Political Economy of Academic Writing Practices

摘要: A few years ago, a colleague and I spotted an article posted in departmental display case. My friend peered at it through the glass said with sneer: "Ha! It's just think piece!" As anthropologist social foundations scholar, have been much impressed by intensity which members of various academic tribes valorize particular kinds scholarship while denigrating others. colleague's training educational psychology had taught her to value only data-based reports national international refereed journals view other writing projects contempt. Such differences cause serious misunderstandings within Colleges Education, limiting prospects for faculty collaboration across departments program areas. They also foster competitive milieu that may dissuade minority students women from pursuing careers. Two major Carnegie Foundation established need suggested strategies changing how professors education conceptualize assess (Boyer, 1990; Glassick, Huber & Maeroff, 1997). Despite this, maintain rituals reward structures remain curiously conventional resistant change. This essay examines political economy practices offers rationale more open-minded consideration ways "professing education" beyond journal article, research report, tome. Competent work disciplinary professional boundaries, keeping up literature least two fields, often than that. read disciplines, nations, genres methodologies, trying stay abreast larger issues affecting research, theory, policy practice. (1) In academe, career rewards accrue specialists who focus on problems interest likeminded peers. But because solutions significant demand academy, are expected school, business community leaders, teachers, parents, mental healthcare professionals, media, funding agencies colleagues arts sciences (Scheurich, 2005, pp. 275-276). Like all professors, educationists discover, synthesize, disseminate knowledge increasingly complex, global context. teach diverse, sometimes fragile, demanding audiences whose evaluations them carry considerable weight. must find time learn use new technological tools teaching scholarship, date their areas specialization. The triumvirate teaching, service has expanded include revenue generation public relations-as if first three tasks, well done, were not enough. Indeed, serve many masters, some cruel, can leave us frenzied, fragmented, frustrated. Given be take fresh look schools education. term is used economics anthropology. study involves analyzing resources created, distributed, controlled group. control form power. Therefore, economies characterized conflicts between self-interest cultural ideals, inequitable distribution opportunities. framework this analysis, investigating calls self-examination inquiry into traditions operate academe. It means looking consequences individuals, organizations, institutions (higher as whole). Writing Small small strategically disrupt interrogate herd sacred cows. …