UNH Hosts Conference On Diversity And Writing Oct. 15-16

Contact: Erika Mantz
603-862-1567
UNH Media Relations

Oct. 7, 2004



DURHAM, N.H. – Diversity as it relates to the teaching of writing is the topic of the tenth in a series of biennial conferences in composition sponsored by the University of New Hampshire Oct. 15-16, 2004.

With more than 70 presenters and five keynote speakers, the conference is particularly geared for those who teach writing at the high school and college level. It will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, and continue until 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16.

“We live in a multicultural society,” says Thomas Newkirk, UNH professor of English and coordinator of the composition program. “People come from different backgrounds with different ways with words, and as teachers we need to be aware of this when we teach writing.”

The conference will explore questions like “How do students’ allegiances to popular culture and visual and digital media affect our approaches to teaching writing?” and “How can we raise issues of race in classes that are mostly white?” Keynote speakers are John Ernest, UNH, on “What Are We Talking About? Composition and the Chaos of ‘Diversity’’; Keith Gilyard, Penn State University, “Language Variation, Writing and Teaching”; Linda Harklau, University of Georgia, “From High School to College: English Language Learners and Shifting Literacy Demands”; Scott Lyons, Syracuse University, “From Imperialism to Empire: The Rhetorical Strategies of Indigenous Peoples”; and Kate Ronald, Miami University, “Teaching Rhetorica: Using Women’s Rhetoric(s) as Writing Pedagogies.”

In addition to the keynote speakers, there will be small sessions where participants can discuss particular issues. For more information about the conference or to register contact Amy Cunningham at nh.literacy@unh.edu or (603) 862-1168 or visit www.unh.edu/composition/conference/.