Thinking Globally, Composing Locally.
An Interview with Kirk St. Amant & Rich Rice, by Gustav Verhulsdonck
Directions: You end your introduction to the special issue of Computers and Composition by noting that the topic of "composing online for global audiences and contexts is a large one" (St. Amant & Rice, 2015, p. ix) and that you are simply starting the discussion. Where do you see future directions headed (e.g., new terminology, methodologies, study areas, etc.) and why is it important that compositionists discuss these issues now?
"I am happy to report that there is much being explored at conferences and in publication on this topic all the time. And many programs are working to extend intercultural communication to both graduate and undergraduate curricula, as well as expanding history of rhetoric emphasis to include Chinese, Asian, African, Australian, etc. rhetorical models."
-Rich Rice
RICH:
I am happy to report that there is much being explored at conferences and in publication on this topic all the time. And many programs are working to extend intercultural communication to both graduate and undergraduate curricula, as well as expanding history of rhetoric emphasis to include Chinese, Asian, African, Australian, etc. rhetorical models.
There's the May 2017 special issue of Technical Communication on globalizing/localizing user experience, guest edited by Guiseppe Getto and Huatong Sun. Articles in the issue explore software and hardware friction points, cultural knowledge or competencies, how "user friendliness" is defined, the impact of converging technology fields, the impact of translation processes, and processes involving localizing communities. The issue boasts 22 book reviews and summaries of 31 related articles, as well!
"Kirk and I have been working on an edited collection which uses the three Cs framework to categorize chapters. The edited collection Thinking Globally, Composing Locally: Re-thinking Online Writing in the Age of the Global Internet will be published with University of Colorado Press, and I hope you all look for it."
Kirk and I have been working on an edited collection which uses the three Cs framework to categorize chapters. The edited collection Thinking Globally, Composing Locally: Re-thinking Online Writing in the Age of the Global Internet will be published with University of Colorado Press, and I hope you all look for it. Under contact we have chapters on digital notebooks, experience mapping, literacy development, ePortfolios, and the 4C4Equality project. Under convey we have chapters on Internet-mediated learning environments, MOOCs, global information divides, actor-network theory, and digital composing practices. And under connect we have chapters on writing centers, social media tools, embodiment and activism, multimodal literacies, and Google apps for education. All of these are interesting friction points to explore and consider in a wide range of contexts. #selfpromotion
I also want to suggest checking out a few different book series through the WAC Clearinghouse. I'm involved with the Perspectives in Writing Series, with Sue McLeod, for instance, and we've published many books now that explore what I'd call localized friction points on topics like human and non-human writing partners, composition labor issues, information literacy, independent writing programs, writing transfer, common core and standardized testing, scientific writing, Writing Across Curriculum (WAC) partnerships, antiracist writing assessment, international advances in writing research, writing programs worldwide, ever-changing types of genre across the world, and more.
In addition to localized friction points, Terry Myers Zawacki, Magnus Gustafsson, and Joan Mullin are the editors of the International Exchanges on the Study of Writing book series. Really fine work, including chapters on what I'd call global friction points by key intercultural communication scholars. There is rich material in this series on international writing research issues, including specific areas like the Middle East-North Africa region. There are chapters regarding case studies on transformative practices, WAC models, Chinese rhetoric and writing, second-language writers, and more. The series has an international partnership where they share additional open-access books. And there's much more. You can find all of this open-access content through WAC Clearinghouse.
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—webtext & interview by Gustav Verhulsdonck 2017
