Technical Communication Quarterly Apr 2005

Building Context: Using Activity Theory to Teach About Genre in Multi-Major Professional Communication Courses

Donna Kain ; Elizabeth Wardle

Abstract

Instructors in multi-major professional communication courses are asked to teach students a variety of workplace genres. However, teaching genres apart from their contexts may not result in transfer of knowledge from school to workplace settings. We propose teaching students to research genre use via activity theory as a way of encouraging transfer. We outline theory and research relevant to teaching genre and provide results from a study using activity theory to teach genre in two different professional communication courses.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2005-04-01
DOI
10.1207/s15427625tcq1402_1
Open Access
Closed
Topics
genre theory professional writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (15)

  1. Omizo (2024)
    Automating Research in Business and Technical Communication: Large Language Mod…
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  2. Thominet (2020)
    We’ve Selected a Candidate Who More Closely Fits Our Current Needs: A Genre Ana…
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  3. Roderick (2019)
    Self-Regulation and Rhetorical Problem Solving: How Graduate Students Adapt to …
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  4. Lauer et al. (2019)
    Redefining Writing for the Responsive Workplace
    College Composition and Communication
  5. Findlay (2019)
    When Writers Aren’t Authors: A Qualitative Study of Unattributed Writers
    College English
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  1. Read et al. (2018)
    Hidden in plain sight: findings from a survey on the multi-major professional w…
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  2. Kimball (2017)
    The Golden Age of Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Kohn (2015)
    How Professional Writing Pedagogy and University–Workplace Partnerships Can Sha…
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  4. McNely et al. (2015)
    Contemporary Research Methodologies in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Watts et al. (2012)
    Pairing Courses Across the Disciplines
    Written Communication
  6. McNair et al. (2010)
    Activity Theory, Speech Acts, and the ‘‘Doctrine of Infelicity’’: Connecting La…
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  7. Walsh (2010)
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  8. Pickering (2009)
    Student Ethos in the Online Technical Communication Classroom: Diverse Voices
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  9. Knievel (2008)
    Rupturing Context, Resituating Genre
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  10. Dayton (2006)
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Cites in this index (2)

  1. Spinuzzi (1996)
    Pseudotransactionality, Activity Theory, and Professional Writing Instruction
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. FREEDMAN et al. (1994)
    Wearing Suits to Class
    Written Communication
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