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Jasa Ferraro

Kathleen Trace

English Composition

10 September 2018

Decline of Reading within American Teens Issue

In 2001 the National Association of Manufacturers polled its members on skill

deficiencies among employees, “Among hourly workers, poor reading skills ranked second, and

38 percent of employers complained that local schools inadequately taught reading

comprehension.” Although, many public and private schools do teach in topics involved in

reading comprehension, some students lose grasp of that knowledge overtime. Author Gioia

builds an argument to persuade his readers by providing information based on statistical data, a

cause and effect and characteristics that reading provides us.

Statistical Data

“According to the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, a population study designed

and commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts (and executed by the US Bureau of

the Census), arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that

are measured....The declines have been most severe among younger adults (ages 18–24),”

included in Gioia’s essay is to give true and factual information that can be confirmed with the

National Endowment for the Arts. This makes the story on the declination of younger people

reading and writing novels more concerning. “In 2001 the National Association of

Manufacturers polled its members on skill deficiencies among employees. Among hourly

workers, poor reading skills ranked second, and 38 percent of employers complained that local
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schools inadequately taught reading comprehension,” was also found with in his essay. We have

kids within business industries that have little to no reading comprehension and without this skill

then many people will be jobless due to the inability to comprehend letters and more. This quote

was a get to the point type where we now are realizing that this may not turn out positively for us

and could end badly. “A 2003 study of 15- to 26-year-olds’ civic knowledge by the National

Conference of State Legislatures concluded, “Young people do not understand the ideals of

citizenship… and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited.” Gioia adds

to his point by explaining how young people are growing up to not understand how to read the

Constitution and other documents that provide them their citizenship and freedoms. This

provokes more people hearing this due to politics and global issues.

Cause and Effect. “The decline in reading has consequences that go beyond literature. The

significance of reading has become a persistent theme in the business world.” Young adults are

the new employees, this is a big warning to businesses. Without the reading and writing

experience, then these groups will fail and the industry will fail alongside them.

Works Cited

Gioia, Dana. “Why Literature Matters,” April 10th, 2005. The New York Times Company.