Beyond Grammar: Tracking Perceptions of Quality in Student E-mail

Brian D. Blackburne Sam Houston State University ; Carroll Ferguson Nardone Sam Houston State University

Abstract

This research explores a presumed link between today’s use of digital media and an ever-increasing lack of rhetorical awareness in students. Specifically, the study pilots a method for measuring rhetorical awareness through students’ e-mail transactions with faculty in technical writing service courses, questioning whether rhetorical awareness has decreased in the preceding 10 years. The findings indicate that students might be more rhetorically aware today than they were 10 years ago, but levels remain below expectations.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2018-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0047281617730532
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (31) · 5 in this index

  1. 10.1016/j.pragma.2008.09.010
  2. Philosophy and Rhetoric
  3. 10.2307/358602
  4. 10.7208/chicago/9780226099088.001.0001
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 31 →
  1. Txting: The gr8 db8
  2. 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2008.00475.x
  3. Drake, P. (2014, February 24). Is your use of social media FERPA compliant? Educause Re…
  4. Elgin, S. H. (1976) Why ‘Newsweek’ can’t tell us why Johnny can't write. The English Jo…
  5. 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
  6. Gross, A. G. (1996). The Rhetoric of Science . Cambridge, MA: Har…
  7. 10.2307/377282
  8. 10.2307/358988
  9. College Composition and Communication
  10. 10.2307/378062
  11. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  12. The structure of scientific revolutions
  13. Kynell-Hunt, T. & Savage G. J. (Eds.). (2003). Power and legitimacy in technical commun…
  14. Kynell-Hunt, T. & Savage G. J. (Eds.). (2004). Power and legitimacy in technical commun…
  15. Technical Communication Quarterly
  16. Technical Communication Quarterly
  17. 10.1080/00335638409383686
  18. Genre in the new rhetoric
  19. 10.4324/9781410603739
  20. Teens, social media, and privacy
  21. Plester, B. & Wood, C. (2009). Exploring relationships between traditional and new media literacies: British …
  22. 10.1007/978-1-137-07810-0_1
  23. Power and legitimacy in technical communication, Volume II: Strategies for professional status
  24. Sheils, M. (1975, December 8). Why Johnny can’t write. Newsweek ,…
  25. 10.1080/03634520802582598
  26. Undergraduate programs. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.attw.org/programs/academic-programs/undergraduate-p…