1. Locate Gabors definition of civic literacy.

Break down what

you understand about it (suggestion: rewrite it in your own
words or further define the words she is using). Based on her
definition, describe an example of a text that used civic
literacy that you either recently wrote or read.

-Gabor defines civic literacy as the ability to use writing for

power. Gabor suggest that civic literacy is the same as literacy
except this time it is used for specifically power and to further
ones status. Abraham Lincoln used civil liberty throughout his
career. Whenever Lincoln visited the south he would bring up his
opinions on slavery (which he was opposed to) in a way that the
south would understand and not get agitated with. Lincoln was
able to use civic literacy to further his career which eventually
allowed him to get elected.

2. At the end of page 490, Gabor argues that writing may be

one of the most powerful ways to get what you want, and
she drew on the history of using writing and speech to
solve problems and differences. Based on our current
political climate, would you agree that writing is a
powerful political and/or civic tool? Are there limitations to
what writing can do politically? What kinds of political
writing do you see as highly influential? Which kinds of
political writing have less effect?

- I feel like an obvious use of civic literacy that is used

into todays politics would be Donald Trumps tweets
(not really sure if they help them or hurt him
honestly I guess it depends who you ask). Trump
uses his tweets to voice his opinion on subjects and it
often gains him attention. These tweets (some
absurd) really got him noticed throughout the
election and created a form of buzz that no other
candidate possessed. I would agree that writing and
literacy are extremely important aspects of politics.
Words unify people and create a sense of power and
strength. I would say that the most highly influential
writing is when a candidate makes a solo speech to a
 group of people. This creates a feeling of unity with
the candidate and the audience. The least effective
would probably be the tweets.

3. Do you feel closed off from public discourse like the

students in Ann Colbys survey? What kinds of public
discourse do you have the power and access to participate
in?

-I feel like I am part of the system but at times I do feel as if

my vote or opinion dosnt really matter in the end. I do have
the power to vote and protest.

4. Throughout the article, Gabor brings up the term

stakeholders without defining it. What does this term mean
within the context of the reading? What causes, issues, or
communities do you consider yourself to be a stakeholder
in? Why?

-She is using stakeholder to describe people that are a part

of a process or hold concern or interest. Examples would be
how most women are involved in womens rights, the hold a
stake in the topic. Something that I hold a stake in is
animal rights because I believe its wrong and cruel to abuse
and test on innocent beings.