Stanford Root

Schedule

Stanford Root

Schedule

PUBLPOL 306

Writing and Rhetoric for Policy Audiences

UNITS:4
GRADING:Letter (ABCD/NP)
LEVEL:Graduate
GER:—

This course offers hands-on learning of effective writing and presentation techniques for audiences that include policy makers, decision stakeholders, interest groups, the media, and the public. Class time will be spent learning aspects of rhetoric; analyzing multiple written genres, such as policy memo, op-ed, policy brief, and media communications; practicing presentation strategies, including elevator pitch, press conference, media interview, social media, and formal presentation; and participating in workshops and peer reviews. Course texts include sample memos, op-eds, and policy papers, as well as rhetoric handouts and videos. Students will draft, revise, and submit writing for policy audiences and compile a final portfolio. Students will also produce oral and multimedia arguments, individually and in teams. Students will be responsible for timely peer review and short presentations on course materials. Enrollment limited.

Syllabus for selected term:
View Autumn 2026 Syllabus

Sections

1 Term
Seminar 1Open
ID: 7347
0 / 15 enrolled
DAYS:Monday, Wednesday
TIME:9:30 AM – 11:20 AM
LOCATION:Lathrop 296
INSTRUCTOR:
Rosston, Gregory, Watters, Ann
4units

PUBLPOL 306: Writing and Rhetoric for Policy Audiences

4 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)

This course offers hands-on learning of effective writing and presentation techniques for audiences that include policy makers, decision stakeholders, interest groups, the media, and the public. Class time will be spent learning aspects of rhetoric; analyzing multiple written genres, such as policy memo, op-ed, policy brief, and media communications; practicing presentation strategies, including elevator pitch, press conference, media interview, social media, and formal presentation; and participating in workshops and peer reviews. Course texts include sample memos, op-eds, and policy papers, as well as rhetoric handouts and videos. Students will draft, revise, and submit writing for policy audiences and compile a final portfolio. Students will also produce oral and multimedia arguments, individually and in teams. Students will be responsible for timely peer review and short presentations on course materials. Enrollment limited.

Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.

Autumn 2026 sections

  • Seminar — Monday Wednesday 9:30 AM – 11:20 AM — Lathrop 296 — Rosston, Gregory, Watters, Ann (Graduate)

More PUBLPOL courses

  • PUBLPOL 271: Education Policy in the United States (EDUC 271, POLISCI 271)
  • PUBLPOL 298: Directed Readings in Public Policy
  • PUBLPOL 301A: Intermediate Microeconomics for Public Policy (INTLPOL 204A, PUBLPOL 50)
  • PUBLPOL 301B: Economic Policy Analysis for Policymakers (INTLPOL 204B)
  • PUBLPOL 302B: Economic Analysis of Law
  • PUBLPOL 303D: Applied Econometrics for Public Policy
  • PUBLPOL 308: Political Analysis for Public Policymakers
  • PUBLPOL 309: Public Policy Graduate Practicum
  • PUBLPOL 309X: Public Policy Research Project
  • PUBLPOL 310: Master of Arts Thesis
  • PUBLPOL 310A: Master's Thesis Seminar
  • PUBLPOL 311: Public Policy Colloquium

All PUBLPOL courses · All departments