Based on a study of collected teaching statements, this article analyzes how compositionists use metaphors of writing and teaching to describe their pedagogical practice and philosophy. I argue that the interactive use of metaphors within teaching statements shows how a teacher's pedagogical identity is endorsed by disciplinary values.

Joanna Wolfe is Associate Professor of English at the University of Louisville where she teaches courses in rhetoric and composition, human-computer interaction, and research methods. She is author of the forthcoming textbook Team Writing from Bedford-St. Martin's, a guide to writing collaboratively and working on a team. Her previous scholarly work has appeared in journals such as Written Communication, Journal of Business and Technical Communication, and Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning.