"Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man." -- John Muir. (Image courtesy of USGS.)
Instructor(s)
Cynthia B. Taft
MIT Course Number
21W.730-3
As Taught In
Spring 2005
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Highlights
This workshop-style reading and writing course features writing exercises with examples from students and workshop instructions in the assignments section.
Course Description
Environmentalists have traditionally relied upon the power of their prose to transform the thoughts and behavior of their contemporaries. In this class, we will do our best to follow in their footsteps. We will consider the strategies of popular science writers, lesser-known geologists, biologists, and hydrologists, and famous environmentalists. Students will have a chance to try out several ways of characterizing and explaining natural environments. Weekly writing exercises will help students develop and explore material for the longer papers.