- For the first category to look at in regards to literacy narratives, the most popular choice is the success narrative, as shown in the chart in Alexanders work. Success, focuses on the literacy rather than the individual, and this allows the writer to connect themselves to success in the past, present, or future by showing their success story through literature, which also relates as literature relates to success and money in the present society that we live in. This does not make the writer the center of attention, which can be appealing to those not looking to fill a hero role, despite the similarities. It acts as a sponsor for literature with “success, liberation, development, progression, and upward mobility;”, all things that many writers can relate too in a literacy narrative. The other category to look at is the second most popular, and that is hero. It is very similar to success, with the main difference being that the writer of the literacy narrative is the main character. They are the one experiencing the “success, liberation, development, progression, and upward mobility;”, instead of the story representing that. The hero also acts as a sponsor for literature by showing how literature can be used in a heroic or positive way, and also showing how it helped the hero themselves.
- The narrative of literacy that interests me and relates to a sponsor is the narrative of a literacy winner. This can appeal for a multitude of reasons. To start, the winning story is incredibly appealing. It can relate to so many people, and it is enjoyable to read. The literacy winner amasses “academic currency” by winning things such as “awards, rewards, prices” for their work in literacy. This sponsors the idea of literacy by showing the reader how far it can take the writer. It can further individuals in school work, in their work careers, politics, socially, etc., the idea of being proficient and good at literacy is appealing because of the opportunities that it can offer the reader and the individual partaking in the literacy winning scenario. This furthers the influence of literacy while maintaining the positive outcome that being proficient in literacy has.
- Sponsors work to either increase of decrease the influence that literacy has. It can work in a positive or negative manner. Often times, especially given the day and age that we live in, it works in a positive manner. Stories of success regarding literature, like how it makes the writer a hero, a winner, a success story, like my literate narrative, how my confidence regarding writing turned me into a superstar in my English classroom in 7th grade, and brought me newfound confidence in school in general. Sponsors work in a number of ways to increase the influence that literature has. Like mentioned earlier, it can also do the opposite, as some literacy narrative stories that I read talked of how individuals related to literature or events relating to literature suppressed the influence and good that literature has on the writer. It led to a disdain of literature and pushed them away from the topic, limiting them severely. Sponsors can work in a number of ways beyond literacy narratives, with real world events as well, with inventions like the printing press, newfound literacy teaching, etc.
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