ABSTRACT

This collection helps students and researchers understand the foundations of writing center studies in order to make sound decisions about the types of methods and theoretical lenses that will help them formulate and answer their research questions.

In the collection, accomplished writing center researchers discuss the theories and methods that have enabled their work, providing readers with a useful and accessible guide to developing research projects that interest them and make a positive contribution.

It introduces an array of theories, including genre theory, second-language acquisition theory, transfer theory, and disability theory, and guides novice and experienced researchers through the finer points of methods such as ethnography, corpus analysis, and mixed-methods research.

Ideal for courses on writing center studies and pedagogy, it is essential reading for researchers and administrators in writing centers and writing across the curriculum or writing in the disciplines programs.

chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction to the Collection

ByJo Mackiewicz, Rebecca Day Babcock

part I|97 pages

Theories

chapter 2|9 pages

Vygotskyan Learning Theory

ByJohn Nordlof

chapter 3|10 pages

Genre Theory

A Research Approach for Understanding Learning, Agency, and Materiality in the Writing Center
ByLayne Porta Gordon

chapter 4|10 pages

Writing Center Research and Critical Race Theory

ByFrankie Condon, Neisha-Anne Green, Wonderful Faison

chapter 5|8 pages

Category Is 1 . . . Queer Theory, Queering Research, and Queerer Centers

ByMitch Hobza, Harry Denny

chapter 6|11 pages

Bringing Feminist Theory Home

ByMichelle Miley

chapter 7|9 pages

Transfer Theory

A Guide to Transfer-Focused Writing Center Research
ByHeather N. Hill

chapter 8|11 pages

Writing Center Research and Disability Theory

ByNoah Bukowski, Brenda Jo Brueggemann

chapter 9|15 pages

Activity Theory

ByR. Mark Hall

chapter 10|12 pages

Second Language Acquisition Theories and Writing Center Research

ByCarol Severino, Emilia Illana-Mahiques

part II|118 pages

Methods

chapter 11|9 pages

Grounded Theory

Explanations and Possibilities
ByRebecca Day Babcock

chapter 12|15 pages

Ethnography—More or Less

ByKerri Jordan

chapter 13|8 pages

Histories, Historiographies, and Historical Research in the Writing Center

ByHarry Denny, Elizabeth Boquet

chapter 15|11 pages

Extending Our Research

Meta-Analysis in the Writing Center
BySteve Price

chapter 16|12 pages

Rhetorical Analysis

Choices in Exploring and Connecting Our Writing Center Studies and Stories
BySteven J. Corbett

chapter 18|13 pages

Corpus Approaches to Writing Center Research

ByRandall W. Monty

chapter 19|9 pages

Survey Methods for Research and Assessment in Writing Centers

ByLori Salem

chapter 20|11 pages

Mixed-Methods Research in Writing Centers

ByCara Marta Messina, Neal Lerner

chapter 21|6 pages

Conclusion

ByJo Mackiewicz, Rebecca Day Babcock