As I work to finalize my FYC Syllabus, I’ve taken time to define the terms that influenced the direction I have chosen for my project.

They are:

James Kinneavy - Author of A Theory of Discourse and Founder of University of Texas PhD program in Rhetoric that lobbied for undergraduate writing courses that served students at every level. He promoted a theory of how contexts shape the purposes of writing reestablishing important connections between writing instruction and classical rhetoric. Kinneavy used the elements of the communication situation (audience, author, text, and referent) to develop a philosophy of the aims of discourse (persuasive, self-expressive, literary, and referential).

Rhetorical triangle – A graphical image used as a metaphor for the rhetorical situation showing the relationship between writer, audience, reality, and the text that exists as a means of communication between these elements. Kinneavy developed the rhetorical triangle based on the I. A. Richards’ work on language semiotics.

Technical writing – Technical writing is a style of writing that seeks to inform a user audience using various forms of media. This media may exist as either hard-copy or electronic content and will typically describe the function, use, and/or maintenance of products. Samples of technical writing can be found in product literature, user manuals, help systems, and web content.

Writing across the curriculum – Writing Across the Curriculum, abbreviated WAC, is a subfield of composition studies that emphasizes the need to teach students theories of writing that can be applied throughout their academic career in the various courses they may encounter. Through reading and writing in many different courses, students develop critical skills that enable them to better integrate into a chosen field.

Writing center – Writing centers are areas maintained by educational institutions that provide students with additional opportunities to learn about writing. Typical services of writing centers include editing and tutoring that provides feedback to students on their projects. Many writing centers have now developed Online Writing Labs to automate the process without the necessity of face-to-face interaction. These environments act as great learning tools for both those who seek and those who provide assistance.