Why Literature Matters By Dana Gioia Summary

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In “Why Literature Matters”, author Dana Gioia poses a compelling argument that reading is essential to the development of ideas and an open minded society.Although some critics may believe reading and literature do no apply to the civic,economic, and personal aspects of life, the arguments set forth in the article dismiss such critics as excessively dogmatic. One of the broader notions presented in the essay is that reading is not a timeless or universal capability and it greatly depends on many educational, cultural, and economic factors. Gioia deftly delivers a cogent argument to sway his/her readers by presenting compelling evidence, utilizing persuasive elements, and incorporating the use of reasoning to connect claims and evidence.
Out of the several elements that Gioia uses to deliver his argument, presenting his readers with …show more content…
Gioia utilizes different forms of evidence such as data collected from studies, and interviews with employers to further gain validity towards his argument through his audience. One method used to gather evidence is viewing data collected from studies. In “Why Literature Matters”, Gioia states, “...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 (ages18-24). The most worrisome finding in the 2002 study,however, is the declining percentage of Americans, especially young adults, reading literature.” This startling information given to the reader definately sways his/her opinion on this topic. It also makes the reader feel that Gioia’s argument is justifiable. Another statement Gioia presents to the reader is, “ Among hourly workers, poor reading skills ranked second, and 38 percent of employers complained that local schools inadequately taught reading comprehension.” This peice of evidence also contributes to Gioia’s argument and sways his auidence’s opinions on this topic. This
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