21L.704 Studies in Poetry - British Poetry and the Sciences of the Mind (MIT)
Do poems think? Recurrent images of the poet as an inspired lunatic, and of poetry as a fundamentally irrational art, have often fostered an understanding of poets and their work as generally extraneous to the work of the sciences. Yet poets have long reflected upon and have sought to embody in their work the most elementary processes of mind, and have frequently drawn for these representations on the very sciences to which they are thought to stand - and sometimes do genuinely stand - in opposi
11.487 Urban Public Finance in Developing Countries (MIT)
This readings-based course analyzes the structure and operation of government systems in developing countries, with particular emphasis on regional and local governments. Major topics include: the role of decentralization in national economic reform programs, the potential impact of decentralized governments on local economic development, determination of optimal arrangements for sharing fiscal responsibilities among levels of government, evaluation of local revenue and expenditure decisions, an
14.41 Public Economics (MIT)
This course examines the role of the public sector in the economy. The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention in the economy, the extent of that intervention, and the response of private agents to the government's actions.
14.472 Public Economics II (MIT)
This course covers theory and evidence on government expenditure policy-- topics include: The theory of public goods; Education; State and local public goods; Political economy; Redistribution and welfare policy; Social insurance programs such as social security and unemployment insurance; and Health care policy.
SP.694 Issues of Representation: Women, Representation, and Music in Selected Folk Traditions of the
This subject investigates the special relation of women to several musical folk traditions in the British Isles and North America. Throughout, we will be examining the implications of gender in the creation, transmission, and performance of music. Because virtually all societies operate to some extent on a gendered division of labor (and of expressive roles) the music of these societies is marked by the gendering of musical repertoires, traditions of instrumentation, performance settings, and st
20.104J Chemicals in the Environment: Toxicology and Public Health (BE.104J) (MIT)
This course addresses the challenges of defining a relationship between exposure to environmental chemicals and human disease. Course topics include epidemiological approaches to understanding disease causation; biostatistical methods; evaluation of human exposure to chemicals, and their internal distribution, metabolism, reactions with cellular components, and biological effects; and qualitative and quantitative health risk assessment methods used in the U.S. as bases for regulatory decision-ma
4.367 Studio Seminar in Public Art (MIT)
How do we define Public Art? This course focuses on the production of projects for public places. Public Art is a concept that is in constant discussion and revision, as much as the evolution and transformation of public spaces and cities are. Monuments are repositories of memory and historical presences with the expectation of being permanent. Public interventions are created not to impose and be temporary, but as forms intended to activate discourse and discussion. Considering the concept of a
1.258J Public Transportation Service and Operations Planning (MIT)
This course describes the evolution and role of urban public transportation modes, systems, and services, focusing on bus and rail. Technological characteristics and their impacts on capacity, service quality, and cost are described. Current practice and new methods for data collection and analysis, performance monitoring, route design, frequency determination, and vehicle and crew scheduling are also discussed. In addition, the effect of pricing policy and service quality on ridership and metho
21W.732-1 Introduction to Technical Communication: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health (MIT)
Over the course of the semester we will explore the full range of writings by physicians and other health practitioners. Some of the writer/physicians that we encounter will be Atul Gawande, Danielle Ofri, Richard Selzer, and William Carlos Williams. Students need have no special training, only a general interest in medicine or in public health issues such as AIDS, asthma, malaria control, and obesity. The writing assignments, like the readings, will invite students to consider the distinctive n
17.265 Public Opinion and American Democracy (MIT)
This course will examine public opinion and assess its place in the American political system. The course will emphasize both how citizens' thinking about politics is shaped and the role of public opinion in political campaigns, elections, and government.
21L.488 Contemporary Literature: British Novels Now (MIT)
What is Britain now? Its metropolises are increasingly multicultural. Its hold over its distant colonies is a thing of the past. Its sway within the global political arena is weak. Its command over Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland is broken or threatened. What have novelists made of all this? What are they writing as the old empire fades away and as new social and political formations emerge? These are the questions that will concern us in this course.
11.800 Doctoral Research Seminar: Knowledge in the Public Arena (MIT)
This is a course about how research knowledge and other types of knowledge come to be actionable and influential in the world — or not. The course explores ways to make research knowledge more accessible, credible, and useful in the realm of public policy and practice, a project in which the course faculty collectively bring decades of professional experience, in both academic and non-academic roles.
The course addresses the politics of the policymaking process, the power of framing and ag
14.471 Public Economics I (MIT)
Theory and evidence on government taxation policy. Topics include tax incidence, optimal tax theory, the effect of taxation on labor supply and savings, taxation and corporate behavior, and tax expenditure policy.
11.902 Advanced Urban Public Finance: Collective Action and Provisions of Local Public Goods (MIT)
In analyzing fiscal issues, conventional public finance approaches focus mainly on taxation and public spending. Policymakers and practitioners rarely explore solutions by examining the fundamental problem: the failure of interested parties to act collectively to internalize the positive externalities generated by public goods. Public finance is merely one of many possible institutional arrangements for assigning the rights and responsibilities to public goods consumption. This system is current
14.64 Labor Economics and Public Policy (MIT)
This course is an introduction to labor economics with an emphasis on applied microeconomic theory and empirical analysis. We are especially interested in the link between research and public policy. Topics to be covered include: labor supply and demand, taxes and transfers, minimum wages, immigration, human capital, education production, inequality, discrimination, unions and strikes, and unemployment.
The Public Face of Archaeology
How are archaeologists like—and not like—Indiana Jones? How do archaeologists at Çatalhöyük engage with the public? How is the Berkeley team (BACH) using digital technologies and the World Wide Web to make their process of investigation accessible to the public?
Public Speaking Tip for Kids - Speech Structure This video explains to the audience speech structure, which is the order your speech has. If your speech is out of order the audience will have a hard time following. There are a few ways to have speech structure; chronological, tell them then tell them what you told them. One hint is to have points written down on separate cards and the put them in order; you may have to readjust the cards to get it right. Video is of average q
Public Speaking Tip for Kids - Opening Your Speech This video explains to kids how to open a speech. The first ten seconds are the most important. Opening your speech is where you draw the audience in. There are a few techniques to do this. First, is to ask a question, second, say something startling, and third is to recite a short quote. The most important part of a speech is the opening, get the attention of the audience right away. Public speaking is a great activity fo
Public Speaking Tip for Kids - Closing Your Speech This video explains how to close your speech. When your audience leaves you want to give them something to remember, you can summarize what you said, have a call to action, or give them some information. A strong opening and a strong ending makes a really great speech. Public speaking is a great activity for kids of all ages. This video is of good quality and appropriate for elementary, middle and high school students.<
Public Speaking Effective Delivery
Today's the day for your big speech! Explanation of rythmic devices such as repetition and antithesis to improve delivery of a speech. Challenge yourself to find some of these examples of delivery in famous speeches. This is a clip from a larger segment. (01:15)
