Second Language Writing Matsuda Silva Theory has been used widely in the field of second language writing. Second language writing specialists—teachers, researchers, and administrators—have yet and to have an open and sustained conversation about what theory is, how it works, and, more important, how to practice theory. Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing features fourteen essays by distinguished scholars in second Practicing Theory language writing who explore various aspects of theoretical work that goes on in in Second Language Writing Language in Second Theory Practicing the field. The key issues addressed inPracticing Theory in Second Language Writing in Second Language include the nature of theory in second language writing and the role theory plays in second language writing research, instruction, and administration; the possibil- ity and desirability of developing a comprehensive theory or theories of second language writing; applications of theory, including the advantages, disadvantages, Writing and limitations of adapting theories from other areas of inquiry to second language writing research, instruction, and assessment; theorizing and building theory, in- cluding the ways in which second language writing teachers, researchers, and ad- W ministrators develop theories of second language writing, what a theory of second language writing might look like; the relationship between the conceptual work of theorizing and data-driven theory building; practicing theory, including how second language writing teachers, researchers, and administrators might address theory; the practical issues of learning to work with theory; and the ways that theory informs instruction and administration as well as materials development. Contributors include Dwight Atkinson, Diane Belcher, A. Suresh Canagarajah, Joan Carson, Deborah Crusan, Alister Cumming, Doug Flahive, Lynn M. Goldstein, Linda Harklau, John Hedgcock, Alan Hirvela, Ryuko Kubota, Paul L Kei Matsuda, Lourdes Ortega, Dudley W. Reynolds, Tony Silva, Christine Tardy, 2 Gwendolyn Williams, and Wei Zhu. Second Language Writing W Series Editor, Paul Kei Matsuda Edited by L2 Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda 816 Robinson Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 www.parlorpress.com Parlor S A N: 2 5 4 - 8 8 7 9 ISBN 978-1-60235-140-0 Press Second Language Writing Series Editor, Paul Kei Matsuda Second language writing emerged in the late twentieth century as an interdisciplinary field of inquiry, and an increasing number of re- searchers from various related fields—including applied linguistics, communication, composition studies, and education—have come to identify themselves as second language writing specialists. The Second Language Writing series aims to facilitate the advancement of knowl- edge in the field of second language writing by publishing scholarly and research-based monographs and edited collections that provide significant new insights into central topics and issues in the field. Books in the Series The Politics of Second Language Writing: In Search of the Promised Land, edited by Paul Kei Matsuda, Christina Ortmeier-Hooper, and Xiaoye You (2006) Building Genre Knowledge, Christine M. Tardy (2009) Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing, edited by Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda (2010) Practicing Theory in Second Language Writing Edited by Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda Parlor Press West Lafayette, Indiana www.parlorpress.com For Gus Entler Parlor Press LLC, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 © 2010 by Parlor Press All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America S A N: 2 5 4 - 8 8 7 9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Practicing theory in second language writing / edited by Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60235-138-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60235-139-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60235-140-0 (adobe ebook : alk. paper) 1. Language and languages--Study and teaching--Research. 2. Rhetoric- -Study and teaching--Research. 