Rhetorical Traditions and the Teaching of Writing - Softcover

Knoblach, C.H.; Brannon, Lil

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0867091053 ISBN 13: 9780867091052

Publisher: Heinemann, 1984

Synopsis

The argument of this book is that the earliest tradition of Western rhetoric, the classical perspective of Aristotle and Cicero, continues to have the greatest impact on writing instruction--albeit an unconscious impact. This occurs despite the fact that modern rhetoric no longer accepts either the views of mind, language, and world underlying ancient theory or the concepts about discourse, knowledge, and communication presented in that theory. As a result, teachers are depending on ideas as outmoded as they are unreflectively accepted.

Knoblauch and Brannon maintain that the two traditions are fundamentally incompatible in their assumptions and concepts, so that writing teachers must make choices between them if their teaching is to be purposeful and consistent. They suggest that the modern tradition offers a richer basis for instruction, and they show what teaching from that perspective looks like and how it differs from traditional teaching.

About this title

About the Author:

Lil Brannon is the author or coauthor of several Heinemann and Boynton/Cook titles, including Composing Public Space (2010) Thinking Out Loud on Paper (2008), Critical Teaching and the Idea of Literacy (1993), Rhetorical Traditions and the Teaching of Writing (1984), and Writers Writing (1982). She has also published essays in CCC, College English, Journal of Basic Writing, and Freshman English News, among others. Lil is Professor of English and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte, where she directs the UNC Charlotte Writing Project. She has taught middle and high school English and courses in composition at UNC Charlotte.

About this edition

• Publisher: Heinemann
• Publication date: 1984
• ISBN 10: 0867091053
• ISBN 13: 9780867091052
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 171