Argues for an activity-based theory of genre knowledge. Provides data from case study research concerning "insider knowledge" about genres of academic cultures. Proposes five general principles as a basis for a theory of genre. (HB)

A case study examined purpose in the writing of four college freshmen enrolled in a basic composition course. Discourse based interviews were conducted with the subjects before and after they responded to each of three writing tasks designed to provide them with different choices for audience, mode, and focus. The data revealed two central ways in…

Considers the written genres of a group of six children in a first-grade classroom. Reveals the children to be active participants in the social dialogue of their classrooms. Outlines their use of genres and describes where these genres may have come from. (HB)