Category Archives: Teaching Composition

on teaching “A Modest Proposal”

Posted on August 2, 2006 by Michael

While teaching Writing 121 last year, I always taught Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” — indeed, I think all the TA’s here did. I think before the students read the text I never gave them any background, except once when … Continue reading →

Posted in English 588 Lit and Pedagogy (Summer 2006), Teaching Composition | 5 Comments

more on ideology and rhetoric

Posted on August 1, 2006 by Michael

After reading Sánchez’s essay (see previous post), I read McComiskey’s response, in which he tries to complicate the dichotomy between Sánchez and Berlin that Sánchez has created. Sánchez critiques Berlin’s ideology as “nondiscursive and arhetorical,” a view in which “rhetoric … Continue reading →

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ideology and rhetoric…

Posted on August 1, 2006 by Michael

I just read Sánchez’s essay, “Composition Ideology Apparatus: A Critique,” which is a nice follow up to Althusser, which I read a few weeks ago. I was, quite honestly, somewhat confused at times throughout the essay, but I think I … Continue reading →

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I like good questions

Posted on July 20, 2006 by Michael

I am a fan of good questions (of course!). I just picked up Gerald Graff’s Clueless in Academe, and right away, some good questions: …schooling takes students who are perfectly street-smart and exposes them to the life of the mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Teaching Composition | 1 Comment

On Yancey’s “Made Not Only in Words” (2004)

Posted on July 18, 2006 by Michael

Lisa suggested I read Yancey, Kathleen Blake. “Made Not Only in Words: Composition in a New Key.” CCC 56.2 (Dec. 2004): 297-328. And I’m most struck by the good qestions Yancey asks: How is it that what we teach and … Continue reading →

Posted in Literacy, Teaching Composition | Leave a comment