Course Descriptions
Students may choose from the following Writing and Rhetoric course types, depending on their individual interests, placement statuses, and section availability.
WR 12000: Growing as a Writer (1 credit)
This course is an elective supplement to the three-credit Writing and Rhetoric or University Seminar course for first-year students. In this course, students will learn to make the most of the feedback they've received on their writing thus far. Specifically, they will synthesize feedback, identify objectives for growth, and develop a rigorous approach to planning, drafting, and revising essays.
WR 12200: Writing and Rhetoric Tutorial: Critical Reading and Writing in the Disciplines (2 credits)
Students enrolled in WR 12200 will have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Writing and Rhetoric 13100, 13200, or 13300. WR 12200 helps students apply rigorous reading and writing strategies in the context of challenging courses across the disciplines. Consisting of two weekly one-on-one sessions and one weekly small-group instruction session, this course offers intensive practice analyzing disciplinary readings and writing assignments. Students will receive individual instruction on how to apply professors’ feedback, and they will learn ethical practices for citation and collaboration. Enrollment by departmental approval. Interested students can contact their First Year advisors or Prof. Nicole MacLaughlin to seek enrollment or more information about the course.
WR 12300: Advanced Writing and Rhetoric Tutorial: Critical Thinking and English Academic Writing (1 credit)
Students enrolled in WR 12300 will have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Writing and Rhetoric 13100, 13200, or 13300. This course will offer strategies for successful written and verbal communication in English academic contexts. Students will learn critical thinking practices, developing their capacity for thinking like a scholar in the context of different disciplines. Consisting of one weekly one-on-one instruction session and one weekly guided small-group session, this course helps students to develop an awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and to realize their potential as academic writers. Enrollment by departmental approval. Interested students can contact their First Year advisors or Prof. Nicole MacLaughlin to seek enrollment or more information about the course.
WR 12350: Advanced Writing Process (1 credit)
Students in this course will learn strategies for meeting the expectations of academic audiences beyond first-year undergraduate courses. They will learn to isolate and address problem areas in their writing process, to independently plan and manage their process, and to challenge themselves to grow to the next level as writers.
WR 13100: Writing and Rhetoric (3 credits)
Writing and Rhetoric introduces students to the study and composition of ethical arguments. Engaging with a variety of rhetorical situations and genres, students will make claims supported by evidence, consider counterarguments, and conduct research. Special attention is devoted to the collaborative, social, and iterative aspects of the writing process, as students exchange feedback with their peers and subsequently revise their work. Students will also reflect on their development as writers and critical thinkers.
WR 13200: Community-Based Writing and Rhetoric (3 credits)
These sections of Writing and Rhetoric place students in learning situations that engage with the local community, often in off-campus activities. Each section focuses on a particular social issue and its attendant discourse, with related writing assignments and community work. Students learn to craft effective arguments and pursue academic research. Some sections also carry the SUS4 designation, counting the course toward the Minor in Sustainability. We welcome all students with an interest in community engagement and a commitment to social justice.
WR 13300: Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric (3 credits)
Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric focuses on ethical, rhetorical, and practical dimensions of composing across modalities. Students explore ways image, sound, language, and design help writers achieve rhetorical goals in specific contexts and with specific audiences. Students read, analyze, research, and create a variety of multimodal texts including such genres as podcasts, videos, presentations, posters, fine art, and print-based essays. Prior technological skills are not necessary, but students should be open to experimenting with tools for multimodal composing and revising.
WR 13400: Advanced Writing and Rhetoric (3 credits)
Advanced Writing and Rhetoric is designed to help students continue refining the interpretive, analytical, and composing skills developed through 1) attendance in WR 13100 or 2) a qualifying AP or IB score consistent with university policies. Students will practice composing in multiple genres and modalities, conducting original and secondary research, analyzing audiences, writing claims, providing evidence, addressing alternative perspectives, and revising written materials. The course will devote special attention to writing ethical arguments grounded in rhetorical practices of truthfulness, accountability, open-mindedness, and intellectual integrity.