Composition: History & Theory: 1990 - 1999
Joseph Harris
Description
After receiving his Ph.D. in rhetoric in 1986 from New York University, Harris began his work in rhetoric and composition by teaching during a time when writing across the curriculum was a popular phenomenon. During the 1980s, the shift was to study cognitive rhetoric based not only on process but also how process was conditioned by social conditions. Other issues included politics, literacy, and gender. These issues continued into the 1990s as a theoretical basis for understanding language as can be seen by the direction taken by business and technical communication, English as a second language, and writing centers. In 1991, Mary Louise Pratt posed the idea that classrooms are places where cultural groups of unequal power can interact and share experiences with understanding for each other. Harris answered by stating that it is problematic because the needs of each group are not negotiated. Harris then published A Teaching Subject: Composition Since 1966. The book focused on a 30-year period in the discipline and the development of college writing. In the work, Harris discussed the notion of personal voice and the composing process. He also addressed the idea of error and the function of writing in different social communities. [A Brief History of Rhetoric and Composition. Bedford/St. Martin’s. 21 January 2009. Web.] Harris continues to teach and educate students at Duke University. He is an associate professor and director of the writing program. During the spring 2009 semester, he was scheduled to teach a course titled Teaching Writing, History of Composition, Images of Teaching in Fiction and Film.
Date of Upload
3/15/09