Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing

Tony Silva And Paul Kei Matsuda

Description

Theory has been used widely in the field of second language writing. Second language writing specialists—teachers, researchers, and administrators—have yet to have an open and sustained conversation about what theory is, how it works, and, more important, how to practice theory. Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing features fourteen essays by distinguished scholars in second language writing who explore various aspects of theoretical work that goes on in the field.

Informations

• Publié par: Parlor Press, LLC
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781602351400
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Silva and Practicing Theory
Matsuda
in Second Language Writing
Second Language Writing
Teory has been used widely in the feld of second language writing. Second
language writing specialists—teachers, researchers, and administrators—have yet
to have an open and sustained conversation about what theory is, how it works,
and, more important, how to practice theorPracticing y. Theory in Second Practicing TheoryLanguage Writing features fourteen essays by distinguished scholars in second
language writing who explore various aspects of theoretical work that goes on in
the feld.
in Second Language
Te key issues addressed inP racticing Theory in Second Language Writing
include the nature of theory in second language writing and the role theory plays
in second language writing research, instruction, and administration; th-e possibil
ity and desirability of developing a comprehensive theory or theories of second Writing
language writing; applications of theory, including the advantages, disadvantages,
and limitations of adapting theories from other areas of inquiry to second language
writing research, instruction, and assessment; theorizing and building t-heory, in
cluding the ways in which second language writing teachers, researchers,- and ad W
ministrators develop theories of second language writing, what a theory of second
language writing might look like; the relationship between the conceptual work
of theorizing and data-driven theory building; practicing theory, including how
second language writing teachers, researchers, and administrators might address
theory; the practical issues of learning to work with theory; and the ways that
theory informs instruction and administration as well as materials development. L
Contributors include Dwight Atkinson, Diane Belcher, A. Suresh Canagarajah, 2
Joan Carson, Deborah Crusan, Alister Cumming, Doug Flahive, Lynn M.
Goldstein, Linda Harklau, John Hedgcock, Alan Hirvela, Ryuko Kubota, Paul
Kei Matsuda, Lourdes Ortega, Dudley W. Reynolds, Tony Silva, Christine Tardy,
Gwendolyn Williams, and Wei Zhu.
WSecond Language Writing
Series Editor, Paul Kei Matsuda Edited byL2 Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda
816 Robinson Street
West Lafayette, IN 47906
www.parlorpress.com Parlor
S A N: 2 5 4 - 8 8 7 9
Press
ISBN 978-1-60235-140-0Second Language Writing
Series Editor, Paul Kei Matsuda
Second language writing emerged in the late twentieth century as
an interdisciplinary field of inquiry, and an increasing numb- er of re
searchers from various related fields—including applied linguistics,
communication, composition studies, and education—have come to
identify themselves as second language writing specialists. The Second
Language Writing series aims to facilitate the advancement -of knowl
edge in the field of second language writing by publishing scholarly
and research-based monographs and edited collections that provide
significant new insights into central topics and issues in the field.
Books in the Series
The Politics of Second Language Writing: In Search of the Promised
Land, edited by Paul Kei Matsuda, Christina Ortmeier-Hooper,
and Xiaoye You (2006)
Building Genre Knowledge, Christine M. Tardy (2009)
Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing, edited by Tony Silva
and Paul Kei Matsuda (2010)Practicing Teory in Second
Language Writing
Edited by
Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda
Parlor Press
West Lafayette, Indiana
www.parlorpress.comFor Gus Entler
Parlor Press LLC, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
© 2010 by Parlor Press
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
S A N: 2 5 4 - 8 8 7 9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Practicing theory in second language writing / edited by Tony Silva and
Paul Kei Matsuda.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60235-138-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60235-139-4
(hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60235-140-0 (adobe ebook : alk.
paper)
1. Language and languages--Study and teaching--Research. 2.
