This semester I have been exploring how different theories allow me to explore the writing center as an object of study. Different theories allowed me to look at different aspects of the writing center, helping to approach big picture issues or more narrow foci depending on the theory. All theories bring certain things into focus…
Writing Instructor & Scholar
Tag: Spinuzzi
Case Study 3: Ecology of the Writing Center
My first case study examined the writing center broadly using Foucault’s archaeological method. My second case study examined my specific writing center in light of Spinuzzi’s activity theory and Latour’s actor-network theory. These theoretical frameworks allowed me to examine either the discursive writing center (Foucault) or my specific writing center (Spinuzzi and Latour) in interesting…
ENGL 894 Reading Notes: Ecology (Week 11)
With our readings for this week I found myself thinking about connections to Spinuzzi and Latour, and ultimately my interest was in how humans were portrayed as part of ecosystems in the readings. I was really struck by an early passage from Spellman in which he provides a passage he believes helps explain ecology. He…
Case Study #2: Analyzing Action and Agency in the Writing Center with Spinuzzi and Latour
In my first case study which used Foucault’s archaeological method to analyze the writing center, I was able to focus on the discursive writing center, thinking about the ideal writing center versus actual local practices, therefore, examining the network of scholarship, ideas, and practices of writing centers. This method was very helpful for this big…
Case Study 2 Outline Responses
I looked at Megan’s and Adrienne’s outlines for Case Study 2. It was really interesting to view both of their outlines because Megan is using two theories that seem to really go together and work in conjunction (hypertext and ANT) while Adrienne is using two very different theories (Foucault and CHAT). Seeing both of these…
Case Study #2 Outline: Spinuzzi & Latour
Distinction between previous theoretical analysis through/application of Foucault which allowed examination of the discursive writing center and the present analysis using Spinuzzi and Latour, which allows for an activity or action focused network, bringing into focus a specific or local writing center as a network Spinuzzi: Nodes-situatedness & relationships network as a whole made up…
Case Study Responses & Assessment
I commented on Laurie’s case study. Since Laurie also used Foucault, it was really helpful to think about how we approached this theory differently, and at times seemed to reach different conclusions. Here is a link to my comment: http://lstankavich.blogspot.com/2016/02/894-case-study-1-foucault.html For the theory application assessment, I chose to examine Alex’s case study, so I created…
894 Reading Notes: Spinuzzi’s Genre Tracing (Week 5)
My notes this week will be a bit sparse because life happened this week, but I wanted to take some time to reflect on this week’s reading because I really liked it Spinuzzi’s Tracing Genres Through Organizations. Spinuzzi’s notion of changing the frame of the conversation in system design of one of workers as victims…
