The Art of Storytelling

A Pedagogy for Proposal Writing

Authors

  • Josephine Walwema Oakland University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v7i1.26246

Keywords:

Pedagogy, proposal writing, storytelling, technical writing

Abstract

This article is based on the idea that there is latent storytelling already in proposals. It explores the various ways in which storytelling functions as a pedagogical model of teaching the writing of proposals in business and technical writing courses. The central premise is that stories, like proposals, are forms of discourse that place events sequentially from beginning to end with meaningful and graspable connections in between. Stories take (identified) audiences into account by being selective of events that are carefully rearranged and described through composites of scenarios and characters. This article explores those storytelling patterns in theory and in practice. It aims to enhance the perspective of teaching proposal writing by calling attention to a seemingly inconsequential or unrelated notion – storytelling.

Author Biography

  • Josephine Walwema, Oakland University

    Josephine Walwema is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at Oakland University, where she teaches courses in technical and professional communication, global and legal rhetorics. She obtained her Ph.D. from Clemson University, where she studied in the Rhetoric, Communication and Information Design (RCID) program. She has presented at national and international conferences on approaches to teaching and learning in professional writing.

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Published

2015-06-13

Issue

Section

Feature Article

How to Cite

Walwema, J. (2015). The Art of Storytelling: A Pedagogy for Proposal Writing. Writing and Pedagogy, 7(1), 15-38. https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v7i1.26246

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