1:25P-2:15P MWF (25) 3 cr

ABOVE SECTION COAS INTENSIVE WRITING

Prerequisite: W131 or equivalent.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GENDER, RACE AND THE RHETORIC OF SCIENCE

This section of advanced expository writing will invite students
to explore critiques of the language of science.  Emphasis will
be placed on understanding how political structures and
particular cultural narratives about gender and race shape
disciplinary concepts of nature, science, and technology.  One of
our projects will be to investigate how, for example, cultural
narratives of crisis and control shake the rhetoric of
environmental studies, namely the Green movement and ecofeminism.=20
We will also explore historical shifts in science discourse on
reproduction technology, health and sickness.  Some of the
questions that will guide our inquiry include: In what ways have
particular historical and cultural concepts of gender, race and
sexuality shaped the construction of knowledge in science?  How
has science constructed "race"?  Who has access to scientific
discourse?  Who gets to direct and do science?  Why is it
important for non-scientists to understand science discourse?=20
Although all reading and writing assignments center on issues in
these special subject areas, emphasis is on the composing
process, revision strategies, style and the mechanics of academic
writing taught through a combination of individual tutoring and
group meetings.  Writing requirements will include: 5-6 critical
academic essays drafted and revised during the course of the
semester and weekly reading journals.

Readings will include excerpts from the following books
(tentative list): Ehrenreich, Barbara and Deirdre English.
COMPLAINTS AND DISORDERS: THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF SICKNESS,=20
MacKenzie, Nancy.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TODAY: READINGS FOR
WRITERS, Sontag, Susan.  ILLNESS AS METAPHOR, AIDS AND ITS
METAPHORS.