TOPICS IN WRITING STUDIES: STEM STORIES

Course Description

This course examines the work that stories (narratives) do within STEM contexts, for whom they do that work, who or what is left out of those stories, and what intended and unintended effects the stories have. For one example, in the medical humanities, scholars have been interested in how patients and doctors communicate with each other primarily through stories, and how certain illnesses are constructed through narrative techniques. Drawing upon scholars in writing studies, we will examine a variety of examples of STEM stories. For their own projects, students will analyze materials from their STEM area(s) of interest and/or will write their own creative STEM-oriented texts. All majors, and all levels of STEM expertise, are welcome.