Christopher Eisenhart

Introduction to issues of social justice and engagement in rhetoric and communication in interpersonal, professional, and civic contexts.  Students will develop their ability to recognize and respond to the rhetorical, ethical, and social implications of issues and tensions in various historical and contemporary communication situations. Learning from diverse perspectives and frameworks in communication, they will develop skills and approaches for critical social engagement through communication practices, across modes and genres. 

The study and contemporary application of ancient Greek and Roman rhetorical theory. Students will apply rhetorical theory in ongoing analyses of a wide range of communication media (written, spoken, visual) and in their own writing.

Study and practice of organizational communication. Students undertake communicative activities and processes by which individuals succeed in organizations and organizations proceed toward their missions. Understanding and practicing organizational communication requires balancing and coordinating practical concerns, mapping conceptual frameworks, and perceiving power dynamics. The course introduces the concepts and practices necessary to understand organizations and to affect personal and organizational success.

An examination of language's pivotal role in shaping a culture's values, beliefs, biases, and world view. By reading a broad range of essays, excerpts, and articles, students will learn how language shapes thought, molds perceptions, and determines how we think about and react to various people, groups, and cultures. Students will write a series of articles for lay audiences based on what they learn during the course.

Rhetorical precepts and notions as developed since antiquity and applied to contemporary professional writing and communication. Students will learn to identify and analyze rhetoric across a variety of discursive situations and in turn establish sound rhetorical practices within their own communication.

This course examines the problems, principles, and techniques of writing effectively in science and technology for both the general public and specialized audiences. Emphasis will be on evaluating technical language and jargon; understanding the needs of various audiences; learning research techniques; and developing interview and validation strategies that help writers clarify trends, theories, patterns, and perspectives. Students will be expected to write articles about newsworthy events for scientific and technical journals.