Why Writing Matters

Catalog description

From fan fiction to business proposals, from recipes to radio scripts, writing takes countless forms. These texts may seem worlds apart, but they all share something in common: writing as a purposeful, adaptable tool for communication. But what is writing, and how do humans use it to persuade, explain, share ideas and, in general, create meaning across different contexts and situations? Students develop a more flexible, strategic approach to producing and circulating writing across print, digital and material media. At the same time, students explore how theories of rhetoric (how we persuade) and literacy (how we learn and communicate meaning) can help them understand the shifting roles of writing in everyday life. Examines how writing shapes and responds to cultural, technological and historical change; students gain tools for critically thinking and effectively writing in the world around us.