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tolsen |
Weisser
Oct 15 2008, 8:31 AM EDT
I just finished reading a chapter from Weiser's 2002 book, Moving Beyond Academic Discourse: Composition Studies and the Public Sphere. He's very interesting and makes some interesting points about the old model of "public writing"--sending in a letter to the editor. I particularly liked this passage:There is one final assumption about public writing that I would like to address: that its only purpose is to sway public opinion and that it does not encompass actual decision making and action. Some instructors of public writing who employ newspapers as their primary avenue for such assignments seem to feel that students’ public writing can rarely lead to substantial changes in public policy and can at best only convince others to “think differently.” ... This presumption is especially pernicious because it foreclosesreal results from student writing and often turns public writing assignments into pointless and futile exercises. While I’m not suggesting that public writing must always lead to decision making, I do believe that in certain circumstances it can...[P]ublic writing can form opinions and translate them into authoritative decisions, but only if we reconsider the presumption that public discourse is necessarily separated from legislative action. Students’ public writing can have significant, tangible, immediate results if it is directed toward publics where both debate and decision making are central goals. As facilitators of public writing, it is important that we help students locate strong publics where their voices can lead to action. Asking students to write in spheres discourse does not often lead to direct action, such as the local newspaper, is often pointless and futile. There are many arenas where student discourse can lead to palpable changes for them and others, and students may very well be members of these publics already. (110-111) Do you find this valuable?
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cnicolas |
1. RE: Weisser
Oct 15 2008, 9:05 PM EDT
He dealt with this issue in the essay I read. I think it is also always helpful to frame public writing assignments within a discussion of how change happens (or not) in society. I also think that helping students understand the multiplicity of spheres for public discourse is important.
Do you find this valuable?
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tolsen |
2. RE: Weisser
Oct 16 2008, 12:14 AM EDT
How do you mean the term "multiplicity of spheres"? Could you give me some examples? Does this apply to online environments as well? Are the spheres the same, do you think, or are there some different ones?
Do you find this valuable?
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