Written Communication Apr 2005

Research in Activity:

Stephen P. Witte ; Christina Haas Kent State University

Abstract

This article traces the historical and conceptual development of what is known as activity theory, from Vygotsky and Luria, to A. N. Leont’ev, to Engeström, in order to illustrate what I see as two problems with the activity theoretic approach, especially as manifest in the work of Leont’ev and Engeström: what I call the boundary and/or focus problem and the unit-of-analysis problem. In the second half of the article, I explore the social semiotic of an everyday artifact, the “speed bump,” and introduce a discovery heuristic for examining how this artifact functions mediationally in human activity. In so doing, I have tried to discover activity through principled analysis, rather than assuming activity or activity system a priori.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2005-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088305274781
Open Access
Closed
Topics
genre theory multimodality race and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (9)

  1. Lindgren (2024)
    A Stasis Network Methodology to Reckon with the Rhetorical Process of Data: How…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Spinuzzi (2023)
    What Is a Workplace? Principles for Bounding Case Studies of Genres, Processes,…
    Written Communication
  3. Alexander et al. (2020)
    Toward Wayfinding: A Metaphor for Understanding Writing Experiences
    Written Communication
  4. Ching (2018)
    Tools Matter: Mediated Writing Activity in Alternative Digital Environments
    Written Communication
  5. Wickman (2015)
    Locating the Semiotic Power of Writing in Science
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Show all 9 →
  1. Povozhaev (2013)
    Metaphor as Emotive Change: A Triangulated Approach to Thought, Language, and E…
    Rhetoric Review
  2. Spinuzzi (2011)
    Losing by Expanding
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Bracewell (2005)
    Stephen P. Witte: (1943-2004) A Brief Biography
    Written Communication
  4. Brandt (2005)
    Writing for a Living
    Written Communication

Cites in this index (6)

  1. Bracewell et al. (2003)
    Tasks, Ensembles, and Activity
    Written Communication
  2. Haas (1999)
    On the relationship between old and new technologies
    Computers and Composition
  3. MYERS (1996)
    Out of the Laboratory and Down to the Bay
    Written Communication
  4. WITTE (1992)
    Context, Text, Intertext
    Written Communication
  5. Haas (1989)
    How the Writing Medium Shapes the Writing Process: Effects of Word Processing o…
    Research in the Teaching of English
Show all 6 →
  1. Haas et al. (1986)
    What Did I Just Say? Reading Problems in Writing with the Machine
    Research in the Teaching of English
Also cites 27 works outside this index ↓
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  2. 10.4324/9780203294543
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CrossRef global citation count: 30 View in citation network →

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