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syllabus

From Campus to Cafés: Writing the Middle East for Your Daily Read

In our dynamic seminar, we will shift away from the traditionally dense academic prose and venture into writing engaging, accessible narratives about the Middle East that resonate with a wider audience. This course is designed for those eager to break down the barriers of academia and bring their scholarship into everyday discourse. We will kickstart our exploration by reflecting on writings that have effectively brought the Middle East to public attention, and then move towards identifying captivating topics that hold broad public interest. As we navigate through the complexities of the region, our emphasis will be on ethical research practices, crafting persuasive arguments, and employing impactful rhetorical strategies to challenge pre-existing narratives. Beyond the writing process, we will engage in lively peer review sessions to foster collaborative learning and improve our writing skills. By co-writing sections of our papers, we will learn to ensure coherence and clarity even when multiple minds are at work. The goal is not only to improve our individual writing skills but also to enhance our ability to contextualize complex topics for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. By the end of the course, students will have developed a compelling piece of writing that is ready to be shared with the public, effectively translating academic insights into engaging stories that could be part of your daily read.


1 – mo 16.10.2023 2–4 PM – course introduction

We will go over the syllabus, learning objectives, assignments, and expectations.

Task #1: Find a scholarly paper on a Middle East topic that you find effectively written for its intended readers by Thursday 19.10.2023 6 PM.

2 – mo 23.10.2023 2–4 PM – analyzing effective writing

We will examine examples of impactful scholarly writing and analyze what makes them compelling for readers.

Task #2: Identify a potential topic for your final paper by Thursday 26.10.2023 6 PM.

3 – mo 30.10.2023 2–4 PM – identifying readers and topics

Students will identify target readers and potential topics to write about for their final papers. We will discuss appealing topics and target audiences.

Task #3: Identify the target readersfor your final paper by Thursday 2.11.2023 6 PM.

4 – mo 06.11.2023 2–4 PM – constructing the problem

We will examine how to frame a motivating problem that shows readers why your work is valuable. Students will draft their core problem.

Task #4: Draft 1–2 paragraphs presenting the central problem your paper will address, using language of instability, costs, and benefits by Thursday 9.11.2023 6 PM. Do not submit this draft; the deadline is intended to keep you on track.

5 – mo 13.11.2023 2–4 PM – challenging assumptions

We will explore methods for politely challenging assumptions and showing readers complications in existing knowledge.

Task #5: Revise your introduction to subtly challenge assumptions and create generative instability for readers by Thursday 16.11.2023 6 PM.

6 – mo 20.11.2023 2–4 PM – peer review session

Students will exchange revised introductions for peer review, focusing feedback on establishing value for readers.

Task #6: Provide written feedback on a peer’s draft introduction by Thursday 23.11.2023 6 PM, focusing on strengths/weaknesses in establishing value.

7 – mo 27.11.2023 2–4 PM – enriching the problem

We will examine methods for continually enriching the core problem throughout papers to demonstrate ongoing value.

Officially issue of final paper topics. Students confirm their selected topic by Tuesday, 28.11.2023, 6 PM. Writing time begins.

Task #7: Revise a key passage to strengthen its capacity to change how readers think about the topic by Thursday 30.11.2023 6 PM.

8 – mo 4.12.2023 2–4 PM – writing to change minds

We will explore techniques for using vivid examples, compelling arguments, and rhetoric to fundamentally shift how readers think.

Task #8: Assess a peer’s draft paper and provide constructive written feedback by Thursday 7.12.2023 6 PM.

9 – mo 11.12.2023 2–4 PM – peer review session

Students will exchange draft papers, providing feedback on value, persuasive impact, flow, organization, and coherence.

Task #9: none

10 – mo 18.12.2023 2–4 PM – revising for readers

We will discuss methods for revising papers to best fulfill the function of helping readers understand something valuable.

Task #10: Finalize your first draft. Revise the paper’s framing and structure to demonstrate value to readers. Rewrite your introduction to strengthen the reader-centered focus on establishing value. All by Thursday 4.1.2024 6 PM.

11 – mo 8.1.2024 2–4 PM – finalizing first drafts

Students will finalize first drafts of their final papers for submission.

12 – mo 15.1.2024 2–4 PM – credibility and creativity & English language support

We will do an exercise on “credibility and creativity”; the background is a discussion from one of the last sessions where some students argued that what makes writing “academic” is citing established or canonized literature/studies/thinkers and that it would be more about credibility than about traceability or transparency or “intersubjectifiability” (if that’s even a word).

Task #11: Find an example of an academic article or other scholarly work that also engages broader audiences through supplementary writings, translations, presentations, etc. Come prepared to discuss how it extends the research impact. Look at your own paper topic and think of 2–3 ways the core findings or ideas could be reframed and translated for non-academic audiences. All by Thursday 1181.2024 6 PM.

Task #12: Prepare brief remarks on your goals for reaching readers most interested in your paper’s contribution by Thursday 18.1.2024 6 PM.

13 – mo 22.1.2024 2–4 PM – writing for broader impacts & dissemination strategies & course wrap-up

We will explore popular science writing aimed at general readers, maybe practice translating research findings into compelling narratives for non-experts, and talk about effective public scholarship through blogs, social media, opinion pieces. And we will discuss effective strategies for disseminating finished papers to target scholarly audiences.

Task #13: Submit your final polished 15–18 page paper. First deadline: 5.2.2024 6 PM; second deadline: 12.2.2024 6 PM.

Task #14: By 19.2.2024 6 PM, post your end-of-course reflection on key learnings, growth as a writer, and future applications of skills developed on the blog.

learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify compelling and accessible writings on the Middle East targeted at general audiences.
  • Recognize effective rhetorical techniques for establishing value and relevance for readers.
  • Craft engaging narratives that challenge assumptions and shift perspectives on the Middle East.
  • Employ ethical research practices when writing on complex regional issues.
  • Provide constructive feedback to peers to improve clarity, organization, and flow of writing.
  • Revise their own writing to strengthen reader-centered focus and persuasive impact.
  • Translate academic insights into compelling stories and arguments for broader audiences.
  • Develop dissemination strategies to share their work with target readers.
  • Articulate goals for reaching wider publics beyond academic circles.
  • Reflect on their growth as public scholars able to make regional knowledge accessible.