Examines the history of business communication principles. Concludes that principles developed for business communication found in early twentieth-century business communication textbooks can be traced to a 2000-year-old tradition of epistolographic writings. Notes that business communication in the twentieth century and the ancient…

Examines the history of business communication principles. Concludes that principles supposedly developed for business communication can be found in turn-of-the-century composition textbooks and can be traced to a 2000-year-old tradition of epistolographic writings. Questions the viability of principles whose validity depends on rhetorical…

Claims that the process approach to writing (1) suffers from methodological defects; (2) appears to be based on a number of mistakes about the nature of language and mind; and (3) may lead to contentless courses full of solipsistic students. Argues that, examined critically, process ideas have only limited usefulness in business communication. (JD)