The Writing & Rhetoric Major

Course Listing

WRT 104: Writing to Inform and Explain

Lecture, 3 Credits

Writing emphasizing the sharing of information. Varieties and strategies of expository writing for differing audiences and situations. Genres may include reports, proposals, letters, reviews, and websites.

WRT 105: Forms of College Writing

Lecture, 3 Credits

Practice in writing papers frequently assigned in introductory and general education courses across the curriculum. May include summaries, syntheses, annotations, reaction papers, text analysis, documented thesis-support papers. Emphasizes disciplinary conventions.

WRT 106: Introduction to Research Writing

Lecture, 3 Credits

Introduction to locating and evaluating a variety of sources and integrating them into papers. May include observations, interviews, surveys, key word and reference data base searches, and traditional library research culminating in a final research project.

WRT 201: Writing Argumentative and Persuasive Texts

Lecture, 3 Credits

Concepts, methods, and ethics of argumentative and persuasive writing. Writing argumentatively to examine complex issues, define values, resist coercion and seek common ground among diverse publics.

WRT 227: Business Communications

Lecture, 3 Credits

Basic business communications forms, group reports and presentations, effective use of electronic mail systems, and design of graphic aids for successful visual communication.

WRT 235: Writing in Electronic Environments

Lecture, 3 Credits

Includes writing with computers; e-mail; internet; text on screen, graphic and audio-enhanced text; desktop publishing; study of document design and the history of writing as shaped by its technologies.

WRT 270: Writing in the Expressivist Tradition

Lecture, 3 Credits

Focuses on the expressivist tradition of writing, including memoirs, medical narratives, nature meditations and informal essays.

WRT 302: Writing Culture

Lecture, 3 Credits

Experience with non-canonical writings that sustain or reshape culture. May include profiles and biographies, reviews, food and fashion writing, linear and exhibition notes

WRT 303: Public Writing

Lecture, 3 Credits

Writing in the public sphere. Emphasizes civic literacy, democratic discourse, and writing for social change. May include letters, public documents, electronic forums, activist publications, legislative texts.

WRT 304: Writing for Community Service

Lecture, 3 Credits

Study and practice of non-academic writing for community service organizations. Entails substantial outreach, teamwork, research, composing, designing, and revision. May include brochures, recommendation reports, websites, membership packets.

WRT 305: Travel Writing

Lecture, 3 Credits

Writing about places both new and familiar. Emphasis on descriptive techniques, the use of facts, and different critical and cultural perspectives. May include place journals, book reviews, proposals, non-fiction essays.

WRT 306: Writing Health and Disability

Lecture, 3 Credits

Explore the ways we experience, label, and politicize health and disability in our culture. Writing may include narratives, cultural critiques, persuasive essays, and policy proposals.

WRT 333: Scientific and Technical Writing

Lecture, 3 Credits

Practice in specific forms of writing in the scientific and technical fields.

WRT 353: Issues and Methods in Writing Consultancy

Lecture, 3 Credits

Practice and theory of one-to-one instruction emphasizing varied writing situations and multiple learning styles. Covers approaches to collaboration, learning, writing, and responding. Offers strategies for making appropriate writing choices.

WRT 383: Issues and Methods in Writing Consultancy

Field Experience, 3 Credits

Supervised field experience tutoring in the Writing Center or in the undergraduate peer consultants program.

WRT 484: Internship in Writing and Rhetoric

Field Experience, 1-3 Credits

Practice and direct supervision in workplace writing. Placement options include community-based, governmental, technological, health services, military, educational and non-profit organizations.

WRT 490: Writing and Rhetoric

Lecture, 3 Credits

Study emphasizing audience, composing processes, and rhetorical theories, including issues relevant to writing professionally.

WRT 495: Capstone in Electronic Portfolios

Lecture, 3 Credits

Capstone for WRT Majors. Readings in electronic writing technologies and portfolios. Preparation of a substantive collection of representative writings. Culminates in an electronic portfolio and a public writing showcase.

Announcements

Check out our new website!

Spotlight

E-Portfolio Presentations

All seniors in the Writing & Rhetoric major complete an electronic portfolio through our capstone course, WRT 495. The Spring 2009 class, consisting of Sam Fuller, Jessica Notardonato, Samantha Notardonato, Rob Petrin, Tatiana M. Uhoch, and Emily Weintraub, marked the second year for graduating our pioneer Writing & Rhetoric majors.

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Upcoming Events

Monday, December 14th

What: Portfolio Pandemonium
Where: The Writing Center
When: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday, December 16th

What: ePortfolio Presentations
Where: Lippitt 402
When: 5:30pm - 7:00pm