Ventriloquism 001: How to Throw Your Voice in the Academy

<p>This article sketches an operationalization of Bakhtinian voicing theory—a practical method of reading that we call "hearing voices." It also connects this method to service learning and other pedagogies that invite "private" voices into the classroom. Reported discourse is at the center of the technique, and we suggest that its significance relates to the types of speakers students are allowed to report and what they are reported as saying. Therefore, a taxonomy for categorizing reported discourse is offered–popular, scholarly and private reported voices. A reading of one student paper is presented, where focusing on reported discourse allows us to hear the different discourses around racism which emerge and the ways that the student gives voice to them and to herself in relation to them. We conclude by suggesting further ways to integrate "hearing voices" into the basic writing classroom.</p>