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Prof Laura J Gurak PhD

Photo of Prof Laura J Gurak PhD

Contact Me

gurakl@umn.edu
612-624-1784

Department of Writing Studies
233 NCEE

315 Pillsbury Dr SE

Affiliations
Links

Laura J. Gurak  (Ph.D., Communication and Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) studies the relationship between language and Internet use, with a focus on online communities, digital literacies, and Internet-based research. She is also interested in how technology and science are communicated to the public and does work on technical writing and communication in science, health, and engineering fields. She is author of numerous articles and books including Cyberliteracy (Yale 2001) and The Concise Guide to Technical Communication (Pearson Longman).

Educational Background & Specialties

Educational Background

  • Ph.D.: Communication and Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 1994.
  • M.A. : Technical Communication, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1990.
  • B.A. : Public Communication , College of St. Rose, 1989.

Curriculum Vitae

Specialties

  • Digital literacies
  • Internet studies and online research methods
  • Social aspects of computing
  • Rhetoric and technology
  • Technical and professional writing and communication
Courses Taught
  • WRIT 8012 Applied Research Methods in Scientific and Technical Communication
  • WRIT 8550 Theory and Research in Internet Studies
  • WRIT 5511 Research in Scientific and Technical Communication
  • WRIT 4562 Writing with Digital Technologies
  • WRIT 3029 Business and Professional Writing
Publications
  • Gurak, Laura J (2001). Cyberliteracy: navigating the Internet with awareness. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  • Gurak, L. J. (1997). Persuasion and privacy in Cyberspace: the online protests over Lotus MarketPlace and the Clipper Chip. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  • Gurak, L.J., Antonijevic, S., Johnson, J., Ratliff, C., & Reyman, J. (2004). Into the blogosphere: rhetoric, community, and culture of weblogs. Link
  • Gurak, L.J. & Lay, M. M. (Eds.) (2002). Research in technical communication. (2002). Westport: Greenwood. ATTW series, Karis, B. & Doheny-Farina, S. (Eds.)
  • Lay, M.M., Gurak, L. J., Mynti, C., & Gravon, C. (Eds.) (2000). Body Talk: Rhetoric, Reproduction, Technology. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
  • Lannon, J.M. & Gurak, L.J. (2013). Technical communication. 13th Ed.. New York: Pearson Longman.
Awards
  • College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences distinguished teaching award, 1997
  • Society for Technical Communication, Outstanding Article Award, 1992