Stanley Harrison, PhD

Argument-focused course that introduces students to scholarly reading and writing strategies. Students practice widely-applicable methods of reading, writing, and revising arguments. Students read college-level arguments from diverse popular, public, and academic genres in order to develop their academic skills of analyzing single arguments, synthesizing multiple perspectives, and composing informed responses to an ongoing conversation.

An introduction to the art of public speaking through the study of effective principles combined with practice in speaking before a group.

Explores copywriting theories, principles, and techniques. Students will learn to compose within a variety of copywriting genres, such as space advertising, brochures, sales letters, radio scripts, and interactive advertising.

Advanced study of rhetorical communication within a specific genre, field, historical period, or community. Focus will change with instructor, but may include such topics as: Social Activism; Photography and Iconography; Music; Public Policy; more. Course may be repeated for credit with a change in topic.

Introduction to Internet communications and culture. The course focus will change with the instructor, but topics may include Internet Cultural Production and the Global Digital Divide; Cyborg Communications; Uploading Identity, Downloading Decrepitude; Augmented Reality, or the Composition of Everyday Life.

This course explores the analytical and creative possibilities of language. Through both a theoretical discussion and practical application, we will examine how basic elements of writing, such as diction - including figurative language - syntax, structure, and rhetorical style, express and modulate meaning in a variety of writing forms. Students will analyze, create, and critique imaginative pieces, including advertising copy, written speeches, song lyrics, technical articles, short fiction poetry, drama, and literary nonfiction.

An in-depth writing workshop focusing on various topics in professional writing. The type of writing taught during a particular semester will vary, depending on student interests, faculty research and publication, or the strengths of visiting writers. Possible topics include approaches to writing novels, short stories, screenplays or poetry, editorial, feature, how-to environmental and other forms of journalistic writing; free-lance writing; and special topics in technical and professional writing.