2/4 Class

Last week we discussed the syllabus. Apart from reading and weekly "blog" responses, the major project for the course is a conference length paper. Keep thinking about topics that interest you (a "dissonance blog" that narrows your topic is due on March 3.

I mentioned the 2008 Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference call for papers (CFP) coincides with the proposal due date for this class. I will pass out the CFP in class, as I can't yet find an online link to the announcement.

I uploaded our notes from last week's class discussion to a folder in Webcampus. We discussed "First-Year Writing Gets a New Look," which highlighted the English Alive program at Drexel University and its efforts to incorporate new media technologies in composition classes. We discussed some key themes in composition studies, including

• What is the aim of post-secondary writing instruction?
• What is the most appropriate way to achive those aims, or what are the best teching methods? ("pedagogy" is the study of teaching)
• What role does new media in post-secondary writing instruction?

It loooks like everyone managed to activiate a blog (see our blog roll). We'll start this week's class with some reponse to the responses:

Part I: Open Discussion

• Read the blog of the person following your name on the ENG 701 blog roll.
• Post a thoughtful response (how easily will the person's blog site allow this?)
• Read and respond to someone eles’s if you have time.
• Class discussion

Part II: Taxonomies

With a partner, answer the following questions:

1. Do a binary comparison the “old” American college to the “new” research university, including how writing instruction faired in both systems.
2. Identify the main elements of the Harvard model of composition? (curriculum, philosophy, leaders…)
3. What are some alternative models?
4. What is the rationale for English A given by Hill?
5. What is the significance of Hill’s piece to the history of composition studies?
6. Outline the “story” of rhetoric, from classical to contemporary times.
7. List as many areas of research in the field of rhetoric and composition as you can.
8. What larger intellectual movements influenced composition research?
9. What is the relationship of composition to literature and English departments?

For next week, 2/11, read and "blog" about "comp studies today." Three of the readings are on Webcampus, and one is a link to an online collection called "Into the Blogosphere."

Dr. J