Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

In this class, we will learn how to reach an audience. We write letters aimed at different audiences--a friend, a colleague, a scholarship committee--and study how our language changes as we address each person. We will also become reviewers, looking at a piece of art (movie, comic, fashion design, book or game) that interests us and evaluating its merits and weaknesses. Finally, we'll work on a researched argument encouraging our peers to make a change in their lives or in society. Throughout this, we'll be using the text "They Say, I Say" to guide us with useful advice on how to start paragraphs, transition between ideas, or represent the thoughts of someone you disagree with. An example syllabus is available here.