Composition Theory

Course Schedule

August

Mo.22 Composition Theory?; Where does composition any field come from?
Introductory keywording and blurbs
Syllabus, projects, and schedule
Mapping composition pedagogies
Mo.29 Sampling Critical Pedagogy
Read: Patricia Bizzell, "Power, Authority, and Critical Pedagogy" (PDF, Canvas) [60]
Read: Patricia Bizzell, "Composition Studies Saves the World" (PDF, Canvas) [60]
Read: Ira Shor, "Critical Pedagogy Is Too Big to Fail" (PDF, Canvas) [60]

September

Mo.5 Labor Day - No classes
Mo.12 Mobilizing Democracy; Experience, Education, and Meraki (Gr.)
Read: John Dewey, Experience & Education [120]
Mo.19 Broadview (and Conferences on Zoom)
Read: Russel Durst, "Research in Writing, Postsecondary Education, 1984-2003" (Canvas, PDF*, [60])
Discuss (focus for conferences): Upcoming proposal for Composition Theory Geneaology Trace
Mo.26 Solidarities
Read: bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress, 1-110 [120]
Due (focus for conferences): Proposal for Composition Theory Geneaology Trace

October

Mo.3

Teacherly Goodwill; Potency of Love and Encouragement
Read: bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress, 111-207 [90]
Read: Sherri Craig, "embracing the erotic," Peitho (online) [15]
Read: Hephzibah Roskelly, "A Story of bell hooks," Peitho (online) [15]
Read: Sophia Greco, "Embracing a Pedagogy of Love and Grief," Peitho (online) [15]
Mo.10

Contextualizing Freire
Read: Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1-105 [120]
Mo.17

(Human) Possibility within Otherwise Interested Systems
Read: Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 106-164 [75]
Read: Kristopher Lotier, "On Not Following Freire: Foucault and the Critique of Human Capital" (PDF, Canvas) [60]
Mo.24 Language Rights I
Read: Carmen Kynard, Vernacular Insurrections, 1-147 [120]
Mo.31 Optional class - Halloween and Catch-up

November

Mo.7 Language Rights II
Read: Carmen Kynard, Vernacular Insurrections, 149-250 [120]
Due: Half drafts of Composition Theory Genealogy Trace for peer review
Mo.14 Myths and How+Why to Inquire Into Them
Read: Elizabeth Ellsworth, "Why Doesn't This Feel Empowering? Working Through the Repressive Myths of Critical Pedagogy," (PDF, Canvas) [60]
Read: Maha Bali, "Why Doesn’t This Feel Empowering? The Challenges of Web-based Intercultural Dialogue," (PDF, Canvas) [60]
Mo.21 Thanksgiving break - no classes
Mo.28 (Relatively) Long Chronologies and Change
Timeline

December

Mo.5 Multitemporal Horizons
Due: Full drafts of Composition Theory Genealogy Trace
Mo.12 Due: Reflection

Contact Information

Derek N. Mueller, PhD
Professor of Rhetoric and Writing
Director of the University Writing Program
Department of English
Virginia Tech
Office: 315 Shanks Hall
Fall 2022 Office Hours: T, 1-3:30
Phone: +1-734-985-0485
dmueller@vt.edu
http://derekmueller.net/rc/