English departments

The latest issue of College English contains a review by Laura Brady entitled "Retelling the Composition-Literature Story." While Brady raises some interesting points, (and I agree with her that the composition-literature story needs to be retold) her choice of books for review and the substance of her review itself perpetuate an old problem and ignore a great deal of potentially important scholarship. The old problem she perpetuates is the view--simplistic to the extreme--of English studies as a bifurcated field, split only between literature and composition.

Regarding the Inside Higher Ed column I wrote about yesterday: Gerald Nelms posted an excellent (and devastating) critique of Major's argument on the IHE site yesterday. I would urge everyone to read it. I posted a response (on IHE) to the Major/Nelms debate this morning, and I'm re-posting it here, as follows:

There's an opinion piece over at the Inside Higher Ed website today (July 22) by William Major. Major claims to be arguing for a "reconsideration" of the teaching of composition. He offers a few refreshing and honest insights about the dynamics of English departments.