Knievel, M., & Sheridan-Rabideau, M. P. (2009). Articulating “Responsivity” in Context: Re-
making the M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric for the Electronic Age. Computers and
Composition, 26(1), 24-37. doi:10.1016/j.compcom.2008.11.003
Topic
Knievel and Sheridan-Rabideau discuss the importance of focusing on new media instruction in their department at the University of Wyoming to meet the needs of the State of Wyoming, the university, their department, and their program.
Research Question
The research question is stated in thesis form: “Given the unique character of our university and department, as well as the needs of our state, we see new media as a cornerstone for writing studies as it is formulated locally. This privileging of new media has direct implications not only for our program development but also, we believe, for the future of writing studies itself” (25).
Methodology
Knievel and Sheridan-Rabideau take a case study approach to looking at the importance of new media/multimodal composition in their curriculum. They break down their research into two focal points: first, “examining context, examining stakeholders” and second, “positioning new media” (25 & 31). They apply each of these focus areas to the various organizations which have a stake in university education: the State of Wyoming, the university, the English department, and the writing program. The authors discuss how the shift in emphasis (or additional emphasis) will impact the work of each sector. They use historical and speeches from their departments as data for their case study as well as using theoretical texts to apply to their findings.
Results
Knievel and Sheridan-Rabideau indicate that resituating writing studies will provide their program (and assumingly the field in general) will “assert our [UW Writing Program] independence from long-held notions about composition and writing studies’ role in the local departmental and institutional context—in order to insert writing studies into the broader conversation and innovation and responsivity in the university” (36). Furthermore, looking at writing studies through this new lens positions writing studies in the forefront of local and global contexts for students, citizens, and institutions outside the academy.
Authors Interpretation of Results
The authors’ interpretations were the results of the case study.
Suggested Further Research
The author’s indicate that research into other institutions and departments local context may also show the need to incorporate new media into their curriculum.
Critique
The author’s focus is on the specific context of the University of Wyoming, which provides an interesting case of how the work in the university directly impacts the constituents in the state. Knievel and Sheirdan-Rabideau use various types of data to support their work and keep their data set narrowly defined. This creates a well rounded analysis of their departments and its position in the larger framework of Wyoming’s state economy.