3. Second language acquisition--Research. I. Silva, Tony. II. Matsuda, Paul Kei. P53.27.P73 2009 418.0071--dc22 2009043991 Cover design by Paul Kei Matsuda and David Blakesley Printed on acid-free paper. Parlor Press, LLC is an independent publisher of scholarly and trade titles in print and multimedia formats. This book is available in paper, hardcover, and Adobe eBook formats from Parlor Press on the World Wide Web at http://www.parlorpress.com or through online and brick-and mortar bookstores. For submission information or to find out about Parlor Press publications, write to Parlor Press, 816 Robinson St., West Lafayette, Indiana, 47906, or e-mail [email protected]. Contents Introduction vii Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda Part I. The Nature and Role of Theory in Second Language Writing 3 1 Between Theory with a Big T and Practice with a Small p: Why Theory Matters 5 Dwight Atkinson 2 Theories, Frameworks, and Heuristics: Some Reflections on Inquiry and Second Language Writing 19 Alister Cumming 3 Multicompetence, Social Context, and L2 Writing Research Praxis 48 Lourdes Ortega and Joan Carson 4 Finding “Theory” in the Particular: An “Autobiography” of What I Learned and How about Teacher Feedback 72 Lynn M. Goldstein Part II. Reflections on Theoretical Practices 91 5 Practicing Theory in Qualitative Research on Second Language Writing 93 Linda Harklau and Gwendolyn Williams 6 Cleaning up the Mess: Perspectives from a Novice Theory Builder 112 Christine Tardy 7 A Reconsideration of Contents of “Pedagogical Implications” and “Further Research Needed” Moves in the Reporting of Second Language Writing Research and Their Roles in Theory Building 126 Doug Flahive v vi Contents 8 Beyond Texts: A Research Agenda for Quantitative Research on Second Language Writers and Readers 159 Dudley W. Reynolds 9 Ideology and Theory in Second Language Writing: A Dialogical Treatment 176 A. Suresh Canagarajah 10 Critical Approaches to Theory in Second Language Writing: A Case of Critical Contrastive Rhetoric 191 Ryuko Kubota 11 Theory and Practice in Second Language Writing: How and Where Do They Meet? 209 Wei Zhu 12 Theory-and-Practice and Other Questionable Dualisms in L2 Writing 229 John Hedgcock 13 Assess Thyself Lest Others Assess Thee 245 Deborah Crusan 14 “Do I Need a Theoretical Framework?” Doctoral Students’ Perspectives on the Role of Theory in Dissertation Research and Writing 263 Diane Belcher and Alan Hirvela Contributors 285 Index 291 About the Editors 313 Introduction Tony Silva and Paul Kei Matsuda The Issues Theory is a term that has been used widely in the field of second lan- guage writing. Yet, partly due to the interdisciplinary nature of the field, the term often means different things to different people. Second language writing specialists—teachers, researchers and administra- tors—have yet to have an open and sustained conversation about what theory is, how it works, and, more important, how to practice theory. This collection will feature fifteen chapters by distinguished schol- ars in second language writing who will explore various aspects of the- oretical work that goes on in the field. The authors of the first four chapters address the nature and role of theory in second language writ- ing. The authors of the next nine chapters reflect on their own theo- retical practices. The authors of the final chapter take up the issue of theory in writing dissertations on second language writing. Some of the key questions explored in this collection include the following: • The Nature of Theory. What is the nature of theory in second language writing? What role does theory play in second lan- guage writing research, instruction, and administration? Is it possible (or even desirable) to develop a comprehensive theory or theories of second language writing? • Applied Theories. How do various theories from other areas of inquiry inform second language writing research, instruction, and assessment? What are some of the advantages of using theo- ries from other fields? What are some of the limitations? How can the value of new theoretical perspectives be assessed? vii viii Introduction • Theorizing and Theory Building. How do second language writ- ing teachers, researchers, and administrators develop theories of second language writing? What might a theory of second lan- guage writing look like? What is the relationship between the conceptual work of theorizing and data-driven theory build- ing? • Practicing Theory. How might second language writing teach- ers, researchers, and administrators deal with theory? What are some of the practical issues that arise in working with various types of theory? How do second language writing specialists learn to work with theory? How does theory inform instruction and administration as well as materials development? The chapters Part I. The Nature and Role of Theory in Second Language Writing In “Between Theory with a Big ‘T’ and Practice with a Small ‘p’: Why Theory Matters,” Dwight Atkinson attempts to clarify relationships between theory and practice in L2 writing. Suggesting that a simple theory-practice distinction is not a productive way to think about L2 writing, he asserts that it is the speculative and thoughtful nature of theory combined with practice that gives them an important role in helping teachers and researchers do what they do. Atkinson then dis- tinguishes between different forms of theory and practice in L2 writ- ing. The first, Theory with a big T, refers to a system of principles,