Berkenkotter, Carol, and Donald M. Murray. “Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Publishing Writer, and Response of a Laboratory Rat: Or, Being Protocoled. Summary
The article "Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Publishing Writer, and Response of a Laboratory Rat: Or, Being Protocoled" by Berkenkotter and Murray explores the planning strategies of a professional writer and the experiences of a laboratory rat in a research setting. The authors present a case study of a writer, referred to as Writer A, who engages in extensive planning and revision processes when writing technical reports for a federal agency. The authors illustrate the detailed record-keeping and systematic thinking that Writer A employs throughout the writing process.
The article also discusses the experiences of a laboratory rat, referred to as Rat A, who is subjected to a structured experimental protocol. The authors highlight the similarities between the planning strategies of Writer A and the protocol-driven approach in the lab setting. They argue that both the writer and the rat are subjected to external demands and expectations that shape their behaviors and decision-making processes.
Overall, the article emphasizes the significance of planning and protocol in professional writing and scientific research. It suggests that writers, like scientists, follow a systematic and structured approach in order to meet the requirements and expectations set by their respective contexts. The article provides a unique perspective on the planning processes of a writer and draws attention to the parallels between writing and experimental research.