Communicating Policy

Communicating Policy Seminars

The writing center offers Communicating Policy and Professional Report Design (PR Design) exclusively for current LBJ School of Public Affairs graduate students. Communicating Policy reviews and builds upon the core competencies of writing you have developed throughout your academic career and extends them to more specialized forms of public affairs writing to help you be successful in and out of the classroom. Communicating Policy is organized around class syllabi and typically offers classes one week prior to when professors assign a text.

LBJ Practitioner Perspectives

Class consists of lectures, minimal group work and guest lectures titled “Practitioner Perspectives” from practioners who share a commitment to writing and learning. These lectures provide first hand experience and invaluable advice for students.

Among some of our special guest speakers have been:

Arnold Garcia, Opinion Editor of the Austin American Statesman
“The Three Rs of Op-Eds”
Dr. Clay Spinuzzi, Director of the University of Texas Computer and Writing Lab
“PRP Team Writing Strategies and Software Tools”
Dr. Peg Syverson, Associate Professor of the Division of Rhetoric and Writing
“Collaborative Writing Strategies and Software Tools”

Dr. Brian Leiter, John P. Wilson of Law and Director, Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values; University of Chicago, School of Law
“What Can Blogs Contribute to Political Discourse?”
Denise Francis, Office of the Governor; Division of Budget, Planning and Policy (LBJ alumna)
“Finding the Funds and Writing to Win!”
Doris Sanchez, Press Secretary for Senator Eddie Lucio (LBJ alumna)
“Writing Effective Press Releases”
Evan Smith, former Editor of Texas Monthly
“Op-Eds, Persuasion and Public Policy”
Paul Burka, Senior Executive Editor of Texas Monthly
“Politics and Persuasion: The Op-Ed”

Communicating Policy: Fall 2009 Schedule

Classes will meet in SRH 3.312.

Date	Time	Class Title
Unit I: Policy Essentials
9.4	10:00 – 11:00	In-House Correspondence: Public Management Memoranda
		Revisit the writing process in the context of Public Management memos followed by how to revise for directness and succinctness. Leave class knowing, in the words of former President Clinton, how to “make the government more responsive, accessible, and understandable in its communication with the public.”
9.11	10:00 – 11:00	Working with Sources
		What style guide should LBJ students use? Can writers omit sources from a professional memo or op-ed? This class will address all of your questions regarding intentional and unintentional plagiarism. We will initially discuss style guides, review Chicago-style documentation, and finally learn strategies to avoid unintentional plagiarism.
Unit II: Writing for Social Change
9.18	10:00 – 11:00	Op-Eds I: Writing for Social Change
		Learn the history and essentials of writing persuasive and publishable opposite editorials, which drive public debate, educate a large audience, and articulate political desires. In class we will address how to determine a newsworthy topic, formulate a counterintuitive claim, and defend your position without falling victim to informal logical fallacies. Learn how to approach this unique genre and influence social change.
9.25	12:00 – 1:00	Op-Eds II: Practitioner Perspectives with Austin American Statesman Opinion Editor Arnold Garcia
		Guest speaker Arnold Garcia, opinion editor of the Austin American Statesman will discuss the “three Rs of effective op-ed writing" and the editorial process of reading op-eds.
Unit III: Policy Research Papers
10.2	10:00 – 11:00	Policy Research Papers I: Overview
		Write effective policy briefs that inform policy decision-making, and be prepared for writing your term papers. We will address the typical elements and organizational possibilities of compelling policy briefs. We will discuss provisional planning to developing a formal outline.
10.2	11:00 – 12:00	Policy Research Papers II: Library Research
		With so many sources of information, knowing where to research may be overwhelming. Learn how to go beyond using Google and Wikipedia to successfully search for information using government search sites, online library catalogues, and databases to find the most relevant resources for your research. Guest speaker Stephen Littrell, a UT General Libraries professional librarian will offer tips to make your research process manageable.
10.9	10:00 – 11:00	Policy Research Papers III: Literature Review
		This process oriented class offers practical suggestions for analyzing, synthesizing, preparing your first draft, and finally developing a coherent review.
10.16	10:00 – 11:00	Policy Research Papers IV: Case Writing
		This class will discuss how to go beyond the literature review to write an engaging narrative. Beginning with how to develop a prospectus, this class will examine case writing style (blending the roles of reporter, creative writer, and ethnographer), and discuss group and peer editing techniques.
10.23	10:00 – 11:00	Policy Research Papers V: Working with Sources
		What style guide should LBJ students use? Can writers omit sources from a professional memo or op-ed? This class will address all of your questions regarding intentional and unintentional plagiarism. We will initially discuss style guides, review Chicago-style documentation, and finally learn strategies to avoid unintentional plagiarism.
10.30	10:00 – 11:00	Policy Research Papers VI: Revision
		Using direct and economical diction is an essential skill among policy makers. Learn how to recognize and eliminate wordy constructions. Class will begin with a challenging editing exercise.
Unit IV: Special Topics
11.13	10:00 – 11:00	Communicating Policy Roundtable: Special Topics PRP
		In this class we will discuss successful collaborative writing strategies to create a viable writing community in the spring semester. We will discuss how to develop a common context and explore collaborative software tools.
11.20	10:00 – 11:00	Conference Presentation Design and Delivery (postponed)
		We will discuss how to plan, prepare, and execute presentations focusing on effective visual design methods that go beyond reproducing slideduments.