A Guide to Composition Pedagogies

by Gary Tate (Editor), Kurt Schick (Editor), Amy Rupiper (Editor)

Reflecting the rich complexity of contemporary college composition pedagogy, this unique collection presents twelve original essays on several of the most important approaches to the teaching of writing. Each essay is written by an experienced teacher/scholar and describes one of the major pedagogies employed today: process, expressive, rhetorical, collaborative, feminist, critical, cultural studies, community service, and basic writing. Writing centers, writing across the curriculum, and technology and the teaching of writing are also discussed. The essays are composed of personal statements on pedagogical applications and bibliographical guides that aid students and new teachers in further study and research. Contributors include Christopher Burnham, William A. Covino, Ann George, Diana George, Eric H. Hobson, Rebecca Moore Howard, Susan C. Jarratt, Laura Julier, Susan McLeod, Charles Moran, Deborah Mutnick, Lad Tobin, and John Trimbur. An invaluable tool for graduate students and new teachers, A Guide to Composition Pedagogies provides an exceptional introduction to composition studies and the extensive range of pedagogical approaches used today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Academic, Teaching, School, Education, Read For School

272 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2000

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful overview, but by itself too esoteric and bland. There's a lot of theory, not a lot of exposition. The great benefit of this book is that it identifies several main opposing and complimentary camps in compositional pedagogy and directs you to the definitive texts in those camps. The downside is it often does a poor job of elucidating some of the theories, and over half of the essays in the book are dry as hell. Good pieces include the ones of process, collaboration, critical pedagogy, feminism, service learning, and writing across the curriculum.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent essays on different types of pedagogies that best inform a composition classroom.

[Laurel Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice overview of pedagogy that I think anyone who teaches might read to gain insight on why they do what they do, and look at other ways of doing things. This is the second time I have read this book, but a few years ago I read the first edition. I was pleasantly surprised with this update, and even more happy that technology was addressed as that is certainly the way we are going.

[Katie J Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any textbook, some of it is fascinating, and some of it is torturous to get through.

Three Stars: Not bad, but not fantastic either. I'll still recommend it, if I think that person might like it more than me.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I suffered through this one. Here's a tip to the authors who wrote this: actually talk about something substantive instead of listing bibliographies. Thanks.

[Matt Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable resource for composition instructors, but hardly a page-turner.

[Hallie Elizabeth]

i read this one for class too im not rating it but it was dense

[Kiel Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy on the theory, this book contains articles addressing many facets of teaching composition, from the writing center as a locus of praxis, to feminist and L2 approaches to the instruction of writing.

This book was assigned reading for a graduate course on composition pedagogy.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of different topics that encompassed a lot of different areas.

[John Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview. Not those most thrilling read, as others have pointed out, but a great introduction to current theories.

[Roger Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, and very current, overview of the various composition pedagogies. I really agree with the central claim of the book too: Good writing instruction will almost always include a mixing of various pedagogies. The bibliographic resources at the end of each chapter are nice as well. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the field of composition and rhetoric studies, or who wants to know more about writing instruction and the philosophy behind it.

[Tarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a basic outline of popular Composition Pedagogies, this does a good job--it's a broad, but largely comprehensive and extremely comprehensible overview. It's a good reader to assign as a baseline, and then add readings that highlight the important aspects (or rebuttals) of that pedagogy.

[Shelley]

As an M.F.A. teaching English composition, I found this a good overview of primary pedagogies in the field. Each chapter includes a comprehensive bibliography that will be valuable as I continue my exploration/education.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An expansive and thorough guide to composition pedagogical theories; as a beginning teacher, it provided a great deal of insight and vocabulary to practices I was inherently doing with my classroom, and also gave explanation for more that could be done.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful in getting a basic grasp on different schools of thought concerning composition pedagogy.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update on Nov, 2013. Used for papers this semester.

[Mills College Library]

808.00711 G94646 2001

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful.

[J.I.]

Adequate, but not exceptional. It is what it says