Reading Groups

The EMU Written Communication program hosts two reading-focused professional development groups that meet periodically throughout the year.  The meet-ups are open to all interested students and faculty (not limited to EMU).  For further information about each group's focus and design, contact Derek Mueller at derek.mueller -AT- emich.edu.

1. Opt/ORG - Optatio Reading Group
A graduate-student-led reading and blog carnival series. Generally, this group selects contemporary readings on theories and methods relevant to rhetoric and composition, technical and professional communication, and digital media and multimodal composition. Participants are encouraged (but not obligated) to post blog entries on scheduled readings in advance of a meet-up. Blog entries may offer commentary and response, pose questions, suggest linkages, or explore applications. To add a new blog entry to the list, simply send the link via email to derek.mueller -AT- emich.edu. To circulate a link via Twitter, use the hashtag #optorg.

Winter 2013
"Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences," Jacques Derrida
Friday, February 8, Corner Brewery, 3-5 p.m.

Fall 2012
"An Attempt at a Compositionist Manifesto," Bruno Latour
Friday, November 30, Corner Brewery, 3-5 p.m.

Summer 2012
Alien Phenomenology, Ian Bogost
Friday, July 13, Chs. 1-3, Corner Brewery, 4-6 p.m.
Friday, July 20, Chs. 4-5, Corner Brewery, 4-6 p.m.

2. Written Communication Reading Series
The Written Communication Reading Series provides a venue for conversations focused on specific articles or chapters related to rhetoric and composition, writing pedagogy, writing center theory and practice, writing program administration, cultural rhetorics, composition history, technical and professional communication, and digital media and multimodal composition. The series typically schedules two 90-minute events per semester and occasional summertime meetings. To suggest a reading, email derek.mueller -AT- emich.edu.

Winter 2013
"Selecting Genres for Transfer: The Role of Uptake in Students’ Antecedent Genre Knowledge," Angela Rounsaville
Friday, March 22, PH211, 12-1:30 p.m.

Fall 2012
"The Managerial Unconscious of Composition Studies," Donna Strickland
From Tenured Bosses and Disposable Teachers, Bosquet, Scott, and Parascondola, eds.
Friday, November 16, PH608, 12-1:30 p.m.

"Inventing the University," David Bartholomae
Friday, September 21, PH608, 12-1:30 p.m.