Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2008

Police Reform, Task Force Rhetoric, and Traces of Dissent: Rethinking Consensus-as-Outcome in Collaborative Writing Situations

Michael Knievel Wyoming Department of Education

Abstract

Pedagogical and scholarly representations of collaborative writing and knowledge construction in technical communication have traditionally recognized consensus as the logical outcome of collaborative work, even as scholars and teachers have acknowledged the value of conflict and “dissensus” in the process of collaborative knowledge building. However, the conflict-laden work product of a Denver task force charged with recommending changes to the city police department's use-of-force policy and proposing a process for police oversight retains the collaborative group's dissensus and in doing so, illustrates an alternative method of collaborative reporting that challenges convention. Such an approach demonstrates a dissensus-based method of reporting that has the potential to open new rhetorical spaces for collaborative stakeholders by gainfully extending collaborative conversations and creating new opportunities for ethos development, thus offering scholars, teachers, and practitioners a way of reimagining the trajectory and outcome of collaborative work.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2008-10-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.38.4.c
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy argument collaborative writing technical communication
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Stevens (2022)
    “I Don't Have a Gun Stop Shooting”: Rhetorical Analysis of Law Enforcement Use …
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  2. Kim et al. (2014)
    Functional and Nonfunctional Quality in Cloud-Based Collaborative Writing: An E…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. Getto (2013)
    Networked knowledges: student collaborative digital composing as communicative action
    Communication Design Quarterly

