Examines the "reform tradition" in composition teaching that stressed the importance of students' interests and experiences and that saw the writing task as based on observation, description, speaking, and listening. Notes that this tradition grew out of the social and educational reforms of the l830s and l840s and provided the basis for the early…

Takes issue with standard characterizations of Japanese expository prose styles on the grounds that they view language and culture as exotic and static. Draws on multiple interpretations of ki-sho-ten-ketsu (classical rhetoric) offered by composition specialists in Japan. Suggests that researchers and writing teachers should be wary of…

Examines how macro-level social and political structures affect micro-level literate actions in classrooms and vice versa. Synthesizes Yrjo Engestrom's systems version of Vygotskian cultural-historical activity theory with Charles Bazerman's theory of genre systems to understand the relationship between writing in school and writing in other…

Explores features of conference proposals submitted to the Conference on College Composition in 1989, 1990, and 1992--345 abstracts in total. Results showed that successful abstracts were more likely to follow generic qualities associated with "unsolicited proposals"; foundational discourse remained constant throughout the abstracts but…

Recounts an earlier case analysis describing ethical differences in collectivist and individualistic rhetorics experienced by a writer in a literature seminar and a public relations office. Examines how this analysis is problemmatized by alternative interpretations demonstrating how collectivist rhetoric practiced by researchers involves the…

Discusses some parameters that account for changing assumptions about novelty across disciplinary communities. Argues that many of the insights required in a parameterized theory of newness have not yet made their way into theories of rhetoric or written composition. (MS)

Claims that the contextual nature of "results" sections in scientific articles remains largely unexplored. Examines scientific publications by biochemists. Identifies six rhetorical moves common to such articles. Demonstrates the rhetorical nature of science writing. (HB)

Considers how Aristotle uses the Greek term "kairos" (right timing and due measure) in his "Rhetoric." Examines each of the 16 references to "kairos" in the "Rhetoric." Argues for a fuller understanding of Aristotelian "kairos" among contemporary theorists of rhetoric. (HB)

Replicates C. Haas and L. Flower's 1988 think-allowed reading study. Finds that, when reading a passage on a topic more familiar to first-year students, the undergraduates generated substantially more rhetorical comments than they did with the Haas and Flower passage. Cautions researchers and teachers to avoid hasty assumptions about underlying…

Outlines the elements of the human rhetorical potential, arguing for a psychologically plausible theory of meaning. Examines recent work in cognitive neural science to see if the human rhetorical potential is biologically, or neurologically, plausible. Suggests further research on the human rhetorical potential as it relates to discourse…

Examines the experiences and rhetorical actions of key medical scientists and physicians who have treated, studied, and written about AIDS since the epidemic's beginning. Explains that those first to describe the disease report the rhetorical challenge was convincing their audience to accept the novel idea of AIDS and to see the cases as an…

Investigates Aristotle's metaphorical definitions of rhetoric in book 1 of his "Rhetoric," using his own theory of metaphor as a measure of his practice in these definitions. Indicates that Aristotle's practice in the situation does not match his theory, a circumstance that has consequences for one's reading of the "Rhetoric."…

The personal statement written for graduate school admission has been a genre virtually ignored by rhetoricians but one that deserves attention. Not only a document of pragmatic importance for applicants, the personal statement is an indicator of disciplinary socialization. The discipline studied here is clinical psychology. Combining quantitative…