What does the field treat as foundational — and is that different from what we assume? These rankings reflect citation counts within the discipline's own journals, not Google Scholar's cross-disciplinary totals. An article cited 200 times across CCC, College English, and Written Communication tells a different story than one cited 200 times from linguistics or education. This is the field citing itself — the closest approximation we have to what rhetoric and composition actually considers essential reading.
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About this data: which journals have citation coverage?
Full citation data available
Journal Articles With references Coverage
College Composition and Communication 6937 6937 100.0%
College English 10670 10670 100.0%
Community Literacy Journal 465 465 100.0%
Computers and Composition 1649 1649 100.0%
Journal of Business and Technical Communication 1049 1049 100.0%
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 1531 1531 100.0%
Pedagogy 1141 1141 100.0%
Philosophy & Rhetoric 691 691 100.0%
Poroi 259 259 100.0%
Research in the Teaching of English 1678 1678 100.0%
Rhetoric & Public Affairs 733 733 100.0%
Rhetoric Review 1387 1387 100.0%
Teaching English in the Two-Year College 1513 1513 100.0%
Technical Communication Quarterly 1110 1110 100.0%
Written Communication 895 895 100.0%
Rhetoric Society Quarterly 1764 1763 99.9%
No DOIs (web-only journals)
Journal Articles With references Coverage
Basic Writing e-Journal 560 0 —
Composition Forum 48 0 —
Composition Studies 325 0 —
Enculturation 165 0 —
Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics 55 0 —
KB Journal: The Journal of the Kenneth Burke Society 339 0 —
Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy 63 0 —
Literacy in Composition Studies 191 0 —
Praxis: A Writing Center Journal 199 0 —
Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society 241 0 —
Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric 553 0 —
The Peer Review 26 0 —
Writing Center Journal 131 0 —
Writing Lab Newsletter 354 0 —
Citation data comes from CrossRef, which aggregates reference lists deposited by publishers. Some publishers in the index — particularly Sage and Taylor & Francis — deposit complete reference lists for their journals. Others, including some open-access and society-published journals, deposit DOIs but not reference lists. Web-only journals without DOIs cannot contribute citation data at all, though they can still appear as cited works when other journals reference them. The citation network and 'Most Cited' rankings therefore reflect a partial picture, weighted toward journals whose publishers participate fully in CrossRef's reference deposit system. This is a limitation of the available infrastructure, not a judgment about the value of any journal's scholarship.
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Jenny Edbauer
2005
Cited by 115
Written Communication
1
DAVID R. RUSSELL
1997
Cited by 108
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Natasha N. Jones et al.
2016
Cited by 106
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Angela M. Haas
2012
Cited by 99
College English
1
Kenneth A. Bruffee
1984
Cited by 95
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Natasha N. Jones
2016
Cited by 93
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Godwin Y. Agboka
2013
Cited by 83
Written Communication
1
CATHERINE F. SCHRYER
1993
Cited by 72
2
JEANNE FAHNESTOCK
1986
Cited by 71
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
JENNIFER DARYL SLACK et al.
1993
Cited by 64
2
Carolyn D. Rude
2009
Cited by 63
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Johndan Johnson-Eilola
1996
Cited by 63
Written Communication
1
Peter Smagorinsky
2008
Cited by 60
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Jeffrey T. Grabill et al.
1998
Cited by 60
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Godwin Y. Agboka
2014
Cited by 58
Written Communication
1
STEPHEN P. WITTE
1992
Cited by 54
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Miles A. Kimball
2006
Cited by 53
College English
1
Marilyn M. Cooper et al.
