The Decline Of Reading Dana Gioia Analysis

Dana Gioia builds and argument about how the decline of reading will effect America by ethos such as outside information, magazines and uses logos to help show the reader that a decline is happening.

Dana first start out with outside information from the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts from 2002. The survey then states that "The declines have been most severe among young adults (ages 18-24)", and then going on saying "The most worrisome finding in the 2002 study, however, is the declining percentage of Americans, especially young adults, reading literature". This is showing how most people coming out of high school going into college lose their interests on reading or taking time to read for pleasure. Next Dana uses a selection

of the February issue of the "wired magazine". The magazine then analyzes "a new set of mental skills and habits proper to the 21st century", and then using a quote form the author Daniel Pink, saying, "the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty, to detect patterns and opportunities, to craft a satisfying narrative". This analyzation and quote both emphasize that creativity and individuality are diminishing because of the loss of literature reading. Literature would be able to spark people's imagination.

The next strategy to help his argument is the use of logos to help show facts to show the reader the real issue. He used a poll from the National Association of Manufacturers in 2001 of the members to check on their skill deficiencies. What they found was "among hourly workers, poor reading skills ranked second, and 38 percent of employers complained that local schools inadequately taught reading comprehension". Stating that schools lack the knowledge and enforcement to keep students reading.

Also from a 2003 study of 15-26 years olds, conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Th study then concluded that "young people do understand the ideals of citizenship... and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited". This is stating that literature can help people understand the rights they are born with and why they should be supportive.