Literacy in Composition Studies Nov 2018 RSS Open Access

Critical Literacy for Older Adults: Engaging (and Resisting) Transformative Education as a United Methodist Woman

Janet Bean University of Akron

Abstract

This article explores the critical literacy practices of a conservative, Christian woman as she engages in a church-sponsored reading program. Her story provides an opportunity to interrogate dominant cultural narratives that situate faith in conflict with critical consciousness and to expand our understanding of attitude change in older adults. I examine the cultural and religious contexts of her literacy, as well as the rhetorical practices that allow her to enter into dialogue with challenging texts. Ultimately, I argue for a more expansive view of critical literacy that takes into account the nonacademic settings where it occurs and the importance of transformative process.

Journal
Literacy in Composition Studies
Published
2018-11-20
DOI
10.21623/1.6.2.5
CompPile
Open Access
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References (64) · 15 in this index

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Show all 64 →
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     ↗
  29. Bizzell, Patricia. “Faith-Based Worldviews as a Challenge to the Believing Game.”The Journal of the Assembly…
     ↗
  30. Burton, Vicki Tolar.Spiritual Literacy in John Wesley’s Methodism: Reading, Writing, and Speaking to Believ…
     ↗
  31. Carter (2007)
    Living inside the Bible (Belt)
    College English
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     ↗
  33. Corder (1985)
    Argument as emergence, rhetoric as love
    Rhetoric Review
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     ↗
  35. de Medeiros, Kate. “Narrative Gerontology: Countering the Master Narratives of Aging.”Narrative Works: Issue…
     ↗
  36. DePalma (2011)
    Re-envisioning Religious Discourses as Rhetorical Resources in Composition Teac…
    College Composition and Communication
  37. Elbow, Peter.Writing Without Teachers. New York: Oxford UP, 1975. Print.
     ↗
  38. Findsen, Brian. “Religious Institutions as Sites of Learning for Older Adults.”New Directions for Adult and…
     ↗
  39. Funk, Tim. “Will Views on Same-Sex Marriage Split One of the Nation’s Largest Protestant Religions?”Charlott…
     ↗
  40. Hamilton, Adam.When Christians Get It Wrong. Nashville: Abingdon P, 2013. Print.
     ↗
  41. Journet, Debra. “Narrative Turns in Writing Studies Research.”Writing Studies in Research and Practice: Met…
     ↗
  42. Maathai, Waangari.Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World.New York: Dou…
     ↗
  43. Marzluf (2011)
    Religion in U.S. writing classes: Challenging the conflict narrative
    Journal of Writing Research
  44. Mayson, Cedric.Why Africa Matters. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2010. Print.
     ↗
  45. Nazario, Sonia.Enrique’s Journey. New York: Random House, 2007. Print.
     ↗
  46. Pew Research Center. “U.S. Public Becoming Less Religious.”Pew Research Center: Religion and Public Life. P…
     ↗
  47. Rand (2001)
    Enacting Faith: Evangelical Discourse and the Discipline of Composition Studies
    College Composition and Communication
  48. Ratcliffe, Krista.Rhetorical Listening: Identification, Gender, Whiteness.Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP,…
     ↗
  49. Ringer (2013)
    The Consequences of Integrating Faith into Academic Writing: Casuistic Stretchi…
    College English
  50. Roberts, Cary.Massacre at Sand Creek: How Methodists Were Involved in an American Tragedy. Nashville: Abingd…
     ↗
  51. Schneider, Carol. “The Civic Case for Liberal Education.” LEAP Research and Resources. American Association …
     ↗
  52. Shor, Ira.Empowering Education: Critical Teaching for Social Change. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 1992. Print.
     ↗
  53. Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson.This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman Preside…
     ↗
  54. Stenberg (2006)
    Liberation Theology and Liberatory Pedagogies: Renewing the Dialogue
    College English
  55. Stevenson, Bryan.Just Mercy: A Story of Redemption and Justice. New York: Penguin Random House, 2015. Print.
     ↗
  56. Thomson-Bunn, Heather. “Mediating Discursive Worlds: When Academic Norms and Religious Beliefs Conflict.”Co…
     ↗
  57. United Methodist Church.Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.Nashville: United Methodist, 2016.…
     ↗
  58. ---. “Discipleship Ministries.” Older Adults. United Methodist Church, 2018. Web. 1 June 2018.
     ↗
  59. United Methodist Women. “2018 Reading Program List.” Reading Program, United Methodist Women, 2018. Web. 30…
     ↗
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