Rationale for Unit:
Certain foundational readings and concepts are a part of virtually all upper-level writing courses at the undergraduate level. This Unit first introduces students to the class and each other, asks them to consider their own definitions of justice, then introduces those key texts, and applies the theoretical underpinnings to various historically relevant rhetorical events. Much of the critical substance of this course is grounded in the Civil Rights Era of the United States, and that begins here in Unit 1. Students conclude this unit with a deep multi-faceted analysis of a novel introduced at the peak of that American Era and consistently ranked as the top among all legal stories: To Kill a Mockingbird.
People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Unit 1 acknowledges the power of situations to give rise to rhetoric but respects the power of an audience to interpret that language and use it to move forward in meaningful ways.
Writing in the Law 