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Wow, what a thoughtful and gracious response we are drafting. 

I strongly agree with Anthony and Natasha about informing readers that 
there is a discipline of Writing Studies and a significant body of 
knowledge represented by journals, conferences, departments, etc. 

I think the average teacher and administrator at most postsecondary 
institutions in Canada (especially at institutions that do not have 
highly visible academic majors/minors in the area) may still be unaware 
that "Writing" can be more than "service" to students and teachers at 
their own institution.  They need to know that Writing is a discipline 
that concerns itself with writing in public and professional settings 
(not just students' academic writing), and that Canadian associations of 
scholars have long been involved in creating knowledge, providing 
graduate instruction in our field, and training advanced practitioners 
of written communication.  Spreading this knowledge might make life a 
little easier for those of us who are trying to maintain and develop 
programs with visible strengths in the areas of writing and/or rhetoric. 

By naming "Writing studies" in its theme, our upcoming CATTW conference 
seems to be doing an impressive job of informing people of the growing 
area of Writing Studies and its relationship to "rhetoric, composition, 
discourse analysis, cognitive psychology, writing across the curriculum 
and writing in the disciplines, linguistics, and English studies." 
Inkshed can also do a great service to its members by making at least a 
small note of this in the response to the UA article. 

Tania Smith



Anthony Paré wrote:
> Hi Susan,
>  
> Thanks for crafting this response. I think it has the right tone and content to counter Marche's well-meaning but blinkered view. University Affairs isn't the place to engage in a full-length argument, and what you've said will give readers pause and something to think about while they're pausing. Aside from the few typos you'll catch in editing, and a conclusion that might invite more dialogue, I think the piece is ready. But I wonder if you might mention some of the associations, journals, conferences, and university departments dedicated to the study and teaching of writing in Canada and the States. We do seem to remain below the radar. And how would you like to indicate authorship? As CASLL? On behalf of CASLL?
>  
> Anthony
>  
> Anthony Paré 
> Centre for the Study and Teaching of Writing
> Integrated Studies in Education
> Editor, McGill Journal of Education (http://mje.mcgill.ca/index)
> McGill University
> 514-398-5600
>
> ________________________________
>
>   

-- 
Tania S. Smith
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Communication & Culture
University of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~smit

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