WRIT42408 - Writing Controversy

Course Description

Writing about religion and other controversial subjects can seem like playing with fire. As University of Chicago professor Margaret M. Mitchell has said, that fire can be “a source of warmth and light”; but—if not conducted safely and smartly—it can also spread in unanticipated and sometimes dangerous ways. This is all the more true in the worlds of digital and social media, where comments sections, likes, and shares have transformed not only how readers consume commentary about controversial subjects, but also how writers must write about them. In this course, we will look at and discuss how writers handle the flames of controversy online when religion, politics, and other such subjects come into play. Then, in an instructor-led workshop format, you will try your own hand at crafting short articles, essays, or blog posts that demonstrate effective strategies for playing with fire.