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Basic Writing in America: The History of Nine College Programs

Title

Basic Writing in America: The History of Nine College Programs

Author(s)

Nicole Pepinster Greene and Patricia J. McAlexander, eds.

Journal?

Publication information

Hampton Press, 2008

Comments

In the introduction, the editors argue that basic writing programs—named and popularized by Mina Shaughnessy—involved a new concept of writing remediation. Receiving impetus from the American civil rights movement, these programs defined postsecondary education, not in terms of investment for society, but as an individual right. Indeed a major purpose of BW was to facilitate the integration of underrepresented groups into America’s colleges and universities.

     The chapters describe the ofen hostile resposnes to basic writing and its students; the low status of BW programs within English departments and universities; clashes with the BW field itself; pedagogical developments in composition as applied to BW; and the professionalization of BW faculty.  They also show, as years pass, the raising of college admission standards, the elimination or downsizing of BW programs, and the channeling of less qualified students to two-year colleges.  But at a number of institutions there ar also innovations and successes, including the emergence of a new type of BW program—one that is more integrated with the college or university and that offers learning support to a winder range of students.

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