American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 14 (1993) Winner
Gerald Graff
ジェラルド・グラフ
Gerarudo Gurafu
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1937-01-01
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Chicago (University of Illinois at Chicago) → Evanston (during Northwestern University appointment) → Berkeley (during UC Berkeley appointment) → Irvine (during UC Irvine appointment) → Albuquerque (during University of New Mexico appointment) → Columbus (during Ohio State University appointment) → St. Louis (during Washington University in St. Louis appointment)
Career
- Occupations
- Professor, Scholar, Author
- Active Years
- 1963-
- Affiliations
- University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Berkeley, Ohio State University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Memberships
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
- Influenced By
- Yvor Winters
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | — | English | B.A. | 1955–1959 | United States |
| Stanford University | — | English and American Literature | Ph.D. | 1959–1963 | United States |
University of Chicago
English
Degree:
B.A.
Period:
1955–1959
Year of Graduation:
1959
Country:
United States
Stanford University
English and American Literature
Degree:
Ph.D.
Period:
1959–1963
Year of Graduation:
1963
Country:
United States
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Literature Against Itself: Literary Ideas in Modern Society
1979 Literary criticismA critique of the anti-mimetic and irrationalist assumptions underlying avant-garde writing and structuralist/poststructuralist criticism, arguing for literature as a rational, discursive activity.
rationalityliterary theory critiquereappraisal of modernism
Beyond the Culture Wars: How Teaching the Conflicts Can Revitalize American Education
1993 Education; Higher education studiesIntroduces the idea of 'teach the controversy' and argues that teaching academic conflicts helps students understand how knowledge becomes established.
pedagogyacademic controversiesliberal education
Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind
2004 Educational criticismDiscusses how schooling can obscure intellectual life and proposes reforms to improve education.
critique of schoolingintellectual lifeeducational reform
They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing
2005 Composition; Writing pedagogyA practical guide offering templates for academic writing to help students construct arguments; co-authored with Cathy Birkenstein.
academic writingteaching practicetemplate approach
Professing Literature: An Institutional History
1987 Institutional history; Literary historyExamines the history and institutional role of professing literature in universities.
history of university institutionsformation of professions
Criticism in the University
1980 Literary criticism; EducationAddresses the role of criticism in the university and its pedagogical significance.
academic criticismeducational philosophy
Poetic Statement and Critical Dogma
1970 Literary theoryAn early essay on literary theory and poetic expression.
poeticscritical theory
Bibliography
- Poetic Statement and Critical Dogma (1970)
- Literature Against Itself: Literary Ideas in Modern Society (1979)
- Criticism in the University (1980)
- Professing Literature: An Institutional History (1987)
- Beyond the Culture Wars: How Teaching the Conflicts Can Revitalize American Education (1993)
- Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind (2004)
- They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing (with Cathy Birkenstein) (2005)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- clear, argumentative prosepedagogical and practical approach
- Recurring Motifs
- teaching controversiesacademic transparencyinstitutional critique
Legacy
Known for introducing 'teach the controversy' and for practical approaches to academic writing, Graff influenced pedagogy in higher education. He also served as president of the MLA and is recognized for bridging literary scholarship and education.
Academic Societies
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
Trivia
- Coined the pedagogical phrase 'teach the controversy' (later appropriated in other contexts, which he criticized).
- Co‑authored They Say/I Say with Cathy Birkenstein; the book's templates became widely used in teaching academic writing.
- Co‑founded the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) while at the University of Chicago.