Page 24 - Composition in Convergence The Impact of New Media On

INTRODUCTION XXiii

any culture, including Composition's, follows along a decades-long
path before becoming fully accessible to all. Paul Saffo (1992) called
this the "30-year rule." According to Saffo, the first decade generates
excitement and bewilderment toward a technological product, but
not many users. In the second decade, the technology creates societal
flux, as standards ebb and flow to conform to the increased use of
technology in mainstream culture. This second decade is the most
chaotic, as the technological object undergoes a period that decides
which forms or versions of the technology will succeed or fail in soci-
ety. With the third decade comes a "so what?" response to the tech-
nology, because it has been fully assimilated, virtually ubiquitous, in
society. By the 30-year mark, people are very familiar with the tech-
nology; some use it extensively, and others have moved on to new
ideas or technologies.
If we apply Saffo's (1992) principles to the current technologies in
the teaching of writing—computers and assessment—compositionists
can see the following happening in Composition's culture:

1874—Harvard introduces written essay entrance exams
(Berlin, 1987).
1885—Harvard begins Freshman Composition sequence
(Berlin, 1987).
1890—Widespread inclusion of first-year composition as a
university requirement in American colleges and uni-
versities. Shortly after came the first calls to abolish the
freshman writing sequence (Connors, 1996).

1900s—Reemergence of graduate training in rhetoric
(Connors, 1996).

1919—The College Board formed. First use of multiple-choice
entrance exam for college admission.

1920—Expansion of undergraduate writing courses to include
a sophomore-level writing class and advanced writing
classes in composition, rhetoric, creative, and journalis-
tic prose (Connors, 1996).
Mid-1920s—Carnegie Foundation begins psychometric evalu-
ation for standard achievement using tens of thousands
of Pennsylvania's high school and college students.