Written Communication Apr 1994

Wearing Suits to Class: Simulating Genres and Simulations as Genre

AVIVA FREEDMAN ; CHRISTINE ADAM Carleton University ; GRAHAM SMART

Abstract

Using the theoretical perspective offered by recent genre studies, this study compares student and professional discourse within the same field through a set of case studies written for a third-year course in financial analysis—writing that was conceived and designed by the instructor to simulate workplace discourse. Observational and textual analyses revealed the radically distinct social action undertaken in this student writing as compared to related workplace discourse, despite the simulation. Social motives, exigent rhetorical contexts, social roles, and reading practices were all distinct in ways that profoundly affected both discourse processes and products. At the same time, certain commonalities were apparent in the student and workplace writing. These shared features point to ways in which student writing enables and enacts entry into sociocultural communities.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1994-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088394011002002
CompPile
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis professional writing
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Citation Context

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