Iannacone

1
John Iannacone
UWRT 1101
September 11, 2016
The Literacy Narrative of My Life
My literacy began at a very early age. I remember sitting in my mothers lap reading

Deleted: my
Deleted:

On August 17th 1998

colorful picture books and pointing to the pictures as she read. She read typical nursery rhymes,
Aesops Fables, of course to teach me life lessons, and books with animal characters. But the
stories I remember most vividly were the stories involving tractors, cars, and building structures.
I would listen intently, finding a great interest in what I now know is design. I was not a very
vocal child, just listening, watching and pointing as she read. In this narrative I will go through
my personal literacies of reading and communication formed throughout my life and how these

Deleted: born which began my literacy narrative. Very early on

my parents realized I was different than many other children around
me.

Deleted: both
Deleted: early on and later in

literacies influenced who I am today. This narrative will take you through my literacy story.

Deleted: both my life and my interests. Some of these literacies

have stuck with me while others have been left behind both good
and bad. Either way my literacies are what make me
Deleted: and this

I have always been a listener rather than a talker. As a baby my parents told me that I

Deleted: that
Deleted: have

rarely cried to get my way or express my frustration. I was independent and found a way to get

Deleted: and when

what I wanted without using phrases or sentences. When someone was working on a project,

Deleted: doing something

playing with a toy or having a conversation, I would watch with great focus. I began to crawl
and walk much earlier than many other children my age. Despite my advances and great focus,
my parents began to worry because I did not truly speak until after most other children my age.

Deleted: as
Deleted: had. This

Sure, I said the basic words like Mama and Da, but not groups or strings of words to make
conversation. This all changed when I was three plus years old and we were heading back from
my grandmothers house. My parents were talking in the car when I suddenly interrupted their

Deleted: when

conversation. I talked for almost three straight hours during the car ride home about things I

Deleted: the entire six-hour

Iannacone 2
remembered or things I wanted to do. My parents were astonished at my vocabulary, how much
I knew, and that I had chosen that moment to speak in complete sentences. During my early

Deleted: how after all

Deleted: time this was when

childhood, my literacy continued to grow. Using knowledge from stories I had heard, helping

Deleted: decided to talk.

my father work on small projects and watching The New Yankee Workshop, my tinkering
vocabulary made its way into the picture. Starting when I was four my neighbors son had a
large plastic bin full of Legos that he let me borrow. When he became a teenager, he gave me the
entire set. For the longest time all I wanted to do was see what I could design and build.
Fast forward a few years to when I began first grade; I was very nervous to start school because
we had moved and I didnt know anyone. All of the other students had grown up together.

Deleted: everyone surrounding me were new. Soon

Because I was more of an observer and listener, I found myself doing things solo while

Deleted: by myself or when around others

watching and listening to my classmates. By observing, I learned much from people during my

Deleted: more than talking.

Deleted: so

elementary and middle years, but this literacy of listening and not being very social had also
caused some issues. People often saw me as an outsider; therefore I was not included in many

Deleted: Due to not talking very much, people

Deleted: and

groups. What I had not learned was how to balance my literacy of listening with talking. I did

Deleted: a group
Deleted: yet

not learn how to balance the two for many years and it only enforced my more reclusive nature

Deleted: also being outgoing.

Deleted: this

school. Although not being included was frustrating, this changed in high school when I found a
better balance of literacy that I still carry with me to this day.
Continuing with project building, my dad would bring home different electrical components
from his office. With his help, I would build different things such as flashlights, fans and

Deleted: in elementary
Deleted: later all
Deleted: and
Deleted: another
Deleted:
My interest
Deleted: from his office
Deleted: and with

remote control cars. This knowledge and passion carried me through to high school when my

Deleted: we
Deleted: or

literacy in this field truly came to light. My ninth grade year I changed schools once again.

Deleted: In 9th grade

Unlike my first grade year, I know a few people. I enrolled in a course called Industrial Arts

Deleted: industrial arts

which is a course that involved woodworking along with projects involving different metals. My

Iannacone 3
teacher saw how well I could use the different tools as well as my vast knowledge of building.

Deleted: knew
Deleted: and put

He assigned me as a lead teacher assistant. With this title I was allowed to weld, build nearly
anything and use any tool I needed. I became so literate in the subject that I won both first

Deleted: I could set my mind to,

Deleted: other

place and best in show at our annual MAAD fest (arts festival) for two pieces I constructed my

Deleted: , as well as offer guidance to other students in the class.

sophomore year of high school. Numerous judges from across the state came and awarded

Deleted: Here numerous

Deleted: gave awards to

projects that were unique, designed well and constructed with detail. My first project was a

Deleted: they felt blew away the competition of everyone else.

