Directory

Profile

Dr. Margaret M. Strain is a Professor in the Department of English and former director of the Graduate Program. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in writing, the history of rhetoric, composition theory, theories of embodiment and Irish drama. She became a faculty member of the Building Communities for Social Justice Living-Learning Community in 2004, has served as its Faculty Coordinator since 2008.

Professional activities

• Co-editor, Interviews section of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology and Pedagogy, 2004-present
• International Association of Studies in Irish Literature
• National Council of Teachers of English
• Modern Language Association

Research interests

• Irish Women’s Literature
• Contemporary American and Irish Drama
• Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition
• Histories of Writing Studies
• Multimodal Composing

Selected publications and presentations

Books

Strain, Margaret M., Ed. Principles and Practices: New Discourses for the Vertical Curriculum. New York: Hampton Press, 2013.

Selected Articles in Scholarly Journals

"’The Twain Shall Meet’: Rethinking the Introduction to Graduate Studies Course as Interdisciplinary Pedagogy.”  Pedagogy 12.1 (2012): 139-160. Co-authored with Rebecca Potter.

“Working with Words: An Interview with Vincent Woods in Multimedia.” Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy (2007). Co-authored with Brad E. Lucas. (www) >>

“Kairos 10th Anniversary Interviews.” Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy (2006). Co-authored with Brad E. Lucas. (www) >>

“Cross-Conversations on Writing, Interviewing, and Editing: A Meta-Interview with Wade Mahon and Eric Schroeder. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy (2005). Co-authored with Brad E. Lucas, Alexis Hart, and Chidsey Dickson. (www) >> 

“In Defense of a Nation: The National Defense Education Act, Project English, and the Origins of Empirical Research in Composition Studies.” JAC: Rhetoric, Writing, Culture, Politics 25 (2005): 513-42.

“’Renouncing Chance’: Salvation and the Sacred in Brian Friel’s Faith Healer.”  Renascence 57 (2004): 63-83. 

Selected Essays in Books

“On Stage(s): Poetics, Performance, and Graduate Student Professionalization.” In Margaret. M. Strain (Ed.), Principles and Practices: New Discourses for the Vertical Curriculum. New York: Hampton Press, 2013. 243-66. With Robin Reed, Tanya Firestone, Brennan Thomas, and Nick Obis. 

"A Repertoire of Discernments: Hearing the Unsaid in OralHistory Narratives." In Cheryl Glenn and Krista Ratcliffe (Eds.), Silence and Listening as Rhetorical Arts. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2011. 231-49. Co-authored with Frank M. Farmer.

"On Starting, Continuing, and Keeping the Conversation Going: The Archive Thrives on Interviews and Oral Histories". In Barbara L'Eplattenier, Lisa Mastrangelo, Wendy Sharer, and Alexis Ramsey (Eds.), Working in the Archives: Methods, Sources, Histories. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2010. 259-77. Co-authored with Brad E. Lucas.

"Is N E 1 There? Designing and Building Community Within/Across Classrooms and Institutions." Webbing Cyberfeminist Practice: Communities, Pedagogies, and Social Action. Eds. Kristine Blair, Radhik Gajjala, and Christine Tulley. Mahwah, NJ: Hampton Press, 2009. 185-206. Co-authored with Melissa Fore and Kara Moloney.

Selected Conference and Scholarly Presentations

“What Happens After the Service Learning Class? Institutionalizing Sustained Engagement.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. St. Louis, 2012.  

“Gateways to the Past: Conducting Archival Research.”  Workshop presenter.  Conference on College Composition and Communication. St. Louis, 2012.  

“This is an Uncomfortable Time.” Guest speaker. Humanities Commons Workshop. University of Dayton. May 10, 2011.

“Negotiating Archival Spaces: Exploring Existing Archives and Building New Ones” Workshop presenter. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Atlanta, 2011.

“Rhetoric and Composition Sound Archives.” Co-chair and presenter. Special Interest Group at the Conference on College Composition and Communication. 2008-2005.

“On the Importance of Silence in Oral Histories.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. New York, 2007.

“Rhetoric and Composition Sound Archives.” Plenary speaker at the Research Network Forum at the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Chicago, 2006.

“Composing Embodied Rhetorical Spaces: A Presentation in Several Voices.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. Chicago, 2006.

“Personal Narrative/Public Memory: Textual Dialogics and the Oral History Interview.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. Chicago, 2006.

"Learning the Ropes: Mentoring the New Administrator." Conference on College Composition and Communication. San Francisco, 2005.  

"Oral History Research as Rhetorical Practice." Conference on College Composition and Communication. San Francisco, 2005.

“’Renouncing Chance’: Salvation and the Sacred in Brien Friel’s Faith Healer.” International Association of Studies in Irish Literature. Galway, Ireland, 2004.