Multimodal Composition Ch. 1

Takayoshi, Pamela, Cynthia L. Selfe. "Thinking about Modality." Multimodal Composition: Resources for Teachers. Ed. Cynthia L. Selfe. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2007: 1-12. Print.

The first chapter of this book explains what multimodality is and why its necessary for the current and future composition classroom. There is an emphasis put on mulimodal composition as independent from digital composition: you don't need technology in order to create multimodal compositions. Just as Selfe has previously argued, we need to "pay attention" to multimodal composing. The chapter then discusses the reasons for this attention included the increasing necessity to be able to both read and produce these texts, expanding the definition of composition, the emphasis of the authoring of these compositions as engaging, the important of rhetoric, and the connection between this type of composing and valued pedagogical goals. This discussion is followed by a list and discussion of reasonable concerns related to both technology and multi-modality.

I particularly like the emphasis on not needing technology to be multi-modal. In one of my courses I require a visual argument with the understanding that everyone is "tech savvy."  I allow my students to create a "hard copy" of this argument and either take a photo or scan it in. This allows them to be creative in whatever way they are comfortable, but still create something they can turn in in an online course. I also liked that we're reading this book I suppose because of my surprised with the article in CCC.