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November 06, 2005
in its natural habitat (genre 12.1/25)
Fontaine, Sheryl I. and Susan M. Hunter. "Preface for the Instructor: Meeting the Need for a New Instructional Genre with The Wadsworth Series in Composition Studies." In Collaborative Writing in Composition Studies. Wadsworth Series in Composition Studies. Toronto, Ontario: Thompson/Wadsworth, 2006. vii-xxii.
1 sentence summary: upper-level undergraduate & graduate students in composition need instructional materials that aren't traditionally available; throwing them into field conversations by immersion & expecting them to follow debates without background can be discouraging and lead to narrow understanding, so the series was written to fill an instructional need not being met.
purpose-statement: "rather than creating curricula structured around readings and exercises intended to replicate expert knowledge, we might draw on a new genre of texts written for upper division students to design a curriculum whose rhythms draw on habits of mind characteristic of Composition teachers, administrators, and researchers. the genre we propose encourages faculty to design graduate curricula...that would include accessible and invitational introductions to ways of thinkng and practicing in the field" <-- so "genre" as a purpose, not a form: the new type of text is designed not around physical characteristics but around the idea of creating "ways of thinking"--as a way to get at rhythms (vi).
distinguishing feature: what makes these texts unlike other texts is their audience & intention--they're "written specifically for the novice" & meant to be taught "through"--again, emphasis on being "invitational," on "presenting" material; what defines texts as members of this genre are the verbs of their performance (vii).
physical characteristics: include "an inviting, student-friendly voice," "an introduction that makes an overarching connection between the topic of the book and [the field]," "descriptive headings throughout each chapter," activities & reflection-questions, & "a works cited list" and a list of "works for further reading concluding each chapter" (xx)
plus: the new genre [are all "new" genres calls for reform?] is a proactive "call[] for a curricular reform into which such a genre will fit" (xxi)
Posted by ttobryan at November 6, 2005 08:42 AM