My projects included

mission style love seat that I constructed out of spruce. I milled, cut, filed, stained, clear coated,

Deleted: that

and upholstered myself. My other project was silverware set with a Mahogany casing made out

Deleted: a
Deleted: that I

of rough plate iron that I filed and hammered into shape. More importantly than the projects I
created; this class offered me the opportunity to build my confidence through improved
communication skills. Being a TA, I was able to offer guidance to other students in the class.
During the course of my ninth grade year I used my Industrial Arts class to improve a literacy
that has helped me through high school and now college. This literacy is the art of

Moved (insertion) [1]

communication. For much of my life before high school I kept to myself more often than not.
My freshman year of high school, I began to change after given the TA lead role. I began to
balance listening as well as talking. By the end of the year, my self-confidence and
communication skills had shifted in a positive direction which ultimately proved to be beneficial.

Moved (insertion) [2]

I was much more social, had a higher confidence level, and wanted to meet new people. For the

Deleted: complete with a mahogany casing. This literacy I have

carried and

duration of my 9th grade year my literacy of communication grew. Many of my 9th grade friends
were from different grades, backgrounds, as well as from different countries. I realized that even
though I could communicate more easily, I still was trying to find my own group that shared
some of my own interests. Luckily as my literacy grew so did my understanding of which
people that had common interests with me. I also realized others who did not have much in

Iannacone 4
common could still be friends. My greatest leaps in communication were during my junior and
senior year where I found a good group of friends that still gets together on breaks. This literacy
of knowledge and communication will continue to benefit me throughout my life.

Deleted: carry with me as it has benefited me greatly

Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

Deleted:

My interest

While my communication skills were improving, so was my literacy in project

construction. One of these interests includes cars. After watching and helping my father work on

Deleted: has been carried with me for much of my life

them, reading automobile articles, and watching car videos, my passion for design became more
relevant once I had a car of my own. I have always been fascinated about how different
components work together and how to repair them. This dream of being able to do these things

Deleted: one
Deleted: Along with my literacy of building, my passion has also
been about cars.

myself came true the summer of my junior year when my parents gave me the option to either
sell our classic Suburban or keep it and use it as my first car. Of course I did not think twice and
immediately decided that I would keep it, work on it, and make it my own. The 1990 Suburban
was the same as the model and body style for the years 1973 to 1991. The car was in okay shape

Deleted: a model year 1990 but was

Deleted: year 1973 as the

after it sat in our driveway for four years collecting dust. I first began by cleaning the interior

Deleted: was carried until

Deleted: When I received the

and exterior which included vacuuming, steam cleaning, pressure washing, scrubbing, tire and

Deleted: it
Deleted: as

wheel degreaser, clay bar, polish, and waxing to bring back the shine of the paint and chrome

Deleted: had basically

trim. The back cargo doors were misaligned causing them not to open properly. With my Dads

Deleted: the carpets as well as numerous other things. Once this

was done, the back cargo doors were misaligned causing them not to
open properly so I realigned them with hinge spacers. The next
thing on the list was to give the car a thorough bath which included

help, we realigned them with hinge spacers. My next improvement project included fixing

Deleted: Once done

numerous visible body imperfections. I bought color matched paint for the hood grill and touch

Deleted: were seen so

up paint for the rock chips. Because adequate drying time was needed, this process took roughly

Deleted: This

a week to complete. While the paint was drying, I refinished the wheels with the original gloss

Deleted: because adequate drying time was needed.

Deleted: this

black color. Later small rust areas were found under the rear wheel wells and on the rear quarter

Deleted: decided to refinish

Iannacone 5
panel. I repaired them using sheet metal that I fabricated into proper patch panels. Once in

Deleted: which
Deleted: alone

place, body filler was used to smooth out the surface to be ready for paint. I also undercoated the

Deleted: While waiting for the paint on the quarter panel to dry, I

entire bottom of the car for rust prevention. This was the majority of the body work that I
completed by myself,but much more was done both mechanically and on the interior. I

Deleted:

purchased a new dashboard, new speakers, new charger outlet, and adhesive to re-upholster the
headliner. I completed this project in about a weeks time. Then, I completed several
mechanical repairs such as replacing the serpentine belt, thermostat, radiator hoses, windshield

Deleted: the
Deleted: the

wiper linkage, and changed the oil. This literacy of car work proved to be beneficial for the

Deleted: oil changes,

Deleted: a much more

duration that I owned the vehicle. Hopefully in the future I will be able to continue this literacy

Deleted: the

with another classic car.

