Writing the Think Piece

WRITING X 424.15E

Learn to write provocative pieces on current events and trends in this workshop devoted to crafting powerful essays.

What you can learn.

Read and discuss powerful examples of thinkpieces from contemporary writers
Determine what makes a thinkpiece effective
Learn to research your argument and structure ideas
Complete several polished pieces in response to news and popular ideas

About this course:

Perhaps no genre is more shared, read, and critiqued than the online thinkpiece. As much as these essays capture and analyze the current cultural landscape, they are often misunderstood as quick, cheap, or reactionary. The truth is that the genre is malleable enough for any writer to find their footing and to craft their voice within its limits. Together, we define what a thinkpiece is and is not by reading some of its most well-known writers, including Roxane Gay, Kiese Laymon, and Rebecca Solnit. Then, we work on honing your voice, researching your argument, and giving structure to your ideas. Participants walk away from the course with several pieces of polished work.