Technical Communication Quarterly Jul 1996

Pseudotransactionality, Activity Theory, and Professional Writing Instruction

Clay Spinuzzi

Abstract

Abstract Pseodotransactionality—writing that Is patently designed by a student to meet teacher expectations rather than to perform the "real" function the teacher has suggested—is a problem that has frequently troubled writing teachers, especially professional writing teachers. This article attempts to analyze the problem from a sociohistorical perspective by using two Russian theoretical exports: (1) M. M. Bakhtin's concept of genre and (2) Vygotsklan activity theory. The article concludes by suggesting how a sociohistorical perspective mlght help to counteract pseudotransactionality In the professional writing classroom.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
1996-07-01
DOI
10.1207/s15427625tcq0503_3
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
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