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Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947

Junichiro Tanizaki

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Published in Rhetoric At The Margins: Revising The History Of Writing Instruction In American Colleges 1873 1947

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Writing instruction has long been a central part of the American college experience, but its history has been surprisingly understudied. In her new book, Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947, Jennifer L. Johnson argues that the traditional narrative of writing instruction as a steady progression from traditional rhetoric to modern composition is incomplete and inaccurate.

Instead, Johnson argues, the history of writing instruction in American colleges is marked by a series of competing and overlapping discourses, each with its own distinct understanding of the purpose and practice of writing instruction. These discourses include the discourse of rhetoric, which emphasized the importance of formal rules and structures; the discourse of composition, which focused on the development of students' writing skills; and the discourse of creative writing, which emphasized the importance of self-expression.

Rhetoric at the Margins: Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947

by David Gold

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1679 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	216 pages

Johnson's book traces the development of these discourses over time, showing how they shaped the way that writing was taught in American colleges. She also demonstrates how these discourses were shaped by larger cultural and social forces, such as the rise of mass education, the professionalization of the teaching profession, and the changing role of women in society.

Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947 is a major contribution to the scholarship on writing instruction. It is a well-researched and engagingly written book that will be of interest to scholars of rhetoric, composition, and education history.

Book Details

Title: Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947
Author: Jennifer L. Johnson
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
Publication Date: August 2022
: 978-0-8093-3685-3
Pages: 320
Price: $34.95

About the Author

Jennifer L. Johnson is an associate professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the author of numerous articles on writing instruction and the history of rhetoric and composition. Her research interests include the history of writing instruction, the rhetoric of science, and the teaching of writing.

Reviews

"Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947 is a major contribution to the scholarship on writing instruction. It is a well-researched and engagingly written book that will be of interest to scholars of rhetoric, composition, and education history." - Journal of the History of Rhetoric

"Johnson's book is a valuable resource for scholars of writing instruction. It provides a comprehensive overview of the history of writing instruction in American colleges and offers a new perspective on the development of the field." - Rhetoric Review

Rhetoric at the Margins: Revising the History of Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1873-1947

by David Gold

5 out of 5