Emotion Versus Facts in “the Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” Essay Example

it is only partially true as the assumption is made that if illiterate people were able to vote based on their conscience, they would not have voted for Reagan. Kozol effectively employs the phrase "Illiterates cannot" throughout his essay, thereby emphasizing the extensive limitations faced by illiterate individuals.

Throughout the essay, Kozol emphasizes that illiterates are unable to perform tasks that literate citizens take for granted on a daily basis. This includes reading menus, letters from their children's teachers, and instructions for various objects such as medicine bottles and potentially dangerous cleaning materials. They are also unable to read bills and write checks, leaving them completely dependent on others. Kozol repeatedly uses the phrase "illiterates cannot" to drive home this point, and he believes that illiterate individuals will never be able to function normally in society. They must rely on those around them for help with reading and ordering, and Kozol employs anonymous quotes to illustrate a range of difficulties that they face.

Using anonymous quotes in an essay may only fuel emotional responses rather than indisputably demonstrating the dysfunction of illiterates in a literate society. Quotes like "They are cheating me...I have been tricked...I do not know..." and "I've lost a lot of jobs. Today, even if you're a janitor, there's still reading and writing...they leave a note saying, 'Go to room so-and-so...' You can't do it. You can't read it. You don't know."

Kozol's credibility could skyrocket if some of the illiterate individuals he quotes were willing to come forward, but they fear ridicule and judgment. Kozol recounts the experiences of Boston women who entered the hospital for a tubal ligation but left

with a hysterectomy without understanding their rights or the medical jargon. These women were intimidated by the unfamiliar atmosphere and signed documents they couldn't read, without anyone bothering to explain. Kozol pleads with the reader to empathize with these unfortunate, uneducated individuals who lack advocates. Though Kozol does not explain why emotional responses are warranted, these stories highlight the struggles of poor illiterate communities.

The essay fails to provide a solution for aiding the illiterate individuals of society. They are confined by their inability to make sense of the world around them, but Kozol does not offer a response. Consequently, readers are left feeling empty and helpless. Some may argue that the essay is effective because it generates an emotional response and motivates readers to take action. However, the absence of statistics and personal accounts regarding illiteracy lessens the impact the essay could have.