1990
Cited by 51
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Carolyn R. Miller
2007
Cited by 50
Written Communication
1
STEPHEN DOHENY-FARINA
1986
Cited by 47
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Robert J. Connors
1982
Cited by 47
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Kelli Cargile Cook
2002
Cited by 45
Computers and Composition
1
James E. Porter
2009
Cited by 43
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Clay Spinuzzi
2007
Cited by 43
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Anne J. Herrington
1985
Cited by 43
College Composition and Communication
1
Cynthia L. Selfe
2009
Cited by 42
Written Communication
1
Richard H. Haswell
2005
Cited by 41
2
CHRIS M. ANSON et al.
1990
Cited by 41
College Composition and Communication
1
Marilyn M. Cooper
2011
Cited by 40
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Huatong Sun
2006
Cited by 40
Written Communication
1
LINDA FLOWER et al.
1984
Cited by 40
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Sondra Perl
1979
Cited by 40
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Cecilia Shelton
2020
Cited by 39
2
Huiling Ding
2009
Cited by 39
3
Katherine T. Durack
1997
Cited by 39
Written Communication
1
AVIVA FREEDMAN et al.
1994
Cited by 39
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Lucille Parkinson McCarthy
1987
Cited by 39
Written Communication
1
GREG MYERS
1985
Cited by 39
Rhetoric Review
1
James E. Porter
1986
Cited by 38
Computers and Composition
1
Kristin L. Arola
2010
Cited by 37
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Christina Haas et al.
2001
Cited by 37
Computers and Composition
1
Stephanie Vie
2008
Cited by 36
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Michael J. Salvo
2001
Cited by 36
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Emma J. Rose
2016
Cited by 35
College English
1
Bruce Horner et al.
2011
Cited by 35
Computers and Composition
1
Gunther Kress
2005
Cited by 35
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Bernadette Longo
1998
Cited by 35
College Composition and Communication
1
Dànielle Nicole DeVoss et al.
2005
Cited by 34
2
Cynthia L. Selfe et al.
1994
Cited by 34
Rhetoric Review
1
Janice M. Lauer
1984
Cited by 34
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Amy Koerber
2006
Cited by 32
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Doreen Starke-Meyerring
2005
Cited by 32
Written Communication
1
Glynda A. Hull et al.
2005
Cited by 32
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
J. Blake Scott
2004
Cited by 32
Rhetoric Review
1
Nedra Reynolds
1993
Cited by 32
Written Communication
1
JEANNE FAHNESTOCK et al.
1988
Cited by 32
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Jared S. Colton et al.
2017
Cited by 31
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Natasha N. Jones
2016
Cited by 31
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Catherine F. Schryer et al.
2005
Cited by 31
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Avery C. Edenfield et al.
2019
Cited by 30
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Jared S. Colton et al.
2018
Cited by 30
Computers and Composition
1
Estee N. Beck
2015
Cited by 30
College Composition and Communication
1
W. Michele Simmons et al.
2007
Cited by 30
Computers and Composition
1
Johndan Johnson-Eilola et al.
2007
Cited by 30
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Cheryl Geisler et al.
2001
Cited by 30
Written Communication
1
DOROTHY A. WINSOR
1999
Cited by 30
2
CAROL BERKENKOTTER et al.
1993
Cited by 30
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Jason Swarts
2010
Cited by 29
2
Stuart Blythe et al.
2008
Cited by 29
College Composition and Communication
1
Jody Shipka
2005
Cited by 29
Written Communication
1
CAROL BERKENKOTTER
2001
Cited by 29
Rhetoric Review
1
S. Michael Halloran
1984
Cited by 29
Philosophy & Rhetoric
1
Nathan Stormer et al.
2017
Cited by 28
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Erin A. Frost
2016
Cited by 28
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Marie C. Paretti et al.
2007
Cited by 28
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Christian Lundberg et al.
2005
Cited by 28
Written Communication
1
CHRISTINA HAAS
1994
Cited by 28
Computers and Composition
1
Susan Romano
1993
Cited by 28
Rhetoric Review
1
S. Michael Halloran
1982
Cited by 28
Computers and Composition
1
Kevin Brock et al.
2016
Cited by 27
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Rebecca Walton et al.
