
“If you teach, assess, or research writing, L. Lennie Irvin’s Reflection Between the Drafts is a must read. The book highlights best practices on reflection in process. Irvin’s lucid theories of reflection distill extensive composition experience and scholarship detailing a dynamic approach. Study Irvin’s innovative text to strengthen your writing praxis and pedagogy.”—Rich Rice, Director of Tech Comm & Rhetoric and Professor, Texas Tech University
“An important scholarly addition to the growing field of composition studies and rhetoric, particularly as it relates to reflection as a form of rhetorical invention. Professor Irvin’s Reflection Between the Drafts explores both the theoretical and pedagogical applications between invention, the influence of kairos on reflection, and the crucial between-the-drafts reflection. The book also provides step-by-step reflection exercises to help students reflect during the drafting stages of the writing process. Reflection Between the Drafts should be required reading for composition teachers teaching introductory writing courses.”—Rafael Castillo, Director of Publications and Special Projects, Catch the Next, Inc. (New Haven, CT); Professor of English, Palo Alto College
Reflection Between the Drafts
von L. Lennie IrvinReflection Between the Drafts focuses on reflection in process rather than reflection on process. Based on empirical research, the text presents a theory to describe and explain what happens when students reflect between drafts useful to teachers and scholars interested in reflection. It identifies a common dynamic found in these reflections as well as four factors that represent key dimensions within between-the-draft reflection. Writers’ conception of their goal and ideas of success represents the most important controlling factor in their reflection and the role it may play in their writing. Reflection Between the Drafts is highly rhetorical, and the text explores the special kairotic moment between drafts, the connection of this reflection to rhetorical invention, as well as the nature of the reflective knowledge generated from this particular reflective stance between drafts that guides writers’ revision. The text also discusses the place of between-the-draft reflection in a writing curriculum and shares classroom practices for encouraging productive reflection between drafts.