Syllabus

Course Description

This is an intensive writing clinic that focuses on argumentation and communication. What does it mean to make an argument? What are the different types of arguments that you can make? What are the different forms of writing that you need to learn in order to be successful here at MIT and when you move into the professional world. In this class we will write, revise and revise again. We will also practice oral briefing skills.

This class is linked to the Gateway Class (11.201) and uses the assignments in that class as a springboard for the writing that we will be doing in this class.

Here are just a few of the topics we will discuss:

• Drafting Memos that get Results
• Translating Technical Information into Everyday Language
• Creating and Giving Oral Briefings
• Understanding Good, Bad and Horrible Graphics

Collaborative Learning

As discussed above, a critical component of this class will be the practice of giving and receiving comments on written and oral presentations. Giving and receiving constructive feedback can be a highly useful tool for learning to analyze and improve the quality of your writing and analysis. Your peers can provide a new perspective, valuable insights, and guidance for you as you work through your policy questions. So, you will be put into writing groups with one or two other individuals and you will critique each others' work. All writing done for the class will be submitted to both to the instructor and all the writing group members.

Course Materials

There is no text for this class. The instructor will provide a variety of practical and theoretical readings, as well as a number of handouts to students. A number of recommended texts are listed in the readings section for your review.

Grading

The Grade for the course is based on a series of written and oral assignments.

Written Work

There will be three major pieces of writing due this semester and these are your revisions of the Gateway assignments (your diagnostic memo and two other Gateway memos).

Documenting Sources

Do not cut and paste material from Web pages or other documents without making evident the source of the information. Using work that is not your own without attribution is a serious offense and subject to formal action by the Institute. Inadequately documented papers (including bibliography and footnotes or in-text citations) will not receive a passing grade. When in doubt, document the source.

Weekly Workshops

The focus of this class will be on editing and revising. So, each week we will review writing that you bring to share with the class. Student samples should be no more than two pages long. We will work in small groups and together as a larger class. Please bring in an electronic copy and also 2 copies of each piece of writing.

Weekly Readings

In order to be able to write well, you need to read well-written published work. So, each week you should be reading 5 to 10 opinion/editorial pieces.