Activity Theory and English Comp

By Scott Patrick

In the activity theory article, Russell analyzes the current situation in writing composition classes. He claims that the most detrimental aspect of GWSI is that it teaches writing without any context or activity system following it. He says that a contradiction has grown inside comp classes, because “it must attempt to teach writing without teaching the activities that give writing meaning and motive, those of other activity systems.” I agree with this analysis of comp classes, and because writing is taught without any context, it feels like a meaningless, painful exercise in the classroom.

Russell notes that in almost every other discipline, the introductory courses always lead to an activity system, and you’re given specialized tools to mediate your objectives. What’s learned in English comp isn’t even necessarily useful in an actual English class. Writing in the English major is developed by simply using it in the context of English classes, and this rule exists for other majors as well. GWSI can’t be categorized in any specific discipline because no discipline uses the skills or tools learned only in English comp.