Rhetoric and Reality: Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1900 - 1985 (Studies in Writing and Rhetoric) - Softcover

Berlin, Professor James A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080931360X ISBN 13: 9780809313600

Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press, 1987

Synopsis

Berlin here continues his unique history of American college com­position begun in his Writing Instruction in Nineteenth-Century Colleges (1984), turning now to the twentieth century.

In discussing the variety of rhetorics that have been used in writ­ing classrooms Berlin introduces a taxonomy made up of three cate­gories: objective rhetorics, subjective rhetorics, and transactional rhetorics, which are distinguished by the epistemology on which each is based. He makes clear that these categories are not tied to a chronology but instead are to be found in the English department in one form or another during each decade of the century.

His historical treatment includes an examination of the formation of the English department, the founding of the NCTE and its role in writing instruction, the training of teachers of writing, the effects of progressive education on writing instruction, the General Education Movement, the appearance of the CCCC, the impact of Sputnik, and today’s “literacy crisis.”

About this title

About the Author:

James A. Berlin is Director of Freshman English at the University of Cincinnati.

About this edition

• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 080931360X
• ISBN 13: 9780809313600
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240