Rhetoric-Study and teaching--Research. 3. Second language acquisition--Research.
I. Silva, Tony. II. Matsuda, Paul Kei.
P53.27.P73 2009
418.0071--dc22
2009043991
Cover design by Paul Kei Matsuda and David Blakesley
Printed on acid-free paper.
Parlor Press, LLC is an independent publisher of scholarly and trade titles
in print and multimedia formats. This book is available in paper, hardcover,
and Adobe eBook formats from Parlor Press on the World Wide Web
at http://www.parlorpress.com or through online and brick-and mortar
bookstores. For submission information or to find out about Parlor Press
publications, write to Parlor Press, 816 Robinson St., West Lafayette,
Indiana, 47906, or e-mail [e-mail]
Introduction vii
Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda
Part I. The Nature and Role of Theory in
Second Language Writing 3
1 Between Theory with a Big T and Practice with
a Small p: Why Theory Matters 5
Dwight Atkinson
2 Theories, Frameworks, and Heuristics: Some Reflections
on Inquiry and Second Language Writing 1 9
Alister Cumming
3 Multicompetence, Social Context, and L2
Writing Research Praxis 48
Lourdes Ortega and Joan Carson
4 Finding “Theory” in the Particular: An “Autobiography” of
What I Learned and How about Teacher Feedbac k7 2
Lynn M. Goldstein
Part II. Reflections on Theoretical Practices 91
5 Practicing Theory in Qualitative Research on
Second Language Writing 93
Linda Harklau and Gwendolyn Williams
6 Cleaning up the Mess: Perspectives from a
Novice Theory Builder 1 12
Christine Tardy
7 A Reconsideration of Contents of “Pedagogical
Implications” and “Further Research Needed” Moves
in the Reporting of Second Language Writing Research
and Their Roles in Theory Buildin g1 26
Doug Flahive
vvi Contents
8 Beyond Texts: A Research Agenda for Quantitative Research
on Second Language Writers and Readers 15 9
Dudley W. Reynolds
9 Ideology and Theory in Second Language
Writing: A Dialogical Treatment 17 6
A. Suresh Canagarajah
10 Critical Approaches to Theory in Second Language
Writing: A Case of Critical Contrastive Rhetor i1c9 1
Ryuko Kubota
11 Theory and Practice in Second Language Writing:
How and Where Do They Meet? 2 09
Wei Zhu
12 Theory-and-Practice and Other Questionable
Dualisms in L2 Writing 229
John Hedgcock
13 Assess Thyself Lest Others Assess Th ee2 45
Deborah Crusan
14 “Do I Need a Theoretical Framework?” Doctoral
Students’ Perspectives on the Role of Theory in
Dissertation Research and Writing 26 3
Diane Belcher and Alan Hirvela
Contributors 285
Index 291
About the Editors 313Introduction
Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda
The Issues
Theory is a term that has been used widely in the field of se-cond lan
guage writing. Yet, partly due to the interdisciplinary nature of the
field, the term often means different things to different people. Second
language writing specialists—teachers, researchers and ad- ministra
tors—have yet to have an open and sustained conversation about what
theory is, how it works, and, more important, how to practice theory.
This collection will feature fifteen chapters by distingu- ished schol
ars in second language writing who will explore various aspe-cts of the
oretical work that goes on in the field. The authors of the first four
chapters address the nature and role of theory in second lan-guage writ
ing. The authors of the next nine chapters reflect on thei-r own theo
retical practices. The authors of the final chapter take up the issue of
theory in writing dissertations on second language writing.
Some of the key questions explored in this collection include the
following:
• The Nature of TheoryW. hat is the nature of theory in second
language writing? What role does theory play in sec-ond lan
guage writing research, instruction, and administration? Is it
possible (or even desirable) to develop a comprehensive theory
or theories of second language writing?
• Applied Theories. How do various theories from other areas of
inquiry inform second language writing research, instruction,
and assessment? What are some of the advantages of usi-ng theo
ries from other fields? What are some of the limitations? How
can the value of new theoretical perspectives be assessed?
viiviii Introduction
• Theorizing and Theory BuildingH. ow do second language w- rit
ing teachers, researchers, and administrators develop theories of
second language writing? What might a theory of sec-ond lan
guage writing look like? What is the relationship between the
conceptual work of theorizing and data-driven theo-ry build
ing?
• Practicing Theor. y How might second language writing t-each
ers, researchers, and administrators deal with theory? What are
some of the practical issues that arise in working with various
types of theory? How do second language writing speci