You will learn how to communicate your ideas in writing more effectively. In both government and in industry, decision- makers do not have time to read very much. In whatever career you choose to enter, you will need to learn how to express your ideas and your argument succinctly. You will learn to look beyond the obvious and the hype. Organizing ideas and identifying appropriate linkages between them is a strategic necessity in any endeavor.
Lateral maps are one way to identify and relate ideas and issues to one another.
You will gain a foundation for undertaking comparative analysis. Computer-related skills are a new power resource which you will begin to acquire in this course, if you don't possess them already. Half the challenge is knowing where to look for the most timely and accurate information. You'll become more aware of the difference between media sources, including the Internet, and you'll be able to find your way through government documents, academic journals, and other resources. There is an art to listening effectively as well as to expressing your viewpoints articulately.