Strategies, Tactics and the Politics of Literacy: Genres and Classroom Practices in a Context of Change.

This paper draws on research undertaken during recent years, especially research involving students in classrooms in Australia. The paper focuses on some examples and issues of educational practice occurring in a context where "genre theory"--along with other theories and concepts concerning language and literacy--have been used as a foundation for the English syllabus in years P-10. It has three parts, and in each part the concrete examples used are drawn from the aforementioned research as much as possible. The paper's first part considers some aspects of the politics of genre as applied language educational theory, while the second part uses concepts of "Use,""Tactics," and "Strategy" based on the work of Michel de Certeau to understand some differences between the literacy practices of one student in school and his literacy practices outside of school. The paper's final part raises some issues about established genres in the current context of changes accompanying the large-scale adoption of new information and communications technologies. (Contains 35 references.) (NKA)