Communication, Identity, and Context

Speaking, reading, and writing are integral parts of everyday life. In this course, students not only examine how identities and contexts shape each of these communicative acts, but will also learn to develop different context-dependent voices in speaking and writing exercises. The course will emphasize four main learning goals for students. One, students will be introduced to communication as a concept and a field by learning a selection of communication theories. Two, students will understand how different media influence communication, both in content and structure of messages. Three, students will explain how different social identities and contexts influence people's reading, writing, and speaking. Four, students will practice different styles of reading, writing, and speaking according to various hypothetical audience expectations and genre restrictions. In addition to weekly readings and frequent small homework assignments, students will be asked to propose (by week six) a final project (due week eight) in which they compare texts from a genre of choice and then emulate them in their own original work.