ABSTRACT
Writing transfer is inherently complex. It involves approaching new and unfamiliar writing tasks through applying, remixing, or integrating previous knowledge, skills, strategies, and dispositions. Adaptive thinkers like Cody are the “ makers” of the educational world, reveling in creative redesigns of existing models. Cody's account of how he transferred rhetorical knowledge and skills acquired through an undergraduate humanities course to his new job working for the military beautifully illustrates the idea of integrative learning. Rhetoric is a powerful tool for seeing the big picture, for moving beyond a silo mentality toward a more interconnected understanding of our world. Students can write their responses to these questions before discussing their answers with a partner or a small group. The study of motifs is yet another way students can practice integrative thinking during a literature unit. Integrative thinking helps students understand the complexities of a text.
