Description
Book SynopsisThis book, written by pioneering architects of original social theory in educational/linguistic fields as well as expert practitioners, systematically exposes the sociological commitments of mainstream ideas and theories in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), commitments which are very often not fully examined by the discipline, but nonetheless shape practitioners' ideas and their praxis.The initial chapters outline what social theory is; the normative, critical, descriptive, social and generative purposes it serves; the scope and limits of social theory, and tracing the major historical traditions and recent currents. This mapping of social theory is followed by a detailed argument that makes the case for the centrality of social theory
for EAP practitioners and praxis and the need to develop a sociological imagination to enhance knowledge and agency of practitioners. The contributions reveal the sociological foundations and commitments that underpin established theories in EA
Trade ReviewThis is a very timely and insightful volume which explores the social theories which inform so much EAP research today. By clearly unpacking what is often only implicit and by showing the relevance of theory to classroom practice, this book should be required reading for all EAP researchers and teachers. * Ken Hyland, Visiting Professor, School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia, UK *
Social Theory for English for Academic Purposes makes a very valuable contribution to the EAP literature. This single volume provides a rare opportunity for researchers and practitioners in EAP to explore and expand their knowledge and appreciation of the diverse ways in which social theory is interpreted and practiced in relation to a shared focus. This potentially opens spaces for cross-disciplinary dialogue and intra-theoretical reflection to the benefit of the broad field of EAP. * Susan Hood, Honorary Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, The University of Sydney, Australia *
Table of ContentsPart I: Foundations 1. Genre: Sociological Foundations and Implications,
Michelle Evans, (University of Leeds, UK) 2. Academic Literacies: Theorising Language as Social Practice,
Jackie Tuck (Open University, UK) 3. Systemic Functional Linguistics: a Social Theory of Language,
Jim Martin (University of Sydney, Australia) Part II: Perspectives 4. Legitimation Code Theory: Addressing fragmentation in EAP,
Steve Kirk (University of Durham, UK) 5. Social Realism and Genre theory: Knowledge-building in EAP,
Ian Bruce (University of Waikato, New Zealand) 6. Critical Realism: What can it do for EAP? ,
Julia Molinari (University of Nottingham, UK) 7. Bourdieu and Field Analysis: EAP and its Practitioners,
Alex Ding (University of Leeds, UK) 8. Ethnography: Expanding the Boundaries in EAP,
Haynes Collins (University of Leeds, UK) and Adrian Holliday (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK) 9. Feminism: Affordances and Applications for EAP,
Yolanda Cerdá (University of Leeds, UK) Afterword: Reflections on Omissions and Options,
Michelle Evans (University of Leeds, UK) References Index