2015
Cited by 27
Computers and Composition
1
Jeffrey T. Grabill
2003
Cited by 27
Rhetoric Review
1
James J. Murphy et al.
1988
Cited by 27
College Composition and Communication
1
Asao B. Inoue
2019
Cited by 26
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Miles A. Kimball
2017
Cited by 26
Computers and Composition
1
Laurie E. Gries
2013
Cited by 26
2
J. Elizabeth Clark
2010
Cited by 26
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Dorothy A. Winsor
2001
Cited by 26
2
Dorothy A. Winsor
1990
Cited by 26
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Lee Odell et al.
1982
Cited by 26
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Natasha N. Jones
2017
Cited by 25
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
S. Scott Graham et al.
2015
Cited by 25
2
Stacey Pigg
2014
Cited by 25
Written Communication
1
Mary Jo Reiff et al.
2011
Cited by 25
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Andrew Mara et al.
2009
Cited by 25
College Composition and Communication
1
Douglas Downs et al.
2007
Cited by 25
2
Mary Sue MacNealy
1999
Cited by 25
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
PATRICIA A. SULLIVAN et al.
1993
Cited by 25
Written Communication
1
MARTIN NYSTRAND
1989
Cited by 25
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Lisa Meloncon et al.
2019
Cited by 24
Computers and Composition
1
John R. Gallagher
2017
Cited by 24
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Rebecca Walton
2016
Cited by 24
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Carlos Evia et al.
2012
Cited by 24
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
S. Scott Graham
2009
Cited by 24
2
William Hart-Davidson et al.
2007
Cited by 24
3
Jason Palmeri
2006
Cited by 24
4
Melody Bowdon
2004
Cited by 24
5
Emily A. Thrush
1993
Cited by 24
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
MARY M. LAY
1991
Cited by 24
College Composition and Communication
1
Linda Flower
1989
Cited by 24
Written Communication
1
DOROTHY A. WINSOR
1989
Cited by 24
Rhetoric Review
1
Casie Cobos et al.
2018
Cited by 23
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Brian McNely et al.
2015
Cited by 23
College Composition and Communication
1
Nathaniel A. Rivers et al.
2011
Cited by 23
Rhetoric Review
1
Jay Dolmage
2009
Cited by 23
College Composition and Communication
1
Michael Carter
2007
Cited by 23
2
A. Suresh Canagarajah
2006
Cited by 23
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
R. Peter Hunsinger
2006
Cited by 23
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Catherine F. Schryer
2000
Cited by 23
Computers and Composition
1
Pamela Takayoshi
1999
Cited by 23
2
Robert R. Johnson
1997
Cited by 23
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Clay Spinuzzi
1996
Cited by 23
Computers and Composition
1
Pamela Takayoshi
1994
Cited by 23
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
BEVERLY A. SAUER
1993
Cited by 23
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Gail E. Hawisher
1987
Cited by 23
College Composition and Communication
1
Linda Flower et al.
1981
Cited by 23
2
Holly Hassel et al.
2013
Cited by 22
3
Richard Marback
2009
Cited by 22
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Dorothy Winsor
2006
Cited by 22
Computers and Composition
1
Dànielle Nicole DeVoss et al.
2006
Cited by 22
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Ann M. Blakeslee et al.
2004
Cited by 22
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Greg Wilson
2001
Cited by 22
College Composition and Communication
1
Krista Ratcliffe
1999
Cited by 22
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Christina Haas et al.
1986
Cited by 22
Rhetoric Review
1
Jim W. Corder
1985
Cited by 22
College Composition and Communication
1
Richard M. Collier
1983
Cited by 22
College English
1
Douglas B. Park
1982
Cited by 22
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Sarah Hallenbeck
2012
Cited by 21
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Amber Buck
2012
Cited by 21
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
W. Michele Simmons et al.
2012
Cited by 21
2
Shaun Slattery
2007
Cited by 21
3
Lee Brasseur
2005
Cited by 21
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Cheryl Geisler
2004
Cited by 21
Computers and Composition
1
Anne Frances Wysocki et al.
