Writing and Rhetoric: Rhetoric and Contemporary Issues

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
1	Introduction to the Class as a Writing Community; Why Write About Social and Ethical Issues?
2	Reasons to Believe: The Rhetoric of Classic American Political Speeches: Utopian and Dystopian Themes Peer Review Training. Sample Student Essay-in-progress: “Not Saturday’s Child” (PDF)	Course information sheet due.
3	The Emergence of Social and Ethical Values Peer Review: Exercise 1	First version of Essay 1 due before the next lecture by email.
4	Workshop: Essay 1	Letters to workshop students due in class.
5	Representing Social Issues in Historical Context: Poverty and Wealth in the Industrial Era	Utopia writing exercise due. Essay 2 assigned. Oral presentation preferences due by email before the next class.
6	Documenting Social Issues: Poverty in the Industrial Era
7	Writers Engage with Contemporary Social Issues: Homelessness: Contrasting Perspectives	Proposal for Essay 2 (first version) due by email before the next class.
8	Library Session in the Digital Instruction Resource Center MIT Library Guide Peer Review of Essay 2 Proposals
9	Low Wage Jobs: Pathways Out of Poverty? Peer Review of Essay 2 Proposals	Revision of Essay 1 due by email before the next class.
10	Low Wage Jobs: Pathways Out of Poverty? (cont.)	Revised Proposal of Essay 2 due by email before the next class.
11	Living in an Aging Society: Benefits and Challenges
12	Writers Engage with Contemporary Issues: The Politics of Food	Outline of Essay 2 and History / Background Sections due by email before the next class.
13	Writers Engage with Contemporary Issues: The Politics of Food (cont.)
14	Writers Explore Contemporary Issues: Mental Health and Illness	First version of Essay 2 due by email before the next class.
15	Writers Explore Contemporary Issues: Mental Health and Illness (cont.)
16	Workshop: Essay 2
17	Living in the Age of Mass Media: The Influence of Advertising
18	Creating Childhood Consumers: Youth and Advertising Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing: Identifying Needs; Designing Programs	Assignment 3 (Grant Proposal) assigned
19	Grant Proposal Writing (cont.) Peer Review Proposal Ideas	Proposal idea for a public service project due.
20	Grant Proposal Writing (cont.) Review Sample Student Grants	Revised Essay 2 due by email before the next class.
21	Grant Proposal Writing (cont.): Budgets, Evaluation Plans and Abstracts The Pitch: Oral Presentations on Grant Ideas
22	Workshop: Assignment 3	First version of Assignment 3 due.
23	The Pitch: Oral Presentations Overview of the Grant Proposal Revision Process
24	The Pitch: Oral Presentations (cont.)
25	The Pitch: Oral Presentations Course Overview and Evaluations	Revised Assignment 3 and final reflection letter due.