The goal of this project is to begin investigating the emergent media practices of current academic disciplines. This dissertation posits that Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) scholars have investigated new media use in undergraduate pedagogy, and to some extent the practices of graduate students. However, WAC scholars have yet to try to understand how Writing in the Disciplines (WID) is being impacted by emergent media. The gap might be, in part, accounted for by the complexity of researching disciplinary writing compounded by the complexity of researching new media. However, in order to both design effective undergraduate curriculum and partner with peers across the discipline, this research must take place. This dissertation proposes a mixed method process, consisting of textual analysis, interviews and observations, in order to understand emergent media writing in the disciplines. Specifically, this research focuses on the practices of plant biologists online publication, online professionalization, and changing use of databases. This preliminary study reflects on the research practices that could be used to gather this information, as well what rhetoric and composition scholars have to gain from this type of difficult work. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]