Writing at the Edge

In Writing at the Edge, Jeff Park invites the reader to see personal writing as the metaphorical space where individuals negotiate meaning with others and the world. Drawing upon writing process theory, curriculum theory, narrative theory, and many years of practice, this book explores writing in relation to the «self», but dares to include the multiplicities and contradictions of social and cultural constructions of gender, power, and politics. Park uses the metaphor of the «riparian zone» to reconsider the value of writing as a site of negotiation of self, culture, and society. This book is the best of curriculum theory and narrative inquiry, as well as a stunning invitation to those working in language arts, writing, and teacher education to reconsider personal writing as a place of great diversity, beauty, and paradox.

Autorentext

The Author: Jeff Park is Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan, and he teaches courses on writing, literacy, and teacher education. He has taught for over twenty-five years in secondary and post-secondary education in the areas of English language arts, creative writing, and drama. His current research interests include composition and writing theory, creativity and mavericity, alternate forms of literacy, gender issues in pedagogy and praxis, as well as arts-based and narrative inquiry research methodologies.

Klappentext

In Writing at the Edge, Jeff Park invites the reader to see personal writing as the metaphorical space where individuals negotiate meaning with others and the world. Drawing upon writing process theory, curriculum theory, narrative theory, and many years of practice, this book explores writing in relation to the «self», but dares to include the multiplicities and contradictions of social and cultural constructions of gender, power, and politics. Park uses the metaphor of the «riparian zone» to reconsider the value of writing as a site of negotiation of self, culture, and society. This book is the best of curriculum theory and narrative inquiry, as well as a stunning invitation to those working in language arts, writing, and teacher education to reconsider personal writing as a place of great diversity, beauty, and paradox.

Zusammenfassung
«Jeff Park evokes rather than represents the often playful act of 'writing one's self into existence' through relationship with others in an edgy, diverse, paradoxical, even contradictory 'between' place he calls 'the riparian zone'. You will never think about the writing workshop in the same way again.» (Jim Garrison, Virginia Tech, Author of 'Dewey and Eros: Wisdom and Desire in the Art of Teaching')
«This book is a rare thing - a sophisticated, scholarly work that also educates our emotions. Everywhere, always, Jeff Park demonstrates just how dignified, how sacred even, our literacy work can be. He reminds us of why we ever cared about teaching and writing.» (Timothy J. Lensmire, University of Minnesota, Author of 'Powerful Writing, Responsible Teaching')
«Jeff Park's 'Writing at the Edge' exemplifies how a strong commitment to the expressive powers of writing can enable others, beyond the typical school program, in realizing more of themselves and of the world. Park writes with flair and grace, creating a moving book that informs the research literature on literacy with the illuminated lives of the writers with whom he works.» (John Willinsky, University of British Columbia, Author of 'The New Literacy: Redefining Reading and Writing in the Schools')