Dana Gioia Why Literature Matters Summary

In response to the decline of reading in America, writer Dana Gioia argues that the lack of reading will result in a poor outcome of future american society in the article “Why Literature Matters”. Dana builds an argument using data, restatement, and emotional appeals.
Gioia starts of this article by telling the readers “While income rose to unforeseen levels, college attendance ballooned, and access to information increased enormously, the interest young Americans showed in the arts - and especially literature - actually diminished”. By starting off with this Gioia shows that students have begun to lack interest in literature despite the fact that college attendance has increased. He then goes on to talk about a 2002 survey of Public Participation in the arts that dictates “arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that are measured.” which gives further detail as to how drastically interest in literature has decreased, specifically in young adults. This data creates a base line argument for Gioia to expand on further in the article.
The way this is used as an emotional appeal is in the that the writer uses the phrase “a troubling trend” and states that it affects a person’s development. Gioia closes off the article with another emotional appeal similar to the one above by expounding on the effects of lacking skills in literature with “as more Americans lose this capability, our nation becomes informed, active, and independent-minded. These are not the qualities that a free, innovative, or productive society can afford to lose”. Gioia is saying through this that because people do not read, America’s society suffers which causes fear and worry for the future of