In this discussion, the author highlights the relationship between language and identity by discussing notions such as language as a symbolic resource (Heller, 1995) and language as a badge of identity (Buruma, 2003) in a society. The reasons why a number of bilingual writers have decided to write in their second languages are explored, and issues…

At many colleges, professors trained in the discipline of rhetoric and composition are finding that the specialized knowledge they bring to teaching writing is held in thrall to older notions of how students learn to write--what Linda Brodkey, an author and director of the Warren College Writing Program at the University of California at San…

A critical/creative paradigm in contemporary English carries with it an imperative that students should be given opportunities for deep engagement with texts relevant to what matters in their everyday lives. In this paper, I argue that the materiality of everyday life includes the physical and geographic places where we live. When students live in…

Based on an ethnographic study of a writing course taught by a talented instructor who integrated process and critical pedagogy approaches, I argue that many students actively engage with the concerns of critical pedagogy when the classroom ethos strongly supports their agency--their ownership of their developing ideas and texts. (Contains 10…

The author argues that 20th-century children's poetry is often ignored and that the emphasis on teaching the adult poetry canon can give children mistaken ideas about what poetry is. Poetry is not a collection of "classics" whose meanings must be explained but something written to capture thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Ideas for teaching…

After reading Kathryn Valentine's article that talked about her interaction with a Chinese student accused of plagiarism, the author was reminded of the effectiveness of student judicial boards. In this article, the author describes the benefits of having a student judicial board in fighting off plagiarism among students. She relates that although…

In this article, the author describes how she helped low-income high-school seniors draft application essays to selective colleges and ponders about an ethical quandary that has troubled her throughout the process. Directing a college-access program, the author stresses writing skills, a crucial component of success in college and a key to gaining…

The outgoing editorial team of Language Arts reflect on their insights about writing a manuscript for submission to a journal. They focus on patterns in the suggestions of reviewers and in their editorial letters over a five year period of time. They then discuss the range of decisions to consider related to planning and writing a draft,…

In this article, the author presents a debate discussing whether writing has nothing or everything to do with campus terrorism. Writing gives teachers a powerful tool to identify malfeasants and lunatics. Members of these groups have a need to disclose, to share their twisted thoughts as if to persuade people of their rationality. On the other…

The author analyzes his experiences teaching literature courses in which he encourages students to research works by people from their hometowns. He argues that relating literature to concepts of "home" makes English classes more accessible to students while also helping them reflect on important issues in ecocriticism. (Contains 31…

Since 1977-78, The USA National Dance Association (NDA) has selected one individual each year to receive an award as NDA Scholar and/or Artist and make a presentation at the association's annual meeting. The following essay was originally presented as the 1994 NDA Scholar's Lecture; a manuscript version has been published by that organization. The…

One way of helping faculty understand the integral role of writing in their various disciplines is to present disciplines as ways of doing, which links ways of knowing and writing in the disciplines. Ways of doing identified by faculty are used to describe broader generic and disciplinary structures, metagenres, and metadisciplines. The author…

In this essay, the author explains how teaching assistant (TA) unions work to the benefit not only of the graduate students who are their members but also of the writing programs that employ them. While university administrations understand unions to be bothersome at best and forces of evil at their worst, unions are essential to the maintenance…

Offers guidelines for choosing topics that are likely to yield potentially publishable papers, as well as suggestions about how to attempt to get "publishable" papers published. (HOD)

Discusses two senses of the word "community" (natural and elective) and how they influence writing. (MG)