References (56) · 9 in this index

  1. Allen N. (1987)
    What Experienced Collaborators Say about Collaboration
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Burnett R. E. (1993)
    Professional Communication: The Social Perspective
  3. Rymer J. (1993)
    Professional Communication: The Social Perspective
  4. Raymond et al. (1990)
    The collaborative process and professional ethics
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  5. Harris J. (1997)
    A Teaching Subject: Composition Since 1966
Show all 56 →
  1. 10.2307/377298
     ↗
  2. 10.2307/377955
     ↗
  3. Anderson P. V. (2003)
    Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach
  4. Farkas D. (1990)
    Collaborative Writing in Industry: Investigations in Theory and Practice
  5. Thompson (2001)
    Collaboration in technical communication: a qualitative content analysis of jou…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  6. Forman (1993)
    Task groups and their writing: Relationships between group characteristics and …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  7. Lay M. M. (1990)
    Collaborative Writing in Industry: Investigations in Theory and Practice
  8. Louth R. (1989)
    Collaborative Technical Writing: Theory and Practice
  9. Burnett et al. (1993)
    Collaboration in technical communication: A research continuum
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  10. Debs M. B. (1991)
    Technical Communication
  11. Jorn (1993)
    A selected annotated bibliography on collaboration in technical communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. Bosley D. S. (1991)
    Designing Effective Technical Communication Teams
    Technical Communication
  13. Rymer J. (1989)
    Collaborative Technical Writing: Theory and Practice
  14. Faigley L. (1985)
    Writing in Nonacademic Settings
  15. Thralls et al. (1993)
    The social perspective and pedagogy in technical communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  16. Bruffee (1984)
    Collaborative Learning and the "Conversation of Mankind"
    College English
  17. Ede et al. (1983)
    Why write . . . together?
    Rhetoric Review
  18. Morgan M. (1990)
    Collaborative Writing in Industry: Investigations in Theory and Practice
  19. Beard J. D. (1989)
    An Assessment System for Collaborative Writing Groups
    Theory and Empirical Evaluation
  20. Morgan M. (1991)
    Patterns of Composing: Connections between Classroom and Workplace Collaborations
    Technical Communication
  21. Weiss T. (1990)
    Collaborative Writing in Industry: Investigations in Theory and Practice
  22. Sullivan P. (1991)
    Collaboration Between Organizations: Contributions Outsiders Can Make to Negotiation and …
    Technical Communication
  23. Locker K. O. (1992)
    New Visions of Collaborative Writing
  24. Anderson P. V. (2007)
    Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach
  25. Markel M. (2003)
    Technical Communication
  26. Lannon J. M. (2004)
    Technical Communication
  27. Kelly S. and Robinson M. Shooting Provokes Outrage; Officer who Killed Disabled Teen Involved in Fatal Shooti…
  28. Litwin M. In the Midst of Pain Questions Remain Rocky Mountain News p. 6A July 12 2003.
  29. Crecente B. D. 50 Calls to Police; Childs Family Dialed 911 Frequently for Help with Teen Son Rocky Mountain …
  30. McPhee M. Police Employee Group will Pose Hurdle for Mayor Denver Post p. B-04 July 27 2003.
  31. Nicholson K. 200 March in Police Protest Denver Post p. B-01 October 21 2003.
  32. Weller R. (2003)
    Black Community Mourns as Disabled Teen is Buried
  33. Fong T. and Langbein S. Turney Case “Set Standard”; Safety Manager: Cop Made Tactical Errors Rocky Mountain N…
  34. Lindsay S. No Charges in Killing; Shooting of Black Teen a “Terrible Tragedy” But Not a Crime DA Says Denver …
  35. Gartner E. (2005)
    Suspension Overturned for Officer Accused of Shooting Disabled Teen
  36. Crecente B. D. 38 Members Named to Police Reform Panel; Hickenlooper Picks Cops Politicians Activists Officia…
  37. Crecente B. D. Police Reform on Fast Track; Hickenlooper Wants Group to Wrap Up its Work in 90 Days Rocky Mou…
  38. Ceja-Aragon R. “Police Review Task Force REVISED Meeting Minutes February 18 2004.” February 18 2004.
  39. Kirksey J. Cops Not Taught to Empty Guns When They Shoot Task Force Told; Training is Outlined for Panel Eyei…
  40. Alvarez F. C. “Minutes of Police Task Force Meeting 1-28-04.” January 28 2004.
  41. “Comments and Issues Recorded on the ‘Flip Charts’ During the February 11 2004 Task Force Meeting.” February …
  42. Hudson K. Report of Task Force Delayed Panel Suggesting Police Policy Changes Given Until May 12 Denver Post …
  43. Hudson K. Panelists End Work on Police Reforms; Cops on Task Force Walk Out in Protest; Among the Recommendat…
  44. Crecente B. D. Police Reform at an Impasse; Denver Task Force Can't Fully Agree on Recommendations Rocky Moun…
  45. Kohler J. (2004)
    Task Force Recommends Reforms for Denver Police
  46. Lent L. E. Mayor presents civilian oversight proposal Denver Government Website. http://www.denvergov.org/May…
  47. Clayton B. (2005)
    Political Happenings
    PPA Newsletter
  48. 10.1080/00335638409383686
     ↗
  49. Berkenkotter C. (1995)
    Genre Knowledge in Disciplinary Communication: Cognition/Culture/Power
  50. Knievel Michael
    Composing & Revising the Professional/Technical Writing Program
  51. Knievel (2006)
    Technology Artifacts, Instrumentalism, and the Humanist Manifestos: Toward an I…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Pedagogy Jan 2022
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis african american rhetorics decolonial rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education teacher development argument collaborative writing transfer assessment portfolios writing program administration writing centers peer tutoring technical communication professional writing archival research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric community literacy literary studies editorial matter
  2. College Composition and Communication Sep 2025
    From Cheating to Cheat Codes: Integrating Generative AI Ethics into Collaborative Learning ↗
    Kristi Girdharry
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy argument collaborative writing writing centers artificial intelligence literacy studies
  3. Pedagogy Apr 2024
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism feminist rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy creative writing teacher development collaborative writing assessment technical communication professional writing grammar and mechanics literacy studies gender and writing literary studies book reviews editorial matter
  4. Pedagogy Jan 2024
    The Radical Role of Student Writing in Composition ↗
    Jessica Masterson
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis cultural rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy graduate education teacher development argument collaborative writing professional writing grammar and mechanics literacy studies race and writing gender and writing
  5. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2023
    The State of UX Pedagogy ↗
    Philip B. Gallagher; Guiseppe Getto
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism discourse analysis writing pedagogy teacher development argument assessment technical communication book reviews