Students will come to understand how problems of public interest, and possible solutions, are articulated and debated. Real issueschosen by the classwill be foregrounded, to enable students to practice communicating effectively to persuade the multiple audiences (elected officials, advocacy groups, concerned citizens) involved in the democratic process.
Students will choose a public issue that concerns or interests them and learn to bring about change through informed communication. Expert speakers, a field trip, readings about civic culture, and case studies at SU or in Syracuse-area communities will prepare students to write and speak publicly about their issue. Students will communicate strategically to target audiences through letters to the editor, press releases, position papers, oral briefings.
Students will conduct sustained research in their fields of study or areas of interest. They will also analyze research processes, including, e.g., ethnography, case studies, personal interviews, and/or textual research. Students will present research to both members of their own disciplinary communities and audiences outside that community.
WRT 331 is both a writing studio and a practicum course designed to train undergraduates as Peer Writing Consultants. In it, students learn current writing and peer consulting theories and then apply them during writing consulting sessions conducted in the Writing Center. It is an ideal course for anyone considering a career in education or any career where collaboration with colleagues is important.
This course will explore several varieties of "creative nonfiction," including the personal essay, travel writing, public argument, New Journalism, popular science and history, and parody. Course work will involve reading, analysis, and writing activities in creative nonfiction, such as informal technique exercises, a reading journal, and at least one longer polished text.
Students will study and write memoir, examining popular themes, patterns, influences, and purposes. How do memoir writers define, illustrate, and use these three to construct their memoirs?
Students in the course will deepen their understanding of the issues linking Native Americans, academia, and the rhetoric of Indian identity. Students will also translate their understanding into an original piece of writing that, as part of a class anthology, will be distributed to local schools and libraries.
This course will explore communication technologies in the 21st century. Students will review and practice new media genres as they explore such topics as internet access initiatives, interactive fiction, privacy, distance education, games, electronic 'zines, and the web as a propaganda machine.
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