ENG 511: Theory and Research in Composition

This course provides an introduction to foundational theories and research in the field of composition studies, and is a prerequisite for graduate students who are assigned to teach ENG 101 in the First-Year Writing Program. During the semester, we focus on the dynamic and sometimes competing nature of theories and research, keeping in mind the historical and political contexts in which they emerged. The goal of the course is to examine assumptions underlying current theory and research and to explore implications for the teaching and practice of writing. Conducted as a seminar, the course is designed to help new members of the field to:

• familiarize themselves with the range of voices and theoretical assumptions underlying the teaching of writing;
• understand various histories of the field of composition studies;
• become acquainted with major journals and resources in the field of composition, sufficient for conducting independent explorations of research and theory on topics of interest;
• develop a reading knowledge of research methods in composition, sufficient for interpreting and evaluating the results of published research in the field;
• apply knowledge of the field’s history, theory, and research in analyzing new contexts, developing new pedagogical insights, and raising new questions for research.

Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.