Literacy Practices - Essay Example

In science, the use of the English language is termed a Literacy Practice and Text-user practices is one of them. Text-user practice is defined as the way texts are used to achieve particular social purposes such as negotiations around a contract which is text written, in group discussions, service counters in the bank, using manuals to assemble a piece of furniture or computers, etc.

Here the reader uses the text to act on a particular purpose, al, so uses it to direct others on what to do next. These texts become vital when the situation becomes tense, like in large construction buildings where these kinds of texts are very important. Without them, the worker's life will be in jeopardy.

In practice, text-user reading can be learned from schooling itself. Teachers are a good source for students to improve their abilities as text-user readers. In schools, students were taught the basics of any language. Basics are pillars for any subject that holds construction strong.  In school, students were taught how to use these texts for various purposes. Out of curiosity students starts to pose questions on different topics and slowly arguments start to arise from other pupils. This interaction leads to know on what they were arguing, whether their argument is in accordance with the subject, where the argument will lead from here, will the argument lead to a fruitful conclusion, and how can they organize themselves to get the best out of it, how can they present their opinions and finally what can they learn from this.    

The text-user practice readers pose themselves with some questions to come to some conclusion to achieve their task. Questions like ‘Purpose of the text?’, ‘How will be the text useful?’, ‘Will this be enough to achieve the task?’, ‘Is this text effective?’, ‘In what ways it can be used?’, How can I work around this?     

Let’s look at the skills and strategies for being a text user. The text-user reader should be aware of the diverse social and cultural practices in schools and communities. This is very important because they pose very sensitive issues, the last thing you want is a cultural clash between the communities. According to the different communities and cultures they must be addressed. Peaceful harmony should always be maintained. The texts should be used for finding useful information and making it more enjoyable as it creates more awareness of being together. The texts should be made more accessible to everyone, since the Internet is used widely it’s better to create a website or forums to discuss different things.

Discussing the text is the best way to bring out the best in different minds. The opinions of different people should be taken into account and the majority of the opinion should be taken as the final conclusion. Knowing about the text, its structure, its behavior, and its effects should be taken very seriously by the text-user reader. Sometimes explaining what has been written in text in different ways will help in a great deal like retelling the same thing in different ways.