Research Projects and Groups
In addition to the work I currently do on the rhetoric of science, medicine, and vaccination, I am also actively involved in research and service projects related to professional and technical writing and rhetoric in the public sphere. These current and past research and service projects are outlined below.
Current Research Projects
The Rhetoric of Proposal Writing: Implementation, Ethics, and Ideology in the Technical Communication Classroom.
In this project, I am analyzing how proposal writing is taught in the technical communications classroom. This study of textbooks, research publications, and real-world practices aims to illuminate the current focus of proposal instruction and offer new approaches to proposal instruction in technical communication.
If you are interested in this research or are a proposal writer or manager who would like to participate in an interview, please contact me for more information.
In this project, I am analyzing how proposal writing is taught in the technical communications classroom. This study of textbooks, research publications, and real-world practices aims to illuminate the current focus of proposal instruction and offer new approaches to proposal instruction in technical communication.
If you are interested in this research or are a proposal writer or manager who would like to participate in an interview, please contact me for more information.
Student Groups
Society for Technical Communication (STC), George Mason University Chapter www.stc-gmu.org
In the fall of 2014, I founded a George Mason chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) and now serve as the faculty advisor for this group. This group aids in professional development for students and alumni interested in technical communication at George Mason University.
If you are a current student, prospective student, or alum and are interested in joining the George Mason chapter of STC, please contact me for more information.
In the fall of 2014, I founded a George Mason chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) and now serve as the faculty advisor for this group. This group aids in professional development for students and alumni interested in technical communication at George Mason University.
If you are a current student, prospective student, or alum and are interested in joining the George Mason chapter of STC, please contact me for more information.
Vaccination Research Group
The Vaccination Research Group (VRG) at Virginia Tech is a multi-disciplinary research group that investigates issues into historical and contemporary vaccine debates. I am currently a faculty affiliate member of the VRG at Virginia Tech.
We are currently conducting a study on vaccination practices during a pertussis outbreak in a small, rural community. Please contact me if you would like to learn more or are interested in participating in this project.
We are currently conducting a study on vaccination practices during a pertussis outbreak in a small, rural community. Please contact me if you would like to learn more or are interested in participating in this project.
Past Research Projects and Publications
“The Moral Appeal of Environmental Discourses: The Implication of Ethical Rhetorics.” Environmental Communication 6.2 (Summer 2012): 212-232. With Clare J. Dannenberg, Bernice L. Hausman, and Katrina M. Powell. DOI: 10.1080/175242032.2012.668856
Abstract: Environmental sustainability demands civic action through both changes in individual and community behaviors in addition to national and international agreements and cooperation. In moral appeals to the environment, individuals are often called upon to behave in ‘‘good’’ ways—to reduce, reuse, recycle—to ‘‘save the planet.’’ Behavior, and our attitudes about it, is therefore an important component to ongoing sustainability efforts.
This pilot study, conducted in Fall 2009, brings together research methods in sociolinguistics and rhetorical studies to examine the discourses that students produce when describing issues and practices concerning sustainability. In interviews with 15 students in an earth sustainability general education core, our study found that students were knowledgeable about environmental issues and expressed intentions to engage in sustainable behaviors. Yet, students produced accommodating discourses when addressing competing demands on their time and resources. The sociolinguistic analysis of interview data shows a disassociation from environmental issues at the symbolic level of language use. The rhetorical analysis shows that this disassociation manifests as guilt, largely because when choosing between various moral appeals in their social context, students are left without tangible direction for engaging in new sustainable behaviors.
“Emerging Genres in Professional Writing: Corporate Rhetoric and New Media.” May 2007. Link to paper.
My master’s thesis, completed in May 2007, describes the current position and use of New Media texts by corporations, focusing on the use of blogs, podcasts, and online video as a means for engaging audience and attracting consumers. By reconceptualizing these texts as genres and viewing them rhetorically, this thesis argues that increased attention and study within the academic field of Professional Writing could highlight opportunities for Professional Writers to improve these workplace texts and could lead to better preparation for New Media communications in the teaching of professional writers.
A review of existing literature in prominent Professional Writing journals [Journal of Business and Technical Communication (JBTC), Technical Communication Quarterly (TCQ)] revealed the absence of New Media genres in present Professional Writing scholarship; discussion of the role of rhetorical analysis for electronic texts argued for the importance of rhetoric in New Media; and a genre analysis of a sample of corporate blogs, podcasts, and online video established the distinct audience relationship each of these texts create.
This thesis was intended as a reference and resource for Professional Writing scholars and academics, to persuade them that the role these genres play in corporate Professional Writing environments is expanding, and therefore deserves increased scholarly attention. Since the completion of this thesis, increased attention to New Media in both Professional Writing scholarship and textbooks as increased substantially, and therefore now functions as a snapshot of the past development of scholarly interest in this subject area.
Abstract: Environmental sustainability demands civic action through both changes in individual and community behaviors in addition to national and international agreements and cooperation. In moral appeals to the environment, individuals are often called upon to behave in ‘‘good’’ ways—to reduce, reuse, recycle—to ‘‘save the planet.’’ Behavior, and our attitudes about it, is therefore an important component to ongoing sustainability efforts.
This pilot study, conducted in Fall 2009, brings together research methods in sociolinguistics and rhetorical studies to examine the discourses that students produce when describing issues and practices concerning sustainability. In interviews with 15 students in an earth sustainability general education core, our study found that students were knowledgeable about environmental issues and expressed intentions to engage in sustainable behaviors. Yet, students produced accommodating discourses when addressing competing demands on their time and resources. The sociolinguistic analysis of interview data shows a disassociation from environmental issues at the symbolic level of language use. The rhetorical analysis shows that this disassociation manifests as guilt, largely because when choosing between various moral appeals in their social context, students are left without tangible direction for engaging in new sustainable behaviors.
“Emerging Genres in Professional Writing: Corporate Rhetoric and New Media.” May 2007. Link to paper.
My master’s thesis, completed in May 2007, describes the current position and use of New Media texts by corporations, focusing on the use of blogs, podcasts, and online video as a means for engaging audience and attracting consumers. By reconceptualizing these texts as genres and viewing them rhetorically, this thesis argues that increased attention and study within the academic field of Professional Writing could highlight opportunities for Professional Writers to improve these workplace texts and could lead to better preparation for New Media communications in the teaching of professional writers.
A review of existing literature in prominent Professional Writing journals [Journal of Business and Technical Communication (JBTC), Technical Communication Quarterly (TCQ)] revealed the absence of New Media genres in present Professional Writing scholarship; discussion of the role of rhetorical analysis for electronic texts argued for the importance of rhetoric in New Media; and a genre analysis of a sample of corporate blogs, podcasts, and online video established the distinct audience relationship each of these texts create.
This thesis was intended as a reference and resource for Professional Writing scholars and academics, to persuade them that the role these genres play in corporate Professional Writing environments is expanding, and therefore deserves increased scholarly attention. Since the completion of this thesis, increased attention to New Media in both Professional Writing scholarship and textbooks as increased substantially, and therefore now functions as a snapshot of the past development of scholarly interest in this subject area.