Teaching Composition As a Social Process

by Bruce McComiskey

McComiskey (rhetoric, U. of Alabama at Birmingham) advocates social approaches to teaching writing while opposing composition teaching that relies on cultural theory for content. Specifically, he decries the use of imitation in teaching writing and instead argues for a practice situated in discourse itself. He urges writing teachers not to neglect the linguistic and rhetorical level of composing, but rather to strengthen them with attention to the social contexts and ideological investments that pervade both the processes and the products of writing. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Bruce McComiskey is Professor of Rhetoric and Writing in the English department. He specializes in ancient and modern rhetorics, composition theory and history, and the discipline of English studies. He is also the Director of the Center for Rhetoric in Society.

Reviews

[Ben]

Many of McComiskey's assignments could be adapted for a freshmen-composition class.

[Destroydecay]

All of the assignments are the same, but the book is very interesting.