Myspace, Write Space: An Analysis of Student Achievement in Texts for Digital Audiences

Authors

Stephanie Marie Sauceda, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

12-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Dr. Mark Joe Noe

Second Advisor

Dr. Moriah McCracken

Third Advisor

Dr. Deborah Cole

Abstract

This thesis study analyzes students’ connection to audience in writing samples, gauging the performance of texts written for an actual audience, the classroom teacher and an implied audience, the web. Using Steven Toulmin’s concepts of intimate and stranger interactions, this study suggests that students may make an intimate connection with the mass web audience, thereby allowing an increase in writing performance. On the other end, students identify assignments for classroom teachers as work for the stranger audience, thus creating a writing performance gap. The following is a discussion of possible factors and elements creating this particular paradox in audience identification.

Comments

Copyright 2009 Stephanie Marie Sauceda. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/myspace-write-space-analysis-student-achievement/docview/305182083/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American