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Burdens and Blessings: Heuristic Pedagogy for the Rhetorical Endeavor in Composition: Author: Lenart, Joshua Bela; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: English; Abstract: Rhetoric has been a cornerstone of Western thought for at least the last 2500 years, whether disdained as manipulative techniques exercised by immoral lawyers and corrupt politicians or prized as an elegant mastery of language displayed by leaders and dignitaries. This essay posits that rhetoric is always a fundamental part not only of Western but of all societies. Maintaining such a constitution necessarily raises the questions how and why should educators acknowledge rhetoric's role in their instruction. Of the innumerable sites for introducing an increased focus on rhetorical instruction i...; Download File | View full details

Composition and Aleche: Native American Education, Scholarship and the Pedagogy of John Dewey: Author: Jenkins, Nathan Joseph; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: English; Abstract: This thesis approaches the historical and contemporary education of Native Americans in order to analyze and combat the American academic system's failure to educate Native students. The chapters cover 1) boarding schools aims and student resistance, 2) problems still faced by Native American students, and 3) possible solutions to these problems. Chapters 1 and 2 give an overview of history and research done by educators and scholars. Chapter 3 is a combination of suggestions by educators of Native students and John Dewey. The first sections demonstrate problems and voids in academia, and the ...; Download File | View full details

Individualizing the Writing Process through a Genre-Based, Social-Process Pedagogy: Author: Wilke, William Walter; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: English; Abstract: Many contemporary composition scholars are moving beyond process theory, contending that the act of writing effectively is one of complex social interaction, an intricate ballet of intellectual feigns, parries and thrusts, that cannot be reduced to the simple process of prewriting, writing and rewriting to be taught in the same, or even similar, manner to every person. In fact, they argue, there can be no effective classroom composition pedagogy that reveals the social nature of the act of writing to the student in any meaningful way. And yet a wealth of personal observations have shown that a...; Download File | View full details

Stolen Identity: Author: Shober, Kacie Ann; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: English; Abstract: Students' previous experiences have contributed to their loss of voice in writing. Through the examination of historical events that occurred within the basic reading and writing classroom, a significant separation between students and what is deemed as academically appropriate writing is apparent. By exploring the dynamics of students and the established curriculum, the argument can be made that through a multigenre project students are able to reconnect with writing and rediscover their voice....; Download File | View full details