In English 3090, we will examine and practice the hows, whys, and shoulds of professional writing.
“Hows” describe the methods and techniques writers use to produce texts, including: how to critically analyze a rhetorical situation, how to determine and adapt to an audience’s needs, how to construct documents in conventional business genres (such as memos, reports, and letters), how to synthesize information from a variety of perspectives and viewpoints, how to develop an appropriate professional style, and how to critique your own and others’ writing.
“Whys” draw on over 2000 years of rhetorical theory for reasons that can justify your choices. These questions will help you adapt the hows to contexts you encounter outside of this class.
“Shoulds” consider the ethical issues that are part of many rhetorical choices and business contexts. Essentially, they deal with determining the right thing to do. While we will not come up with solid answers for all of these questions, working on them will expand your sense of professionalism about your writing, a sense that you will continue to develop throughout your career.
Quotations
- Writing is an adventure. —Winston Churchill
- If we knew what we were doing, we wouldn't call it research. —Albert Einstein
- You have to be confused before you can reach a new level of understanding anything. —Dudley Herschbach
- for better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi