The readings for the class are intended to help you think about how to create effective arguments and how to communicate your ideas clearly and coherently. Many readings will be handed out in class. However, you may want to purchase a few guides to help you this semester and in your career.
Strongly Recommended
Williams, Joseph, and Gregory Colomb. The Craft of Argument. New York, NY: Longman Press, 2006. ISBN: 0321453271.
Other Resources
Kilment, Stephen A. Writing for Design Professionals. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998. ISBN: 0393730263.
Kane, Thomas S. The Oxford Essential Guide to Critical Writing. New York, NY: Berkeley Publishing Group, 2000. ISBN: 0425176401.
Strunk, William, and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 1999. ISBN: 020530902X.
Perelman, et al. The Mayfield Handbook on Technical Writing.
Turabian, Kate L. “Method of Citation.” Section 8 in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN: 0226816273.
Celce-Murcia, Marianne, and Diane Larsen-Freeman. The Grammar Book. 2nd ed. Rowley, MA: Newbury House Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 0838498957.
Azar, Betty Schrampfer. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 3rd ed. White Plains, NY: Longman, 2002. ISBN: 0130976059.
The KSG Communications Program. “PAE Policy Analysis Exercise: The Writing Guide 2001-2002.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University.
The Purdue On-line Writing Lab
Still Other Resources
Kschischang, Frank R. Giving a Talk: Guidelines for the Preparation and Presentation of Technical Seminars. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto.
Weekly Readings
In order to be able to write arguments, you need to read well-written published arguments. So, each week you should be reading 5 to 10 opinion/editorial pieces. Op-Ed pieces are a good way to learn about how to write concisely and how to create a persuasive argument. Op-Ed pieces can be found in any newspaper, but here are a few Web links to make it really easy.
Kennedy School of Government News and Communications: Op-Eds
If you find an op-ed piece that you like, please don’t hesitate to bring it into class.