Later in my high school career, I formed another literacy involving electrical design. As
most of this narrative explains, much of my enjoyment stems from design and building. Once I
became familiar with woodworking and basic electrical circuits, I combined that knowledge to

Deleted: had become

design and build more complex projects. These projects ranged from helping my Dad build

Deleted: anything

control panels in his office, creating mini speakers and device build/rebuilds projects. If I found

Deleted: to

something that was broken, I would try to either fix it or salvage the usable parts for another
project. My most notable rebuilds have included iPhones, iPods, iPads, an Xbox 360, as well as

Deleted: builds
Deleted: been

four laptops. Nearly all of the devices and computers that I own were given to me broken and I

Deleted: have

fixed them for use. This literacy is something that I greatly enjoy, but it also has taught me

Deleted: For me this

Deleted: instead of buying new devices.

patience, determination and simply put has saved me a lot of money. Even though to many, they

Deleted: may
Deleted: out there,

look like any other device, but I see them as unique because I put the time and effort into

Deleted: know that

Deleted: building

rebuilding them. Eventually, I was recognized for my electrical abilities. People at my high

Deleted: and in many cases

Deleted: have been
Deleted: it.

Iannacone 6
school and UNCC recognized my skills which has allowed me to form my own electronics repair

Deleted: even here at college realized

Deleted: skill

business. This literacy of electronic knowledge and communication has given me great

Deleted: be able to
Deleted: which has given me a small income.

enjoyment, but also has taught me what works and does not. It has allowed me to save and even

Deleted: both
Deleted: I have done correct

make a little money. I hope to carry this literacy into my field of electrical engineering.

Deleted: what I have done wrong.

Deleted: money
Deleted: gain
Deleted: from people in need of repairs and

My literacy narrative is a mix of many different ideas, knowledge, patience,

communication as well as other literacies I have yet to experience. Although some of my early
formed literacies like listening and not communicating well held me back at times, they also
benefited me by allowing me to be creative and independent. Realizing this has allowed me to
move forward and find myself. My literacies have helped me learn from my mistakes, learn

Deleted: During the course of my ninth grade year I began to

balance industrial arts and my social life. Here I formed a new
literacy that has helped me through high school and now college.
Moved up [1]: This literacy is the art of communication.
Deleted: For much of my life before high school as stated
previously, I kept to myself more often than not. Freshman year of
high school, I changed this because I felt it would help me to form
bonds with people and would help me mentally to be more confident
in myself. Roughly half way through my 8th grade year was when I
began to change and balance listening as well as talking. By the end
of the year my self-confidence had made a shift in a positive
direction which ultimately proved to be beneficial once I reached
high school. When I began high school, I had left my home town
and was attending a private school roughly 30 minutes away. Even
though I knew almost no one there, the experience was much less
stressful than elementary school because

what I can do better and most importantly learn what other literacies I may have. The knowledge

Moved up [2]: I was much more social, had a higher confidence

level, and wanted to meet new people.

gained from my different literacies will carry me far especially in the field of engineering

experiences with listening, communicating and building will continue to open new literacy

Deleted: For the duration of my 9th grade year my literacy of

communication grew but at the same time I was trying to out who I
was. Many of the friends I had 9th grade year were spread out from
different grades, backgrounds, as well as different groups. I realized
that even though I could communicate easily, I still was trying to
find my own group that shared some of my own interests. Luckily
as my literacy grew so did my understanding of which people were
similar to me as well as others who did not have much in common
with me but were still close friends. My greatest leaps in
... [1]
Deleted: many more that

doors.

Deleted: find. The knowledge gained from these different ... [2]
Deleted: have come

because; my literacies focus mainly upon building, designing, as well as communicating. All
literacies, both my good and bad have played a key role in making me who I am today. My life

Deleted: gone, that is

Deleted: necessarily a bad thing. Some of my literacies I am...
glad
[3]
Deleted: hindered
Deleted: in some way while the ones represented in
Deleted: narrative have propelled
Deleted: to be able to
Deleted: They
Deleted: My
Deleted: while someone elses may focus on art.
Deleted: or
Deleted: play
Deleted: us
Deleted: we are as people which creates a vast diversity of ... [4]

Page 6: [1] Deleted

John Iannacone

12/5/16 2:24:00 PM

th

For the duration of my 9 grade year my literacy of communication grew but at the same time I
was trying to out who I was. Many of the friends I had 9th grade year were spread out from
different grades, backgrounds, as well as different groups. I realized that even though I could
communicate easily, I still was trying to find my own group that shared some of my own
interests. Luckily as my literacy grew so did my understanding of which people were similar to
me as well as others who did not have much in common with me but were still close friends. My
greatest leaps in communication were during my junior and senior year where I found my own
friend group that I am still in touch with.

Page 6: [2] Deleted

John Iannacone

12/5/16 2:24:00 PM

find. The knowledge gained from these different literacies will carry me far especially in the
field of engineering.

Page 6: [3] Deleted

John Iannacone

12/5/16 2:24:00 PM

necessarily a bad thing. Some of my literacies I am glad to no longer have because

Page 6: [4] Deleted

John Iannacone

12/5/16 2:24:00 PM

we are as people which creates a vast diversity of interests from around the globe