ERIC Number: EJ788568
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Feb
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0010-096X
EISSN: N/A
A Kind Word for Bullshit: The Problem of Academic Writing
Eubanks, Philip; Schaeffer, John D.
College Composition and Communication, v59 n3 p372-388 Feb 2008
The phrase "academic bullshit" presents compositionists with a special dilemma. Because compositionists study, teach, and produce academic writing, they are open to the accusation that they both tolerate and perpetuate academic bullshit. We argue that confronting this problem must begin with a careful definition of "bullshit" and "academic bullshit." In contrast to Harry Frankfurt's checklist method of definition, we examine "bullshit" as a graded category. We suggest that some varieties of academic bullshit may be both unavoidable and beneficial.
Descriptors: Writing (Composition), Academic Discourse, Vocabulary Skills, High Achievement, Educational Environment, Deception, Reputation, Research Methodology, Content Analysis, Writing for Publication, Definitions, Classification, Rhetorical Invention, Persuasive Discourse
National Council of Teachers of English. 1111 West Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096. Tel: 877-369-6283; Tel: 217-328-3870; Web site: http://www.ncte.org/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A