Narrative Studies on Improvement in Writing

Diego Martinez

Dr. Allison Parker

ENG 327

10/06/2023
Introduction

The term “literacy” has changed drastically in a good way, many don’t look through the

word but work around it without knowing what the meaning of the word truly means. Literacy

has no wrong definition; it is a matter of how you achieve the meaning and define it through your

writing with details and a constant view of what you want to achieve. A matter of perspective.

Taking multiple research classes, I have learned that there are always good points and great

points when it comes to viewing through someone else’s eyes and the way they think of how

they come to their answers. The location I studied was an English Study Hall located on ASU's

downtown campus with a group of friends also working on their English assignments through a

different way to present evidence as using social media or videoing a certain process. Google

defines the word “literacy” as “in its broadest sense describes ‘particular ways of thinking about

and doing reading and writing’ with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas

in written form in some specific context of use”. Context is very important when it comes to

literacy, we know a certain environment, a certain point of view, and a change of story all matter,

and this gives us the forms to view literacy as its unit. I wanted to learn what processes go

through their minds and how they achieve their work and study with finals around the corner.

Are they doing out-of-the-ordinary research for a certain assignment? The friend I interviewed

was becoming an English teacher assistant and I asked certain questions on how literacy has

changed her perspective on life and what she looks forward to teaching in the following school

year. I also asked if they were in a certain group/social media page involved in learning and

improving their literacy in the future.

Methodology

Preparing for the interview process was a very important thing for me as it was my first

interview, I needed to set up and fully think about what was going to happen and how to

approach someone without disturbing them. Entering the conversation of the interview process, I

did not feel fully confident with how I had my setup and what were the right questions to ask.

For someone who doesn’t like talking as much, but writing is preferred it was difficult to gain

my confidence and put my awkwardness away for the assignment. Before starting I assumed that

most of the scholars there were being proactive in their assignments and looking forward for

their assignments to be over as not everyone likes the work and the amount of effort needed to

put into their studies. While thinking of certain groups, the definition of information literacy as

stated by Rath is the “ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to

locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” (Rath, L. 2022). Not only did this

help but gives all the information on what to look for and what you may expect to see when you

are looking for information. A more thorough definition Rath speaks of is “the set of integrated

abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how

information is produced and values, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and

participating ethically in communities of learning” (Rath, L. 2022). Although this is more

complex, this is the full definition of what literacy is and how it may be used. Using this

definition, after doing some research has changed what information is provided, and the English

Study Groups see how their knowledge qualifies with this definition. No response is wrong,

simplified or complex is acceptable.

While conducting the interviews, I had someone typing out the responses, so I wasn’t

specifically focused on just typing but on the interview itself. Doing this made me focus on what
the main person was doing and acting. I always want to have attention given to those who are

speaking as it is a professional thing to do. Working throughout the interview made me think if I

wanted this to be formal or informal as not many students like professionalism in their

assignments as it creates a certain thought before giving an answer and how to reflect that to

someone else. I decided to have it sort of professional and informal as many questions were

thinking about how it changed their lives, how literacy has changed since when they first began

their assignments, and how it is now. Did they learn anything new and in what way has it

improved their writing? The informality was present when it came to the language they used, for

example, abbreviated words, shortened sentences for speaking less, and grammatical errors. The

article The Relationship Between “Textisms” and Formal and Informal Writing Among Young

Adults, states “These kids aren’t learning to spell. They’re learning acronyms and shorthand. Text

messages are destroying the written word. Students aren’t writing letters; they’re typing into their

cell phones one line at a time” (Rosen, Chang. 2010). We see this even when we are not looking,

shorthand sentences, verbal and written are present. Literacy has changed from proper reading

and writing to shortcuts. Searching ASU’s Library with keywords such as “Literacy Meaning,

Formal and Informal Writing, and Functions of groups, all tend to describe ways to formulate a

way to express your writing and or vocabulary through writing.

Conducting the interview, I chose one friend who was actively involved in tutoring

groups and was involved in social media groups specifically revolving around ways to improve

their writing and others. Many of the people involved in the group create posts to seek advice on

how to proceed with work and what type of information would be best to add. Others seeking out

help from those who enjoy helping is what the group was about, giving feedback and multiple
answers from different people. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to obtain photos, which if I

did, would have supported my writing.

Data Analysis

Challenges arose when finding the location as many study halls were very packed and

unable to concentrate on the assignment. While finding the location, we started the interview.

Oc’Tavia the interviewee was the focus of the interview. One of the questions focused on why

they decided to join a group focused on improving other's writing.

“Continuing my career as an English teacher assistant, in a way has helped improve my

focus on writing and help others on my way as I find it interesting as others often have similar

issues or new issues where both of us can learn.”

