::
Education
MA, Literature, Boston College
PhD, Language and Rhetoric, University of Washington
:: Research Interests
Teacher training, new media composition, rhetorical theory, environmental rhetorics.
:: Course Description
Fall Semester, 2007: "Genre Theory"
How can two identical texts belong to different genres? Can two dramatically different texts be part of the same genre? Since the publication of Carolyn Miller's article "Genre as Social Action" in 1984, these questions have been answered and genre has emerged as a productive category of inquiry in rhetorical theory, rhetorical analysis, composition theory, and the teaching of writing. Scholars working on genre have described genre formation, change, history, failure, and flexibility. Genre has been theorized as both the source of textual creativity and a technology of social control. We now have genre consultants and genre textbooks.
In this seminar, we will explore concepts from genre theory such as speech genre, genre as social action, uptake, meta-genre, and fuzzy-genres. To ground our inquiry, participants in the course will explore a range of everyday genres—shopping lists, lost dog posters, electronic communication, and stencil graffiti. In doing this, we will ascertain the viability of genre theory. Course work will include writing regular reading response papers; engaging in a collaborative inquiry into the genres of an academic discipline, building, or space; and writing a final paper. No prerequisites required; students from disciplines across campus are encouraged to enroll.
:: Website
metaspencer.com
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