Acknowledgements and Authorship
This book is a remix/mash-up of some of the best open access and Creative Commons licensed texts written by dozens of composition scholars. The first edition was curated by Harlow Crandall, Madonna Fajardo Kemp, Kate Pantelides, Erica Stone, Lisa E. Williams, and Elizabeth Williams, with generous support from the MTSU Provost’s Office and the Tennessee Board of Regents. This second edition is edited by Nicholas Krause, Caroline LaPlue, and Kate Pantelides. We wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to all contributors, curators, and donors.
We are particularly indebted to Melangie Gagich and Emilie Zickel because, although we did not use all of their text, we cloned their book as a method of invention for our own. We would highly recommend this process for others who may want to develop an OER. When Melanie Gagich and Emilie Zickel decided to combine their individual textbooks into the source that is the parent for this one, they created a text that functions less like a formal textbook and more like a manual or guide. Their text that is less prescriptive than traditional approaches and allows for the picking and choosing of appropriate content by instructors and by students. This approach resonated with us, and we are deeply appreciative of their work.
Author listings are alphabetical, with the exception of new content developed for this textbook. For new content, we alternate author order to demonstrate the equal nature of our collaboration. One of the central philosophies behind Open Educational Resources is the need for and importance of collaboration, as well as the sharing and “remixing” of the best available content. Our text was not written by one or even two authors; rather, it is a collection of a diverse array of viewpoints and writing styles, which, to us, exemplifies one of the many ways that our book is different from a traditional, print, academic textbook. The inclusion of work by multiple authors can also provide a starting point for conversations in writing class about how writing “actually works” (Wardle and Downs). In sum, we envision this text as a collection that allows instructors and students to use it in any way that complements their local programs and classrooms.
About the Editors of the Second Edition
Nich Krause is an instructor and doctoral candidate at Middle Tennessee State University, where his research focuses on fat representation. His dissertation draws on the fields of feminist pragmatism and fat studies to interrogate how fat suits in Hollywood films perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce anti-fat, sexist, and racist ideologies. In the classroom, Nich is committed to inclusive and nontraditional pedagogy, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to experiment and get creative without the constraints of punitive grading systems.
Caroline LaPlue is an instructor and doctoral candidate at Middle Tennessee State University. Caroline’s dissertation is a nontraditional, digital humanities project that will map George MacDonald’s many Victorian connections; this digital network will help provide essential resources for future scholars (and anyone who’s interested in MacDonald). Her dissertation also embodies her approach to education: make learning inclusive, accessible, and actually useful for a diverse range of people.
Kate Pantelides is a professor and Provost’s Fellow at Middle Tennessee State University. She teaches writing, rhetoric, and research classes for undergraduate and graduate students. Her research addresses research methods, feminist rhetorics, and writing program administration. Dr. Pantelides’ work has been published in College Composition and Communication, Composition Studies, Computers and Composition: An International Journal, and Composition Forum, among other venues.
Creative Commons Licensing
This book is licensed under Creative Commons as CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.
