Durst advocates taking seriously the pragmatic concerns of students that often frustrate composition teachers. He proposes a pedagogy of "reflective instrumentalism," an approach that accepts students' pragmatic reasons for studying composition but then attempts to add a critical, socially aware dimension to that careerist orientation. His pedagogy seeks to establish a truly common ground between student and teacher by welcoming, incorporating, and then building upon students' primary reasons for coming to college and studying composition. Collision Course will enable teachers to reconceptualize both the theory and practice of composition teaching.
208 pp. 1999. College. ISBN 0-8141-0742-7.
No. 07427