Service Learning in the Introductory Technical Writing Class: A Perfect Match?

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2000

Service Learning in the Introductory Technical Writing Class: A Perfect Match?

Elisa Stone Salt Lake Community College

Abstract

Teachers at all levels of college instruction use service learning, a popular pedagogical tool since the mid-eighties, to teach students both social consciousness and pragmatic, real-world writing skills. This article explores the concept of service learning as rhetorical action in the field of technical communication in general, and the question of whether service learning is appropriate in beginning level technical writing courses. Using my experience through two years of service learning instruction in community college classes, I respond to the charge that students in lower-division courses may lack the maturity to successfully enact service learning assignments. I also analyze the appropriateness of the community college as a catalyst for community-based writing projects.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2000-10-01
DOI: 10.2190/9ed8-hek6-pddl-4gqb
Open Access: Closed
Topics: two-year college service learning technical communication community literacy

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Nielsen (2016)

Facilitating Service Learning in the Online Technical Communication Classroom

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (3)

Rehling (1998)

Exchanging Expertise: Learning from the Workplace and Educating it, Too

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Henson et al. (1998)

A Service Learning Approach to Business and Technical Writing Instruction

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Haussamen (1997)

Service Learning and First-Year Composition

Teaching English in the Two-Year College

Also cites 1 work outside this index ↓

10.2307/358562

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