Announcing the 2006-2007 CCCC Research Initiative Projects

In late spring, the Conference on College Composition and Communication put out a call for projects for a research initiative to support syntheses and new investigations by providing up to $25,000 for at least three proposals and an opportunity for the researchers to gather to share ideas and receive advice. This program aims to create an opportunity for researchers to bring together what the profession has already learned, through a variety of methodologies, regarding the teaching and study of composition, rhetoric, and literacy. Syntheses will bring together what the profession has already learned (but perhaps not yet published), through a variety of methodologies, with regard to the teaching and study of composition, rhetoric, and literacy. The purposes of synthesis projects are (1) to articulate what is known about the teaching of composition at this time, and (2) to provide a foundation for future research, for large grant proposals, and for public policy discussions. New investigations will initiate research studies that have widespread value or strategic implications for teaching composition; such studies may be pilot in nature and preambles to larger grant proposals.

Four grants were awarded for 2006-2007. The recipients of these grants, who are listed below, will meet this fall at the NCTE Annual Convention in Nasville to collaborate and discuss their research projects. Funded researchers will also provide detailed reports for publication on the CCCC Web site and in other appropriate CCCC venues. Researchers will grant CCCC first consideration for publication of articles or monographs.

CCCC Research Initiative Projects and Researchers

"An Expanded Validity Inquiry into Minority Students' Experiences with a Large-Scale Writing Portfolio Assessment"

Diane Kelly-Riley, Washington State University, Pullman

"Survey of Writing Instructors at For-Profit Colleges and Universities"

Luana Uluave, University of Illinois at Chicago
Patricia Harkin, University of Illinois at Chicago
Kristine Hansen, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
J. Quin Monson, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

"The forms and functions of instant messaging as literate practice"

Christina Haas, Kent State University, Ohio
Pamela Takayoshi, Kent State University, Ohio

“'The Things They Carried': A Synthesis of Research on Transfer in College Composition”

Kathleen Blake Yancey, Florida State University, Tallahassee
Emily Dowd, Florida State University, Tallahassee
Tamara Francis, Florida State University, Tallahassee