Course orientation, and introductions
If public policy making is not familiar to you, and if you wonder how technical and professional communication function in a policy process, readings in weeks one and two will provide basic background information.
I’m Catherine Smith, the instructor. As you’ll read in my preface to Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide, I worked first with government professionals, later with undergraduate interns in public policy and students in writing, and now with graduates in communication to develop practical understanding and techniques for interaction necessary to achieve this course’s aim in education and in life, introducing you to concepts and skills needed for active participation, through your chosen professional and civic roles, in making public policy.
Please introduce yourself in the first assignment. Tell us what experiences, interests (job-related, academic program-related), or issue-related concerns bring you to take this course.
Week 1 (1/9) Assignments
- In Discussion (main forum), tell us about you, highlighting the relevant details of your experience or interest in community, civic life, politics, or government at any level (@100 words for introduction).
- Read as assigned for week 1 (see Schedule).
- In Discussion (main forum), respond to week 1 readings by summarizing Smith’s and Stone’s characterizations of public policy making (1-sentence abstract for each). Then, comment on the similarities and differences in these texts. Do you see them as complemtary? Can you identify situations in your work or life for which their contents might be useful now or in future?(@ 100 words for comments). Remember to type your name IN your comment; B'board might show us only your userid, which will not tell us how you'd like to be addressed.
Post by 9 pm on 1/13.