The Rhetoric of Appalachian Identity - Paperback

by Todd Snyder (Author)

In this work the various ways that social, economic, and cultural factors influence the identities and educational aspirations of rural working-class Appalachian learners are explored. The objectives are to highlight the cultural obstacles that impact the intellectual development of such students and to address how these cultural roadblocks make transitioning into college difficult. Throughout the book, the author draws upon his personal experiences as a first-generation college student from a small coalmining town in rural West Virginia. Both scholarly and personal, the book blends critical theory, ethnographic research, and personal narrative to demonstrate how family work histories and community expectations both shape and limit the academic goals of potential Appalachian college students.

Author Biography

Todd Snyder is an assistant professor of rhetoric, writing, and oral communication at Siena College in Loudonville, New York. He lives in Albany, New York.