Writing for the “real world.”
As a Wellesley student, before you graduate, you can learn how to integrate what you have learned and to communicate your knowledge to external audiences. The writing-intensive Calderwood Seminars will engage you in an area of study - perhaps your major, perhaps something new - while you learn to use criticism productively to improve your public writing in a variety of styles.
Why Take a Calderwood Seminar?
These capstone courses, targeted at juniors and seniors, draw on the skills you learn in prior courses and empower your “voice” in your major field or area of study. One student noted that, for her “it was almost like falling in love with the major again.”
Public writing—the ability to translate complex arguments and professional jargon to a broad audience—is different from the academic writing done in most courses and is central to success in life beyond college. As one student said, “I feel like Writing 125 was ‘Writing for College,’ and this class was ‘Writing 125 for Life.’” (Writing 125 refers to Wellesley’s required First Year Writing course.)
The seminars offer a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow students in the writing and peer-editing process. The fast-paced exchanges of drafts between writers and editors and the strict, frequent deadlines simulate the work environment of professional journalists. The discussion, support, and mutual commitment to the clear expression of ideas foster camaraderie and cooperation between classmates. As one student put it, “I didn’t really know anyone when we first started, but after an entire semester of dissecting and applauding each other’s work, I feel as though I don’t trust any group of people more than I do this wonderfully motley crew.”
A limited number of seminars are offered in a variety of disciplines each semester. Recent offerings have included: Critiquing American Popular Culture, Music in Public, Psychology in the Public Interest, Environmental Synthesis and Communication.
The Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing were the brain child of David Lindauer, Stanford Calderwood Professor of Economics, and are named after Stanford Calderwood, a patron of the arts and benefactor of Wellesley College. Throughout his career, Calderwood realized the value of written communication. To improve the capabilities of Wellesley students as public writers, the Calderwood Charitable Foundation has endowed this program. It has also supported the expansion of the program to colleges and universities across the country. More information about the Calderwood Seminars program is available at calderwoodseminars.org.
In May of 2022, David Lindauer received the honor of delivering the annual Wellesley College Distinguished Faculty Lecture. He choose the Calderwood Seminars as his topic.
Contact Us
David Lindauer
Program Director, Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing including the Calderwood Seminars Expansion Program,
dlindauer@wellesley.edu
Tracy Gleason
Faculty Director for Wellesley College Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing,
tgleason@wellesley.edu
Karen Cronin
Academic Administrator, Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing,
kcronin2@wellesley.edu