As the course descriptions for the 730 sections make clear, any number of topics can provide a point of departure for an introductory course in expository writing. I have chosen this topic in part because I want to demonstrate the key role that writing plays in shaping public debate. As I noted in the course description, environmentalists have traditionally relied upon the power of their prose to transform the thoughts and behavior of their contemporaries. The topic has the added virtue of enabling us to encounter a wide variety of genres addressed to an equally wide range of readers. The diverse readings will help us understand how the needs of the audience influence the language and structure of a particular piece of writing. They will also, I hope, offer a bit of dessert fare for each of you while encouraging all of you to broaden your repertoire of writing skills and strategies.
The writing assignments will begin with those things that you know best- your own experiences and your own opinions- and move toward topics that are less personal and less familiar. If the going gets tough, you can count on the companionship and sympathy of your fellow students. This is a shared enterprise.
Readings
Except where noted, the readings assigned in this course are taken from three books:
- Packer, Nancy and Timpane, John. Writing Worth Reading. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1989.
- Ross, Carolyn. Writing Nature. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1995.
- Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
While
Writing Worth Reading will answer many of your questions about the mechanics of writing and presentation, you may also want to consult
The Mayfield Handbook of Scientific and Technical Writing, available online through the MIT library web site. For this handbook and other reference texts, click on "Virtual Reference."
Class Participation
This is not a classic textbook course. You cannot do the work at the end of the semester and hope to pass this course. More importantly, you cannot hope to alter the way you approach writing if you remain a passive spectator in this class. MIT's introductory writing courses are designed to help you develop writing strategies that will serve you throughout your career. By the time you reach college, old writing habits are already deeply rooted. Weeding out the unproductive ones requires hard labor. New, improved varieties will only take root if you nurture them. You will find this process more manageable if you take advantage of the experience, insights, and support of your classmates. If all of you participate actively, you can turn a rugged task into a satisfying collaborative venture.
You have the right to miss up to three classes without penalty, but you should use that right sparingly. If you miss more than five classes, you will not pass the course. Exercises and papers must be handed in promptly whether or not you attend class on the due date. If you are unable to attend class, you may submit an exercise by e-mail. Papers, however, must always be printed out. Find a friend or classmate to hand it in if you must miss class. (A more complete guide to course policies will be handed out next week.)
Papers
You will write three major papers over the course of the semester. Each one should be addressed to an intelligent lay audience. Do not assume that your reader has any expertise in the subject you have chosen to explore. You will also revise each paper after a workshop in which you read and comment on one another's work.
Required Papers
- A five-page narrative essay that builds upon your personal experience of a distinctive natural setting (final version due class #9). The two preceding exercises will provide you with the raw material and lay the groundwork for your essay. The associated readings will provide you with models for this kind of essay.
- A seven-page critical essay in which you weigh opposing points of view on a controversial issue (final version due class #16). The two preceding exercises will help you assess your material and develop your own point of view. The associated readings will provide an opportunity for the class as a whole to engage in a similar enterprise.
- A ten-page investigative essay that builds upon your (limited) research into an environmental issue of interest to you (final version due class #26). The three preceding exercises will help you identify the central task of your essay and narrow the range of your research. The associated readings will provide models for this kind of informative writing.
In each case, you should feel free to take your work to MIT's Writing Center for assistance in formulating your ideas and revising your writing.
Exercises
You will be asked to write 8 exercises (one to three pages in length) over the course of the semester. The exercises should help you develop ideas for your papers.
Oral Presentations
This class offers ample opportunity to refine your oral communication skills. You will be expected to express your questions and your insights in every class discussion. In addition, you will be asked to make two formal oral presentations before the class.
Reading Notebook
You should write out a brief response or commentary upon each of the assignments from Writing Nature. A paragraph or two per article or chapter will usually suffice. You may use the questions in Writing Nature as a point of departure if you wish. I will not grade the notebooks, but I will collect them periodically and read through your responses.
Originality
All work submitted to me must have been written for this course alone. You may not hand in a paper that you have written for another course. You should not under any circumstances make use of material "borrowed" from another source without explicitly acknowledging that source. If you are not sure how to acknowledge the work of others, please consult me. We will discuss documentation styles at several points during the semester. MIT does not tolerate plagiarism.