Composition: History & Theory: 1960 - 1969
MLA and NCTE Reunite
Description
In Rhetoric and Reality: Writing Instruction in American Colleges, 1900-1985 (1987), James Berlin notes that the meetings between the MLA and NCTE lead by Albert Kitzhaber in the 50s, paired with the work of the Ford Foundation and the push toward using Jerome Bruner’s view of psychology to inform classroom instruction with an emphasis on process and relating composition to thought defined calls for a new kind of rhetoric in the 60s. There was an emphasis on interaction between high schools and colleges via summer workshops. Kitzhaber voiced issues with a lack of remedial preparation on the college level, a shift in focus from rhetoric to the poetic, the formation of classes centered on writing about literature, and the resurgence of superficial correctness and the modes of discourse in the writing classroom. English and Rhetoric studies saw general progress upwards after this point, and research in composition took off as Kitzhaber suggested it should. Booth’s “Revival of Rhetoric,” journal contributions from writers like Macrorie and Murphy, and new ideas from linguists like Christensen and Chomsky led to greater improvements in the field.
In 1963, a number of influential talks were given about the field, including those given by Albert R. Kitzhaber who spoke about ways in which Freshman English could be improved by looking at other fields and placing emphasis on research. In 1963, Kitzhaber also published Themes, Theories, and Therapy: The Teaching of Writing in College which was a survey of Freshman English courses in a variety of institutions (including Dartmouth) which called for a reform of the course. In an attempt to re-work the field, Kitzhaber was chosen to direct one of the Curriculum study centers and decided on the University of Oregon. Therefore, in the 1960s, Kitzhaber was among those that were not only calling for reform but were bringing it about.
Date of Upload
3/14/09