Acknowledgements
One of the key messages of this textbook and its companion course is that writing is rarely a solitary activity. It is always a collaborative effort between the writer, readers, and designers, not to mention the friends and colleagues who happily listen to us hash and rehash our ideas and pull us through our despair.
These people helped make the textbook and its companion course happen:
- The Online Learning Unit at the University of Alberta played an essential role in the development of this textbook and its companion course. Without their support, this development of the material would not have been possible.
- Dr. Kristine Smitka helped make the difficult parts of this journey less difficult with her kindness, humour, and exceptional competence in everything.
- Dr. Marie-Eve Morin, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts, supported this project with her calm and gracious leadership.
- Dr. Jill Ehnenn, Chair of English and Film Studies, believed in the potential of this project and trusted us to make it happen.
- Without Dr. Anna Chilewska, Writing Studies Coordinator, I would not have survived this project or the last few difficult years in Writing Studies. Anna makes me smarter and makes my work life fun.
- Thank you to my Writing Studies colleagues, Dr. Shahin Moghaddasi Sarabi and Dan Harvey, who shared their ideas and insights with me about WRS 102.
- Dr. Roger Graves designed the first version of WRS 102, which inspired the redevelopment of the course and this textbook.
- I have had many wonderful mentors in the field of Writing Studies and academia in general. Dr. Katy Campbell made me want to be an academic. Dr. Betsy Sargent made me want to be a Writing Studies scholar. And Dr. Marg Iveson made me care deeply about pedagogy.
- Dr. Heather Graves allowed me to audit her course on academic writing and shared some of her insights on different argumentation practices across disciplines.
- Andreas and Kai put up with me even when I’m hyper-focused on teaching and developing courses.
- My past students have taught me how to teach writing. My future students will teach me all I still need to learn. Without you, this work is meaningless.
