A Bit About Me

Catalog description

In a society that increasingly values the person as the brand, we often encounter high stakes rhetorical moments in which we must write and speak about ourselves. The task can be daunting. We should come across as confident yet humble, professional yet personable, knowledgeable yet not jargon-y, and distinct yet recognizable. When considering these paradoxical expectations, it’s no wonder that we start to waver when we turn to the subject of who we are. This course, offered in collaboration with the Hurt Hub, will feature extensive practice in professional scenarios that ask us to craft a compelling story about our identity. Units will explore expansive applications of writing and speaking across multiple types of media and situations, including relatable visual aid decks, personal anecdotes in public speaking engagements, “about me” sections on websites and social media feeds, and narratives within emails, grant applications, and annual reports. Students will consider how to tailor the story of themselves to cohere with the norms and expectations of varying audiences and organizations. Real world case studies will illustrate positive and negative examples of the intersection between self and business. In addition to peer and instructor feedback within the course, students will be paired with a professional mentor through the Hurt Hub. This person will coach students on how to adapt materials created within the course for real world application, highlighting the Hub’s emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Satisfies Literary Studies, Creative Writing and Rhetoric.