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Undoing the Silence: Six Tools for Social Change Writing
Undoing the Silence offers guidance to help both citizens and professionals influence democratic process through letters, articles, reports and public testimony.
Louise Dunlap, PhD, began her career as an activist writing instructor during the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s. She learned that listening and gaining a feel for audience are just as important to social transformation as the outspoken words of student leaders atop police cars. "Free speech is a first step, but real communication matches speech with listening and understanding. That is when thinking shifts and change happens."
Dunlap felt compelled to go where the silences were deepest because her work aimed not just at teaching but also at healing both individual voices and an ailing collective voice. Her tales of those adventures and what she knows about the culture of silence -- how gender, race, education, class, and family work to quiet dissent -- are interwoven with practical methods for people to put their most challenging ideas into words.
Louise Dunlap gives writing workshops around the country for universities and social justice, environmental, and peace organizations that help reluctant writers get past their internal censors to find their powerful voice. Her insight strengthens strategic thinking and her "You can do it!" approach makes social-action writing achievable for everyone.
Louise Dunlap, PhD, began her career as an activist writing instructor during the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s. She learned that listening and gaining a feel for audience are just as important to social transformation as the outspoken words of student leaders atop police cars. "Free speech is a first step, but real communication matches speech with listening and understanding. That is when thinking shifts and change happens."
Dunlap felt compelled to go where the silences were deepest because her work aimed not just at teaching but also at healing both individual voices and an ailing collective voice. Her tales of those adventures and what she knows about the culture of silence -- how gender, race, education, class, and family work to quiet dissent -- are interwoven with practical methods for people to put their most challenging ideas into words.
Louise Dunlap gives writing workshops around the country for universities and social justice, environmental, and peace organizations that help reluctant writers get past their internal censors to find their powerful voice. Her insight strengthens strategic thinking and her "You can do it!" approach makes social-action writing achievable for everyone.
- GenresNonfictionWriting
229 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
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June 9, 2008I was thrilled to see this book by my first writing teacher, Louise Dunlap, come into the world. It's long overdue and very welcome!
May 13, 2009
Dunlap, a lifetime activist and writing teacher, explains clearly all sorts of writing "tools," ranging from freewriting to editing. She has learned from the best (Peter Elbow, for example) but also developed her own approaches. The examples come from social activists--but the tools could be used by any writer, from high school students to professionals.
April 26, 2019
Excellent, excellent, excellent. I got it from the library but will need to buy my own copy! Recommended by a friend and collaborator who gets things done.
August 1, 2022
A great book on writing. Empowers individuals to write thoughtfully and persuasively about what matters.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews