William J. Kennedy
Papers
2
Total Citations
12
H-Index
2
About
William J. Kennedy is a foundational figure in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and Writing in the Disciplines (WID) pedagogy. His research focuses on equipping students with the rhetorical and critical reading skills necessary to succeed across academic fields. Kennedy’s major contributions center on demystifying the writing process for college writers, particularly through scaffolded instruction that bridges reading, analysis, and argumentation. His most influential works, including *Writing in the Disciplines: A Reader and Rhetoric for Academic Writers* (2012) and its earlier edition (1999), have been widely adopted in composition classrooms. These texts provide practical frameworks for active critical reading, synthesis of multiple sources, and constructing evidence-based arguments—skills essential for disciplinary literacy. While his citation counts (6 each) reflect focused pedagogical impact rather than broad citation metrics, his work has shaped how thousands of instructors teach academic writing. Kennedy’s enduring achievement lies in creating accessible, process-oriented resources that help students transition from novice to proficient academic writers, making him a key contributor to the theory and practice of writing instruction in higher education.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Writing in the disciplines : a reader and rhetoric for academic writers6 citations · 2012
- 2Writing in the Disciplines: A Reader for Writers6 citations · 1999