Date of Award

8-20-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Rhetoric and Writing

First Advisor

David Fisher

Abstract

This thesis presents the theory of secondary literacy to give teachers an understanding of how technology shapes the thought processes of students. Based on the foundational theoretical work by scholar Walter J. Ong, secondary literacy describes the communicative practices of our digital age. This theory offers a means for understanding how our minds have shifted based on changes in our communicative technologies and how these changes affect the way we process ideas, store information, and create knowledge. In addition, this thesis offers practical applications for secondary literacy in terms of assignments, assessment, and pedagogical goals for composition studies. By using the theory of secondary literacy to inform composition pedagogy, we can create students who are effective thinkers and communicators in our technology-driven culture.

Download

Share

COinS