On the individual pages of this wiki, students in the spring 2008 Graduate English Studies program at Elmhurst College compile the fruits of their semester-long study, classroom and blog discussions, ethnographic interviews, and independent research on the multifaceted subject of literacy.

Here, men and women of diverse ages, races, and ethnicities share, in their own words, how they learned to read and write and the effects of their reading and writing experiences on their lives. English Studies students then integrated these personal stories with reading and writing theories and ideologies to create a broader and more complete definition of what it means to be literate.

Whether you are a parent, student, educator, reading or writing theorist, or individual, these researched stories will give you a better understanding of the complexities and power of reading and writing.

The students in this Graduate English Studies program would like to thank and honor all those who have willingly and enthusiastically shared their histories and lives so that we might learn as well as advance the field of literacy.

 Last updated 05/27/2008