Evolution of Writing

Catalog description

This course applies a variety of theories, disciplinary constructs and empirical investigations to an understanding of the dynamics of genre formation, helping students identify genre theory as a category of inquiry. This course examines the ways by which exisiting and evolving forms of writing found in classrooms, disciplines, professions and civic colloquies assume cultural importance and expand social constraints. the course explores problems of general description and definition, including taxonomy, semantic ontology, conventionality, mediation and social/organizational knowledge. Also, the course considers how learning, social interactiona and a sense of agency contribute to the textual and contextual features of various written forms, inclluding shared ideological constructs, choices of media and other features.