1 Writing for Social Change: Exploring Perspectives Beth Oyler Nathan Sacks Brittany Kallman-Arneson Anne Shiell

2 2 Housekeeping Type your questions in the Q&A box Download the PowerPoint slides (at any point) and view the recording (later): edu/415.htm edu/415.htm

3 3 Agenda Social change at Walden What is social change? How does writing relate to social change? Writing for social change toolbox

4 4 MISSION Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. VISION Walden University envisions a distinctively different 21st-century learning community where knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied by its graduates to the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges, thereby advancing the greater global good. Social Change at Walden

5 5 WALDEN SERVICE NETWORK  Volunteer opportunities  Volunteer resources SCHOLARS OF CHANGE Contest for students who have made contributions to social change COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL CHANGE SCHOLARSHIP “Available for new students who demonstrate the capacity to effect positive social change” JOURNAL OF SOCIAL CHANGE “Welcomes manuscripts focusing on interdisciplinary research in social change that improves the human condition and moves people, groups, organizations, cultures, and society toward a more positive future.” CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE ANNUAL MEETING Webinars held in late September

6 6 What is social change? social justice social activism civic engagement civic dialogue social capital community building positive social change positive social change community development

7 7 Definition might depend on your: CultureCommunity Purpose

8 8 Defining Social Change What is social change to you? – How do you achieve social change through writing? – What does your writing for social change look like? – Who is the audience for your social change writing? Let’s discuss!

9 A Writing for Social Change Toolbox Freewriting Audience Word Choice Revising Feedback

10 “Louise Dunlap’s Undoing the Silence accomplishes what other books on writing do not: it links our writing to our beliefs, our activism, our voice” (p. ix). “I began to picture the silencing of our voices as a huge stifling knot, layered together with tangled strands from many aspects of our culture.” (p. 16)

11 Undoing the Silence Pressures from institutions: family, schools, churches, media, workplace Fear of sounding different and thinking through something new Culture of judgment and “authoritarian” attitudes

12 “The written word drives social change for the long haul” (p. 25). Volunteering Social Change social change.forWriting

13 Five Tools for Social Change Writing Freewriting Audience Word Choice Revising Feedback

14 Freewriting Writing without inhibitions Purpose Brainstorm Explore ideas Discover connections Types Focused: Question or topic to explore Unfocused: Whatever is on your mind

15 Freewriting Can help you overcome that “silence” Allows you to explore ideas you might not normally approach May allow you to create connections Could create questions you can explore Writing for social change can require thinking outside of the box and discussing complex, difficult topics.

16 Audience Who will be reading your writing? Academic community Employees in the field Management /leaders in the field Government officials/ employees Community members Businesses

17 Audience Consider: Tone Word choice Information Research Organization

18 Audience Academic Community In 2013, only 39% of U.S. high school graduates were adequately prepared for college-level academics as measured by ACT standards (Adams, 2013). Community Members Recent research has shown that nationally, students aren’t prepared for college, which should inform our local after- school programs. Employees in the Field Teachers should take note of recent research that showed 39% of U.S. high school students are not ready for college. Note of specific year for data Use of more formal words Citation Use of more informal phrasing: “Nationally” Contraction “Our” No citation Specific population addressed Call for action No citation

19 Word Choice Repetitive and redundant words Slang, expressions, and informal language Active versus passive Logical transitions

20 Repetitive, Redundant Words Good example: “This study will contribute to social change by demonstrating which education methods are most effective in the classroom.” Bad example: “This study will contribute to social change by showing which education methods change society.”

21 Active versus Passive Voice Good example: “This study will show how prolonged exposure to chemicals causes cancer.” Bad example: “This study will show how cancer is caused by prolonged exposure to chemicals.”

22 Logical Transitions Good example: The government shutdown has led to a decrease in available public services; therefore, this study will discuss strategies to avoid shutdowns in the future. Bad example: The government shutdown is an event that many people are concerned about; therefore, this study will discuss strategies to avert shutdowns in the future.

23 Revising Revision vs. proofreading Generalizations and opinionated language Focus and specificity Stronger evidence Whole-essay vs. paragraph-by-paragraph Proofing/checking for smaller errors

24 Feedback Reflecting and improving Paper reviews Form and style Incorporating (and sometimes rejecting) feedback Planning for future improvement

25 Questions?

26 The Start of a Conversation Books Blog and social media Walden websites Future webinars

27 Books Downs, J. (2006). Why we write: The politics and practice of writing for social change. New York, NY: Routledge. Dunlap, L. (2007). Undoing the silence: Six tools for social change writing. Oakland, CA: New Village Press. Dutta, M. J. (2011). Communicating social change: Structure, culture, and agency. New York, NY: Routledge. Personal essays Practical tools Theoretical discussion

28 Blog and Social Media blogspot.com/

29 Walden Websites WALDEN SERVICE NETWORK  Volunteer opportunities  Volunteer resources SCHOLARS OF CHANGE Contest for students who have made contributions to social change COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL CHANGE SCHOLARSHIP “Available for new students who demonstrate the capacity to effect positive social change” JOURNAL OF SOCIAL CHANGE “Welcomes manuscripts focusing on interdisciplinary research in social change that improves the human condition and moves people, groups, organizations, cultures, and society toward a more positive future.” CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE ANNUAL MEETING Webinars held in late September

30 Future Webinars Writing for Social Change: Blogging Engaging with your community Capstone studies Publishing Webinar calendar Monthly and weekly s Social media

31 Questions? Now: Type into the Q&A box Soon: Comment in the post-webinar survey Later: