Formalism (music)

Second language

Linguistics

Philosophy

Pure mathematics

Literature

Field (mathematics)

Structuralism (philosophy of science)

Second language writing

Empirical research

Musical

Mathematics

Politics

Political science

Constructivism (international relations)

Epistemology

International relations

Sociology

Composition (language)

Social constructivism

Composition studies

Social science

Written Communication

Composition Studies emerged as a scholarly research discipline during the 1970s as (a) empirical methods became available to investigate the problem of meaning in discourse and, concomitantly, (b) the work of an international writing research community became institutionalized in the form of new journals and graduate programs. Distinguishing their efforts from prior histories of the field, the authors argue that the development of composition studies needs to be understood as part of a broader intellectual history affecting linguistics and literary studies, as well as composition. Reviewing basic tenets of formalism, structuralism (including both constructivism and social constructionism), and dialogism as root epistemologies organizing the recent histories of these disciplines, the authors conclude with a discussion of the dominant and often parallel themes that have characterized evolving conceptions of language, text, and meaning in composition, literature, and linguistics since the 1950s.

Where did Composition Studies Come from?