This course is a rigorous introduction to the formal study of rhetoric. Often defined as the “art of persuasion,” rhetoric helps us understand the complexities of marshaling others to see, believe and act in particular ways. Reading a range of rhetorical theory—from the ancient to the contemporary—students will investigate how language is used to create meaning, construct identity, organize social groups, and produce change. Because argument and persuasion inherently involve ethical questions of power, students will also consider who and what benefits or is marginalized by particular assumptions, claims and practices. The course emphasizes cultural rhetoric and rhetorical genre theory to ask what different types of texts do, what cultural role they play in shaping knowledge, and what ideologies they embody. Students will analyze the rhetoric observed in a range of media—academic research, public communication, digital material, data visualization—and compose arguments, identifying assumptions, misinformation/disinformation, and counter arguments. Students engage with rhetorical theory to pose complex questions about important social issues, consider the discursive requirements of the moment, and write intentionally for a target audience.

Exploration of the many ways in which science employs modes of persuasion, and the ways it does so differently in different cases of scientific work. Emphasis will be given to the conjunction between science and rhetoric; examples will be drawn from key figures and texts in the history of science, ongoing controversies in contemporary scientific debates, the popularization of science in public media, and the representation of science in fiction.

This course draws from rhetorical theory to explore the many ways in which health and medicine is understood, designed, used, and discussed. Students will learn methods developed within the field of Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine (RSTM) and apply those methods in the analysis of case studies, (i.e. chronic conditions and pain management, infectious disease and modern plagues, mental illness and mortality). The course offers students opportunities to examine how language and argument shape the cultural and global forces of health and illness, in particular it relates to patient rights, public advocacy and social movements. Students will review rhetorical arguments regarding high-tech diagnostic methods, prosthetic technologies, and new drug therapies–and the unequal distribution of health care among different populations. Additionally, students will consider the transnational circulation of medical knowledge by health care professionals, scientists and nonscientists, and the effect of digital communication on deliberation about health-related issues, arguments and controversies. While the course does not assume a background in medicine or health care, students will be invited to reflect on their own embodiment and experience of health, illness or disability.

Study of and practice in writing about science, environment, medicine and technology for audiences ranging from the general public to scientists and engineers. Starts with basic science writing for lay audiences, emphasizing writing strategies and techniques. Also explores problems of conveying highly complex technical information to multiple audiences, factors that influence science communication to the public, and interactions between scientists and journalists. The course examines new opportunities for covering science (especially on the internet), important ethical and practical constraints that govern the reporting of scientific information, and the cultural place of science in our society.