Writing Inventions: Identities, Technologies, Pedagogies

Writing Inventions Writing Inventions: Identities, Technologies, Pedagogies Scott Lloyd DeWitt State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2001 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Judith Block Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data DeWitt, Scott Lloyd Writing inventions : identities, technologies, pedagogies / Scott Lloyd DeWitt. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-7914-5039-2 (alk. paper — ISBN 0-7914-5040-6 (pbk. : alk paper) 1. English language—Rhetoric—Study and teaching. 2. English language—Rhetoric—Study and teaching—Technological innovations. 3. English language—Rhetoric—Study and teaching—Data processing. 4. Report writing— Study and teaching (Higher)—Technological innovations. 5. Report writing— Study and teaching (Higher)—Data processing. 6. Hypertext systems. 7. World Wide Web. I. Title. PE1404 .D425 2001 808'.042'0285—dc21 10 9 8 7 6 5 00-061922 4 3 2 1 Contents Figures vii Author’s Note ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction: Inventing Ourselves 1 Inventing Audience Inventing Myself 1 Inventing Invention Contexts of Invention Moments of Invention A Point of Invention/Contention What Writers Do What Students Do—or Don’t Do The Technology of Invention 2 Inventing Discussions, Inventing Pedagogies A Comfortable Middle? Technology Round 1: An Invention Technology’s Second Round: A New (Re)Invention Integrating CmD: Sequencing Assignments Concluding Discussions Appendix: One Computer-Mediated Discussion on Computer-Mediated Discussion 6 11 17 19 22 24 30 37 43 51 53 57 72 83 94 95 vi Contents 3 Inventing Hypertext Reading Positioning the Web Web Workings Upgrades and Upshots Inventing Instructional Web Sites Inventing Method Multi-Tasking Applied Constructing Web Experiences Connecting the Disconnected Snapshots Conversing the Web Appendix: Possible Lives, Chapter 1—Los Angeles and the LA Basin 4 Inventing Hypertext Writing One Hypertext Application Designing a Hypertext Case Portrait: Devin Case Portrait: Daniel Case Portrait: Marie Case Portrait: Yvonne Case Portrait: Matthew Reflections and Conclusions 5 Inventing Scenes A Sequence of Assignments Understanding Students’ Inventions: Reading Their Work Concluding Reflections 109 114 116 118 120 124 126 132 137 149 160 175 177 183 188 193 197 201 205 210 217 220 237 256 Bibliography 263 Index 273 Figures 3.1 The Impulsive Model 3.2 The Reflective Model 3.3 The Reflective Model Extended 141 146 147 4.1 HyperCard Template 184 Author’s Note Writing Inventions: Identities, Pedagogies, Technologies uses student writing and interview transcripts extensively as data. A few points need to be clarified about the methodology: • I have chosen not to note errors in writing samples and interview transcripts with [sic]. • Readers should assume that err