I believe this answer focused on what type of person she was, she did not want to watch

someone struggle with their assignments, so she decided to join a group where she can be in

assistance to those in need and formulate a new path with the knowledge she has. The group has

pointed her to focus on her career more than ever as she stated she always wanted to be an

English teacher due to her high school teachers.

“I’ve always wanted to be an English teacher and/or writing assistant. While attending

high school my teachers focused on me throughout the years and supported me to improve my

craft. Always enjoyed writing even as a young kid. Writing is a way to express yourself even if

you don’t have the words to say them.”

Her passion for writing and helping strangers is unique. Not everyone can do this as it

tends to be thought of as giving wrong information or doubting as one may think they are wrong

and giving others false information. I was impressed by how motivated she was to help others;
she was also surprised there were a ton of people who helped regarding matters like this. Not

many others are focused on writing and looking through the information to see the personal

thought details.

Conclusion

Literacy comes in many shapes and forms, and all is correct. Social groups and study

halls are all significant signs of literacy as there are signs of them whether you look at books,

TikTok, news channels, or interviewing. Social groups help improve the mentality of someone

who is focused on a career and will pursue any chance given to them to view the modern world

and ways to improve. One question I had that was still unclear is how the term literacy can

improve as the detailed definition is very specific. I believe this topic can be examined further

from a different perspective as everyone's voice is important to why they chose this group and

what benefits they get from it whether it is for a personal matter or professional instance.
Field Notes:

1. How did reading and writing change as you entered elementary school? What did

you do with it?

When entering elementary school, it helped tremendously. I wasn’t a very talkative

kid but when it came to writing my emotions were able to be placed into my writing.

Just like authors who have a passion for writing books, their personality is involved

in the stories they tell. My writing has helped me be the person I am today, helping

others in the present and the future and teaching it to the next generation.

2. What are you asked to do with reading and writing at this point in your lives?

Reading and writing have changed over the years, compared to elementary school. I

went from chapter books with stories to reading ways to improve my writing by

reviewing research and references. All has changed and it continues to change

exponentially. There isn’t a wrong way to read or write, it’s a way to present it within

your writing. Most essays consist of certain things like evidence, proper structure,

and professional etiquette. Nowadays my writing has been primarily focused on

publishing a book I want to create and in what ways I can express all the information

I have learned throughout the years into a story not involving how to write an essay.

3. When you were growing up, how much school reading, and school writing was done

with computers? What kinds of things did you do? What values did your teachers

place on computer literacy?

 Growing up technology was not as important as it is right now, you used to find all

your research in multiple books but now we have the internet which has been

changing every single year and has been either improving or decreasing the amount

of effort needed to maintain a structure of an essay. We see those using AI to type out

essays but realistically that is what the future holds, we are waiting for AI to be the

main figure of the world and it is coming soon. Most of my assignments are on a

computer and then it is graded online. You’re not handing in your assignment in

person but virtually. I had attended ASU online, and it was extremely different from

in-person, for me, online is not my go-to. I need the in-person perspective as it helps

me hold more information as writing/typing things down when it is taught compared

to being self-taught online.

4. How have the steps to becoming an English assistant helped you understand literacy

as a whole?

I’ve always wanted to be an English teacher and/or writing assistant. While attending

high school my teachers focused on me throughout the years and supported me to

improve my craft. Always enjoyed writing even as a young kid. Writing is a way to

express yourself even if you don’t have the words to say them. Issues always arise as

you learn something new every day. In a way, it has helped improve my focus on

writing and help others on my way as I find it interesting that others often have

similar issues or new issues where both of us can learn

References

Ahmed. (2016). Why critical literacy should turn to “the affective turn”: making a case for

critical affective literacy. Discourse (Abingdon, England), 37(3), 381–396.

https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2015.1042429. Accessed through ASU library 09/21/2023.

Koltay. (2011). The media and the literacies: media literacy, information literacy, digital

literacy. Media, Culture & Society, 33(2), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/016/3443710393382.

Accessed through ASU library 09/21/2023.

Rath. (2022). Factors that influence librarian definitions of information literacy. The Journal of

Academic Librarianship, 48(6), 102597–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102597. Accessed

through ASU library 09/26/2023.

Rosen, Chang, J., Erwin, L., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2010). The Relationship Between

“Textisms” and Formal and Informal Writing Among Young Adults. Communication

Research, 37(3), 420–440. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650210362465. Accessed through ASU

library 09/27/2023.

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student learning: the case for explicitly developing students' “assessment literacy.” Assessment

and Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(1), 44–60.

https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2011.598636. Accessed through ASU library 09/21/2023.