So what does a polymath actually research? If you’re interested in how rhetoric functions in the world like me, the answer is a little of everything. Here are my main areas of research, and a little about what I teach, research and study within them:
Rhetorical Criticism
The main area in which I’ve taught is in rhetorical criticism. My methodological approach tends to be eclectic, but you’ll find me often talking about narrative theory, dramaturgical approaches including Kenneth Burke, the rhetoric of social movements, and myth and value analysis. The latter two are also topics courses that I developed while I was at Bethel.
Rhetoric of Math
I’m very interested in how the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has attempted to persuade K-12 teachers, college mathematics educators, and the general public about their Standards. The Standards and I basically grew up together; the first volume of the Standards came out in 1989 (Curriculum and Evaluation Standards, and the first three volumes were what I analyzed in my dissertation. My latest publication, the last chapter in Arguing with Numbers: The Intersections of Rhetoric and Mathematics, examines how the NCTM used “Principles to Actions” as an argument for a certain type of mathematics instruction.
Rhetoric of Religion
I’ve been fortunate to have been part of graduate programs and departments that have taken the rhetoric of religion as a significant scholarly topic, and I’m glad that I have a colleague (Dr. Downing) who also shares the same interest. My area of specialty (if one can call it that) is examining the rhetoric of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are many scholars and bloggers who have also examined its rhetoric, particularly the sermons and other messages that have come out of the convention. In the past few months, Dr. Russell Moore and Beth Moore (not related) have “dominated” the headlines, but there are lots of other aspects of the SBC that touch religion, politics, and culture, and as such, are fascinating to study.
Web Accessibility (and the Rhetoric of Web Accessibility)
One would think making sure that all websites are capable of being used by anyone would be such an easy issue that there would be no arguments to study. Alas, that’s not true. Remediating existing websites is hard; building accessibility into a new website isn’t as hard, but there are a few “gotchas” that have to be considered. I continue to learn about the gotchas. There are thankfully many more people working in the accessibility space now, but there’s still more to learn as new web technologies mean more care has to be taken by the people publishing and editing web content.
There’s also an article that I’ve been working on for a couple of years (Thanks, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals!) that has to do with the Winn Dixie case. I’ll post more as I work on the article, but one thing I appreciate about rhetorical criticism is that there are lots of ways to think about a subject — and an article that I never thought would have applied turns out to apply to my analysis.