College Composition and Communication
Sep 2008
Before Mina Shaughnessy: Basic Writing at Yale, 1920–1960
Kelly Ritter
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Abstract
This article examines Yale’s “Awkward Squad” of basic writers between 1920 and 1960. Using archival materials that illustrate the socioeconomic conditions of this early, “pre-Shaughnessy” site of remedial writing instruction, I argue for a re-definition of basic in composition studies using local, institutional values rather than generic standards of correctness applied uniformly to all colleges and universities.
- Journal
- College Composition and Communication
- Published
- 2008-09-01
- DOI
- 10.58680/ccc20086750
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