ABSTRACT
This entry provides overviews on current genre theory and research that investigates texts in their social contexts. Specifically, the entry focuses on relevant theory in Rhetorical genre studies and Linguistics and provides illustrations from applied studies in Professional Communication and Composition research. Since much current research in genre theory utilizes social theories that deal with questions of structure and agency, relevant theories in that area are reviewed as well. Finally, the entry notes some of the pedagogical implications of genre research.
