The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us that inequality can have life and death consequences. When we read op-eds in the newspaper or listen to opinion pieces on the radio or television, people are trying to convince us to accept their vision of the problem and their solution.

But you may feel that those with the loudest voices in important local and national debates have lives very different from your own. By writing your own op-ed you can use your stories and insights to help all of us build the America we need.

In this class you will have the chance to practice strategies for analyzing arguments and evaluating evidence in op-eds on a variety of topics. You will also learn how writers from diverse perspectives build arguments and reach out to connect with readers who don’t necessarily share their views.

Over the five weeks of the course you will be guided through the step-by-step process of drawing on your life experience and education to compose an op-ed of roughly 750-850 words on a subject that matters to YOU.

Articles written in this course will be submitted to local newspapers to be considered for publication. Mass Humanities will also feature selected writing from this course on its website. In September, graduates of the course from all four Massachusetts Clemente programs will participate in a symposium hosted by WBUR and moderated by one of their journalists on the ways citizens can help us write our way to the America we need.

Instructor: Lucia Knoles, Professor of English, Assumption College.

Schedule: 6:30-8:30 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 16 to July 16 (10 meetings).

Class Format: All classes will be conducted online using ZOOM.

Course Credit: All students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive 1 credit from Bard College.
Technology Needs: Any student accepted into the course who needs computer access will be provided with a Chromebook. Any student accepted in the course who needs internet access will be provided with a subscription for the duration of the course.

Who is Eligible to Apply: Any Clemente Worcester alum or current student. Our goal is to assemble up to 20 students representing all years of the program.

Curious about the kinds of topics we might be discussing?
Most course readings will come from this online collection of op-eds.

Curious about the kinds of topics we might be discussing?
Most course readings will come from this online collection of op-eds.