“Boots on the ground” and how vocabulary impacts policy

(via Harbor Light Writers Group) As writers, we always say that “words matter.” Without words, what would we do? When the U.S. Democratic presidential candidates debated over the weekend, this concept made an appearance on center stage. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley related the story of a woman he spoke to who had a son…

Katie Couric’s Commencement Address at American University

(via Harbor Light Writers Group) It seems appropriate to use commencement addresses to learn about the art of speechwriting and delivery. In this case, we’ll take a look at Katie Couric’s remarks to the Class of 2014 at American University’s School of Communications. Capturing the attention of graduates and their families represents no easy…