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I found the articles for this week extremely engaging, and as someone who continues to develop interest in digital rhetoric and technical communication, I found them helpful in continuing to establish themes and subject-areas of study within the field. Michael Warner’s piece, “Publics and Counter Publics,” while dense, is extremely beneficial to me as a scholar and a teacher. I am teaching ENG 145: Writing in the Academic Disciplines this semester and their first project is a public argument. The assignment calls for the composition of a polemic for the class or opinion editorial for The Vidette, ISU’s student newspaper, or another public forum, possibly digital, in which they wish to publish (even if they do not submit their work for publication). Of course, I want the students to consider rhetorical concepts such as purpose and audience, but Warner’s article has given me so much to think about in terms of how I present the idea of the public argument in the composition classroom with consideration to what a public really is and how publics function in society. I drew a similar connection to “Kairos and the Public Sphere” by David Sheridan, et al. I was thinking as I was reading how to present the different perspectives of Kairos to a class such as my 145 class, for I think they would enjoy discussing the different perceptions of Kairos. Basically, I think the discussion would be more fruitful than the discussions in my 101 or 101.10 classes where I introduce Kairos as a more the “opportune moment.” In expanding the Kairos conversation, students might find more comfort in this assignment as they choose the type of argumentative strategy and the public forum in which to pursue publication. James J. Brown’s work from Ethical Programs also gave me a great deal to think about concerning the ethical implications of digital communities, something which I hope to learn more about as this semester continues. I am glad that these readings are not only enhancing my work as a scholar within the field of rhetoric and composition, but that I am also able to draw parallels to the work I am doing in the composition classroom. Moreover, these ideas are informing my pedagogy, which, in turn, makes me a more engaging, innovative instructor. I mentioned above that Warner’s work was dense, and I stand by my assertion; however, I did appreciate the numerical layout of the different points which define a public. Sheridan et al. and Brown were easier reading, but the ideas presented within were no less enlightening. While I was perusing Brown’s work, I could not help but think of the singer James Brown, due to the similarities in their names. So, to borrow a well-known song lyric from “the Godfather of Soul” James Brown, I feel like now is the time to “Say It Loud”: I think I am a Digital Rhetoric/Technical Communication Scholar. And it feels good to be finding my place in the field of Rhetoric and Composition studies!
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Charles WoodsPhD student focusing on Rhetoric, Composition, and Technical Communication at Illinois State University. Archives
October 2019
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