206.52S sec. 001 - Writing to Persuade: How to Win the Hearts and Minds of Any Audience (Summer 2024)
Instructor: Rose Carmen Goldberg (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
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Units: 1
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meetings:
F 2:00 PM - 6:10 PM
Location: Law 134
On 2024-06-28
Sa 09:00 AM - 6:10 PM
Location: Law 134
On 2024-06-29
Class Number: Click to show Class Number
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 14
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 25
As of: 08/01 07:33 AM
Do you have an opinion, personal story, or call to action you want to share with the world in real-time? Have you always wanted to see your name in a byline or know how to write an irresistible pitch? This interactive course on the craft of persuasive media writing will show you how.
Media writing is an important skill for lawyers to have in their toolkit. In addition to using written argument in traditional legal advocacy, lawyers also increasingly use the media to advocate for their clients and causes. And sometimes, one opinion article in a major news outlet can bring about change that would have taken years in litigation.
Effective media writing requires that lawyers write in clear, persuasive, and personal terms. This course will help students build these critical skills. We will start by examining how to leverage different types of expertise. Individuals of all backgrounds and legal fields have much to contribute to society’s pressing debates. Next, we will deconstruct the opinion writing form, analyzing a range of structures and techniques of persuasion. This will include best practices for hooking readers, arguing with evidence, and simplifying technical information. We will also discuss how these techniques apply broadly to various forms of writing, such as project pitches, client letters, and more. From there, we will hone the haiku-like skill of persuasive writing, namely, how to pack a big punch in few words. And since timing and placement are everything, students will learn how to identify what aspect of a story makes it attention-worthy and to craft winning media pitches. Throughout the course, we will critique media pieces on varied topics, read articles on effective persuasive writing, and do in-class group exercises. Students will come away from the course with actionable writing skills for amplifying their voice and message in the public arena, to win the hearts and minds of legal and lay audiences alike.
It is anticipated that the course will feature at least one guest speaker. (Previous guest speakers include Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and San Francisco Chronicle Deputy Editorial Page Editor Zeba Khan.)
Instructor Bio: Rose Carmen Goldberg is an award-winning opinion author, including recognitions from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and National Federation of Press Women. Her writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times. She teaches writing courses and veterans law at Berkeley Law. She has also taught opinion writing at Stanford University and a course on medical-legal partnerships at Columbia University. Outside of teaching, Rose practices impact litigation and policy advocacy as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General’s Office. Previously, she worked at the White House under President Obama, in the U.S. Senate, and at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rose received a JD from Yale Law School and an MPA from Columbia University.
Due to the condensed nature of this course, in-person attendance at all course sessions is mandatory. Absences cannot be excused for any reason, including illness or emergencies. The Registrar’s Office will drop any student who misses a session.
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Exam Notes: (None) Class requires a series of papers, assignments, or presentations throughout the semester
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: General Courses
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Readers:
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Books:
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