Political Opinion Writing

Catalog description

"Whether you end up in government, an NGO, a policy think tank or some other job related to politics and international affairs, it is probable that you will write an opinion piece in the media at some point on your area of expertise. This course is for those of you in the MA Program who want to develop political opinion research and writing skills. Initially, we will focus on political opinion writing in different media, taking a critical view of the content and writing style of published writers (including myself). We will briefly consider academic literature about writing techniques as well the ability of the media to produce unbiased opinion and even influence policy. There will then be lectures on different topics in politics and discussion on related political science readings. You will produce opinion pieces in reaction to these lectures and readings, using academic literature, media, policy reports and other sources to help shape your argument. The goal will be for you to create well- researched, structured and highly original political opinion pieces that go beyond the obvious. Past students have published pieces on varied topics including ethnic tensions in France, the plight of the Italian Roma minority, the legacy of Rwanda’s genocide, Bahrain’s sectarian violence and Afghan women’s rights in the Huffington Post, Democrat and Chronicle, Sharnoff’s Global Views, World Policy Journal, European Magazine, Global Politics Magazine and Worldpress.org."