Written Communication Oct 1989

Linguistics and Composition Instruction: 1950-1980

SHARON CROWLEY

Abstract

This article discusses the recommendations made by compositionists to import the findings of linguistics into composition instruction during the middle years of the twentieth century. The article classifies these recommendations for the uses of linguistics into three kinds: (1) improvement of instruction in grammar and usage; (2) enhancement of students' syntactic and stylistic repertoires; and (3) an aid to invention. Utilizing this history, the article argues that while linguistics can offer teachers of composition some assistance in matters that are proper to linguistic investigation and analysis, the noncontextual orientation of modern linguistics renders it insufficient as a comprehensive source of theoretical or practical assistance in composition instruction.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1989-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088389006004004
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
first-year composition grammar and mechanics
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Schneider (2018)
    Learning How to Support Multilingual Writers
    Pedagogy
  2. MATSUDA (1998)
    Situating ESL Writing in a Cross-Disciplinary Context
    Written Communication
  3. Nelms (1994)
    Reassessing Janet Emig'sthe composing processes of twelfth graders:An historica…
    Rhetoric Review
  4. WILLIAMS (1993)
    Rule-Governed Approaches to Language and Composition
    Written Communication

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CrossRef global citation count: 8 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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