Tools Combined: A Termline for Locating Theorists with Terms and Dates

As we began brainstorming our tool, Charise and I wanted users to walk a way with a well-grounded sense of key terms, the theorists talking about terms, and the dates of the conversation of each term surrounding theories of genre- quite a large task at hand. Devitt explains the necessity for grounding theories of genre in time, “Understanding genre requires understanding more than just classification schemes; it requires understanding the origins of the patterns on which those classifications are based” (575). Hence, the termline: a timeline of theorists connected to identified terms related to theories of genre. We decided to not only include theorists from this week, but included the authors they referenced. To ground our project, we identified essential terms from our readings relevant to theories of genre. We also began organizing a list of theorists and terms they are connected to, to give a better idea of out aim for the tool.

There are four parts to the Termline: the search engine, timeline, theorists, and term thread. First, the user is presented with a search bar in which they can search terms they think most relevant to theories of genre. In addition to the search bar, a list of words available on the site will be accessible to the user. We decided to add this second feature of the home page since there are a limited number of terms related to theories of genre. Once a term is searched or selected, the user is brought to the term page. On the term page, a timeline is presented connecting theorists who employed the term in conversation. Users are then able to see who said what, when. Using the termline, users are then able to access articles to read to conceptualize the selected term. Inspired by Trimbur’s theories of collaborative learning, we also decided to provide a discussion forum for users to comment on the term page. The discussions are organized much like a forum, by topics created by users. Because we have allowed users to add theorists and articles to the termline, we wanted to provide a space for them to also discuss their reasons for doing so and a way to discuss relevant topics and “explore the rhetoric of dissensus that pervades writing situations” (Trimbur 610).

We envision this tool being used for research on theories of genre and as a rhetorical device to explore ideas within a shared community that could potentially lead to further theory building. We take up theories social constructivism as essential to the theory building process and as such, embedded collaborative options into the termline. Because we don’t see theories of genre as a flat entity, we want users to have the option to add to the discussion and the tool.

Works Cited

Devitt, Amy. “Generalizing about Genre: New Conceptions of an Old Concept.” CCC 44.4

(Dec. 1993): 573-586.

Trimbur, John. “Consensus and Difference in Collaborative Learning.” College English 51.6 (Oct.1989): 602-16.