Abstract
Twenty-first century literacies and technology are changing the dynamics of how, why and when writers compose. Moreover, the populations on college campuses are becoming more diverse, and thus, the ability to acknowledge a plurality of perspectives and voices is an important aspect of the learning environment in the writing classroom where students engage with each other as a knowledge-making exercise. Thus, the social connection that is created through interaction with peers and audiences necessitates an ethical consideration and responsibility on the part of the writer especially if words or ideas have the potential to cause harm to others. Relying on sound theoretical research from Composition and Rhetoric, I propose that ethics is situated within a postmodern context and redefined in terms of inquiry. Additionally, I propose that the WPA outcomes include an overarching ethical element which acknowledges the ability of students to reach global audiences through the act of composing and self-publishing, and establishes a writer’s responsibility to consider the implications of their words and ideas on both intended and accidental audiences.