Rhetoric in Competition

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Abstract
This study explores features of conference proposals submitted to the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) in 1989, 1990, and 1992. In total, 345 abstracts were examined for generic and formal features, discourse features, and topical features. These features were contrasted among high-rated and low-rated abstracts. Throughout this period (a) successful abstracts were more likely to follow generic qualities associated with “unsolicited proposals”; (b) foundational discourse remained prominent throughout the abstracts, but discourse associated with a nonfoundationalist epistemological stance appeared to increase among the proposals; and (c) abstracts appeared to be increasingly expansionary, discussing various rhetorical strategies in other disciplines or discursive sites. Results suggest that written communication can be seen as an important contributor to disciplinary formation within the CCCC. Results also suggest that text features like jargon, citations, acronyms, and nominalizations can be productively viewed as important carriers of “insider” or “privileged” discourse within organizations.

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