punctuation- used in writing to separate sentences.
Comma- pause between sentences.
Period- End of a sentence
Colon- separating two clauses or stating a list
7 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you
understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

In writing, punctuation and grammar is very important. It something that we

are taught as children when we first begin school. First, we are taught to
always use capital letters when writing out name or any other noun. Next, we
are taught to use a period at the end of every sentence. We are also aware of
all the different types of punctuation to use when writing. The way we write
should be different from the way we speak. We may speak to our peers using
slang, and the most notorious word of all, aint. When good grammar
comes in to play, slang is definitely eliminated. Examples of good grammar
consist of saying you all instead of yall, and addressing proper noun as
such. Everything is in a formal way of speaking and writing, and when using
correct grammar, you are taken seriously and sound much more intelligent.
Question 3
3) The purpose and politics behind literacy tests:
Take a look at this voting literacy test from the 1960s.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/could-you-pass-the-literacy-testgiven-to-black-voters-in-th First, see if your group (all literate people) would
be able to easily pass this literacy test. Dont forget that the directions state
that you only get 10 minutes to complete it and if you get one wrong, then
you fail the whole test. Record your answers. After you have attempted the
test, look specifically at language and what was asked of the applicants.
What was the real purpose of these literacy tests and how were they written
toward that purpose?

The test was for people who could not prove fifth grade education. The
purpose of this test is to prove that the people without a fifth grade
education are able to read and understand what they are reading. The
questions are written to try and trick people into doing something wrong. For
example one question asks you to write backwards, forwards. So if you are
not literate then you may do the wrong thing.

Question 4
1. Explain who was being more culturally literate or knowing how to read a
social situation. How does cultural sensitivity (or a lack thereof) play into
this? Would a scene like this happen in a movie now? Why or why not? The
guy who Clark spoke to was being more culturally literate Clark had no idea
what was going on the world around him. The lack of cultural sensitivity was
pretty prevalent in the video it made a broad strokes generalization of the
ghetto it would but not in the same way, movies still use stereotypes (see
22 Jump Street) but the style of movies has changed so generalizations such
as this do not really exist anymore.

2. What is being represented here? (It may help to describe outloud what you
are seeing in a very literal manner). What would you need knowledge of in
order to read and understand this picture? What kind of literacy is it
testing? Different bands are being represented. You would need knowledge of
several different bands to understand what the pictures were literally
representing. It is testing pop cultural literacy.
3. Response/Reaction/Connection
a.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6A331B1oq8

This video relates to everyone who has someone they know who just cannot
work computers to help themselves. The frustration and the silent aggression
Amy Schumer felt when showing her mother how to even turn on the
computer is so much relatable, for the people who know how to work
computers turning them on is the easiest and most logical thing to do, the
power sign is a universal sign to most machines. The frustration from
teaching is mostly because when we see someone cannot do something
while we are explain it step by step makes us want to take over and do it

ourselves but we refrain so they can learn. Most parents are not up to date
with modern technology, but us; growing up in the 21 century it became
something we learned to do and something so easy for us, so seeing people
take it and make it seem the hardest thing to do will frustrate us and make
us not want to sit through trying to teach them.
b.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGX3J6DAGw

This video shows everyone does not know how to work computers or most
digital devices! As they try to figure it out more and more realizing the
computer is not turning on so they start hitting it hoping magic would
happen but nothing does then they start losing their cool attacking the
computer with their hands and one of them wants to break it all because
they dont know how to turn it on. This comedy skit shows our animal side
when we cannot figure things out, their characters changed more to ape like
attitude. This can relate to some of us, in these modern days theyre coming
out with new technology all the time and theyre all set up differently so yes
we will take the time to look like cavemen and start pressing random or all
the buttons to figure out how to turn on the device and maybe just maybe
give it a little smack here and there until finally we figured it out.
c.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5fn087Jk4I

This video is fun to watch but living it would be complete hell. Having
someone who gives up learning how to use modern technology and living the
modern world online like the rest of us! They brought it to life to make it
easier for them, while driving other people insane! The character literally
took her photos and posted (taping them) them to her wall in her living
room then she became upset with her friend that was in her living room and
told her that she unfriended her. There many people who might be able to
relate to this coming from much older people who want to live the modern
world but gave up trying online.

Question 5
Based on these clips and an expanded understanding of literacy, are there
other types of literacies or things that you can read outside of the written
word? In your daybook, write a new or expanded definition of literacy after
todays activities. How have your ideas changed? There are other Literacy,
visual literacy, auditory literacy, realistically anything you have an
understanding of could be some sort of literacy.