2004
Cited by 21
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Ellen Barton
2004
Cited by 21
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Ann M. Blakeslee
2001
Cited by 21
Pedagogy
1
George Levine
2001
Cited by 21
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Jeffrey T. Grabill
2000
Cited by 21
2
Charlotte Thralls et al.
1993
Cited by 21
Written Communication
1
CYNTHIA L. SELFE et al.
1991
Cited by 21
Computers and Composition
1
Gail E. Hawisher
1988
Cited by 21
Written Communication
1
JOHN SWALES et al.
1987
Cited by 21
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Karma R. Chávez
2018
Cited by 20
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Stuart Blythe et al.
2014
Cited by 20
College Composition and Communication
1
James P. Purdy
2014
Cited by 20
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Chad Wickman
2014
Cited by 20
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Clay Spinuzzi
2012
Cited by 20
Written Communication
1
Clay Spinuzzi
2010
Cited by 20
Computers and Composition
1
Gina Maranto et al.
2010
Cited by 20
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Jason Swarts
2007
Cited by 20
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Miles A. Kimball
2006
Cited by 20
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Nancy Allen et al.
2004
Cited by 20
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Dànielle Devoss et al.
2002
Cited by 20
2
Danette Paul et al.
2001
Cited by 20
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Gerard A. Hauser
1999
Cited by 20
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
AVIVA FREEDMAN et al.
1996
Cited by 20
Written Communication
1
DOROTHY A. WINSOR
1994
Cited by 20
Computers and Composition
1
Joseph Janangelo
1991
Cited by 20
Research in the Teaching of English
1
Christina Haas
1989
Cited by 20
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
1
Miles A. Kimball
2017
Cited by 19
Computers and Composition
1
Michael-John DePalma et al.
2015
Cited by 19
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
Joanna Wolfe
2015
Cited by 19
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Sarah Read et al.
2015
Cited by 19
College Composition and Communication
1
Stacey Pigg
2014
Cited by 19
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Erin A. Frost
2013
Cited by 19
2
Shannon Walters
2010
Cited by 19
College Composition and Communication
1
Elizabeth Wardle
2009
Cited by 19
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
J. Blake Scott
2008
Cited by 19
Written Communication
1
Theresa Lillis
2008
Cited by 19
2
Jeff Bezemer et al.
2008
Cited by 19
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Carolyn D. Rude
2004
Cited by 19
2
David Alan Sapp et al.
2002
Cited by 19
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Carol Mattingly
2002
Cited by 19
Computers and Composition
1
Anne Frances Wysocki
2001
Cited by 19
Written Communication
1
BEVERLY SAUER
1998
Cited by 19
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
1
THOMAS N. HUCKIN
1997
Cited by 19
Written Communication
1
DAVID S. KAUFER et al.
1989
Cited by 19
College Composition and Communication
1
Mike Rose
1980
Cited by 19
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
S. Scott Graham et al.
2022
Cited by 18
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
1
Casey Boyle et al.
2018
Cited by 18
Computers and Composition
1
Derek M. Sparby
2017
Cited by 18
2
Carrie S. Leverenz
2014
Cited by 18
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Derek Van Ittersum
2014
Cited by 18
College Composition and Communication
1
Malea Powell
2012
Cited by 18
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Doreen Starke-Meyerring et al.
2007
Cited by 18
College Composition and Communication
1
Kathleen Blake Yancey
2004
Cited by 18
Technical Communication Quarterly
1
Dave Clark
2004
Cited by 18
Written Communication
1
DOROTHY A. WINSOR
2000
Cited by 18
Computers and Composition
1
Christina Haas
1999
Cited by 18
Written Communication
1
JEANNE FAHNESTOCK
1998
Cited by 18