DawgNotes

Project Working Title: Editing Porter Perrin's Dissertation

Rational: Porter Perrin directed Albert Kitzhaber's dissertation, but is underrepresented in this history of composition scholarship. By following John Gage's example in his editing of Kitzhaber's dissertation, I will provide an overview of Perrin's writing, his academic work, the influences on him and those he influenced.

Methodology: Historicism. I will contextualize Perrin's work and influences for the twenty-first century composition scholar/practitioner.

Method: Primarily archival research, including primary texts authored or edited by Perrin, introductory material by co-authors in later editions of Perrin's texts, and Perrin's papers at Colgate University and the University of Washington.

Initial Goal (for this course): Read the dissertation, review other materials, begin compiling footnotes for the dissertation text, draft a preliminary introduction, an outline of the overall project and a plan for its completion.

Research Questions,:
- What would a twenty-first century student or practitioner in the field of composition need to know to understand Perrin's dissertation and its relevance?
- Porter Perrin is a white male academic working in the middle of the twentieth century. At a time when recovery work focuses on underrepresented groups, what can be gained by a better understanding of Perrin's work?

I should mention, I had no illusions (delusions?) of being able to finish this project is a semester (hence the initial goal part), but it seems like a good academic project, and a worthy endeavor a contribution to the field. Beats another boring seminar paper all to hell, that's for certain.