This course explores the complex relationship between writing and knowledge as it is theorized and practiced, focusing on the important pedagogical shifts in Composition and Rhetoric over the last fifty years. Special topics may include how writing is taught (and knowledge constructed) within the disciplines; the intersection of rhetoric, power, and culture; debates concerning collaborative learning and intellectual property; the challenges of multi-media composition; conversations between composition and critical theory. Dist: ART
Note: This course is strongly recommended for those pursing Secondary Teaching Certification through the Education Department's Teacher Education Program. This course does not carry major credit.
New media calls for new rhetorical practices. This course introduces students to the principles and practices of writing with media, offering instruction in how to read and to write multi-media compositions. Assignments include creating visual arguments; "re-mediating" texts to the Web and/or to PowerPoint; envisioning quantitative information; and composing a video documentary. Students will also produce written analyses of multi-media compositions in order to demonstrate their visual literacy. Dist: ART
Identical to Public Policy 41, this course is designed for students who want to improve their writing skills to effect real change. Students will read and write in various areas of public policy, develop arguments, editorials, position papers, briefing memos, as well as op ed pieces and “letters to the editor” to be submitted to the local newspapers. Students will strengthen their understanding and practice of argument, critique testimony, and develop and present their own oral testimony to the class. Prerequisite: Public Policy 5
This course, identical to College Course 14, is designed to introduce students to the art of effective science writing. Students will learn to interpret and analyze complex scientific research findings and translate them into engaging prose with special attention given to the intended audience. The main focus of the course will be on learning to write about science for scientists. Students will learn how to craft scientific research articles; they will learn to write effective abstracts, introductions, methods, results and discussions. Students will also learn how to create effective visual representations of their data. In the second portion of the course, students will focus on science writing for the non-scientific audience. Students will learn how to accurately communicate their scientific findings and the findings of other scientists to the general public in the format of review articles and newspaper or magazine features. Dist: ART.
This course studies the structure, content, format, and organization of the written legal opinion, along with an introduction to judicial procedure and process. Students will analyze several historically and socially significant United States Supreme Court opinions in order to understand how and why they constitute "the law." Additional readings will contextualize the assigned written opinions. Other topics include how judges write their legal opinions, which factors judges consider when they write judicial opinions, and how the political and social norms and trends affect and influence judicial opinions. Students will learn the technical skills of judicial opinion writing and comprehend the structure and purpose of the American judicial system. This class is recommended for those interested in writing, law, and the American judicial system, and it is especially appropriate for those students considering a career in law. Dist: SOC.
