Kirk Astle

Writing as Inquiry

Prison Writing as Social Justice
This course frames writing practices, strategies, and advocacy from a rhetorical lens that examines prison writing both by and about prisoners and the U.S. carceral state, thus considering the frisson that may exist between inside and outside representations.  

Students will use practical and theoretical approaches to examine and understand how writings about and by (formerly) incarcerated individuals reflect concerns about the human condition in places of confinement in relation to unequal power relations and the relationship of these portrayals to larger aims of ‘giving voice’ and creating social awareness of the specific plight of the incarcerated. 

At the same time, students will analyze the often ambiguous and/or limited role of such writings and writing programs in amplifying the voices and works of incarcerated learners/writers and the complex ethical implications and rhetorical decisions thus entailed. The course will invite the students themselves to engage and join ongoing conversations about such issues, vis-à-vis a research and/or advocacy writing project that arises from the term’s coursework and discussions.

Writing and Public Policy
In this course, students learn a general method for planning, producing, assessing, and critically analyzing communications in a variety of real-life public policy contexts and situations.  This course is ideal for students preparing for careers in politics, government, public relations, law, public policy, journalism, social work, public health, or in any role related to public affairs. We will cover various public policies during the semester, so you will be able to read and write about policies that are most interesting to you.

This course assumes you possess advanced skills in and rhetorical knowledge about academic writing, particularly your skills in researching and analyzing concepts and social issues, and adds the technical writing skills you need to communicate effectively as a public administration professional. You will practice writing short documents like one-page memos, and longer documents: witness testimony before public agencies and legislatures, comments on federal regulations, policy briefs on issues, and technical policy reports. We will examine and critically analyze various public policies during the semester, so you will be able to read and write about issues that are most interesting to you. This course also builds upon what you already know about the economic, social, and political contexts within which public policymakers, the media, and the public operate. Our special emphasis upon writing hones and enhances your policy writing skills, whether these relate to your present occupation or your next job.  From your research, writing, and analyses, you will edify the class regarding the political context of contemporary public administration, the role of public administration in the policy process, and ethical behavior of policy professionals and advocates.  Concerning ethics, our emphasis will be on writing that is accurate, based on credible evidence, and responsible in its lucid and concise presentation.

Professional policy communication is quite different from scholarly writing because of the reader you are addressing, who typically is a very busy executive who needs a clear, concise message from you. That is why I think of this course as a bridge toward professional writing in a variety of workplaces, both inside and outside of government.