Spring 2008 Course Descriptions

101. Entering Discourse Communities 3 hours

3HU, WRi

RHET-101-01 TuTh 3:00-3:50 L. Podis CRN 14109

This course aims to form a writer's community that will explore the various discourses in which class members participate. We will approach writing as real communication among group members rather than artificial practicing of skills. The course will include readings on writing processes as well as essays on varied topics. There will be weekly writing assignments and regular conferences with the instructor to review drafts and revisions. Most classes will be peer response workshops. Enrollment Limit: 14.

102. Writing for College and Beyond 3 hours

3HU, WRi

RHET-102-01 TR 9:30-10:50 L. McMillin CRN 14110

In the writing they do for college, students are asked to analyze and critique arguments, conduct research, and develop fluency in a number of forms and discourses, among other things. This writing course is designed to immerse students in the practice of writing for college and beyond and engages them in the practical and creative aspects of research. Enrollment Limit: 14.

 

 

106. Journalism Basics 3 hours

3 HU, WRi

RHET-106-01 MWF 10:00-10:50 N. Boutilier CRN 112527

This course will cover basic reporting, news and features writing, and ethics in journalism. In addition to course writing assignments, publishing at least two stories in an approved campus publication will be required for one hour of credit, four stories for two hours of credit. Enrollment Limit: 15 (10 places a semester reserved for first-year students).

 

 

 

 

107. Practicum in Journalism 1-2 hours

1-2 HU

RHET-107-01 TBA L. McMillin CRN 10559

Through this course students earn academic credit working for an approved journalistic publication on campus. The course does not meet as a class, but students are expected to attend all required staff meetings and fulfill the assignments made by their editors. Students can earn a maximum of four hours credit toward graduation (a maximum of six hours credit for editors). Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 90.

 

FYSP 129 . Coming of Age in African Literature 4 hours

2HU, 2SS, CD, WRi

FYSP 129-01 L. Podis / Y. Saaka

This course focuses on African writing, examining a non-western body of work from a non-western perspective. A major theme is the challenges facing youth in colonial and postcolonial Africa: the struggle to balance tradition and change; the quest for education; the development of political awareness. Several books offer an African approach to what in the west is called a "Bildungsroman," or novel of youth's coming of age. Texts include Laye's L'Enfant Noir, Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions, and Achebe's No Longer at Ease.   Enrollment Limit: 14.

201. Writing in the Sciences 3 hours

3HU, WRi

RHET-201-01 TR 11:00-12:15 N. Petzak CRN 14111

A writing workshop designed to help students communicate more effectively and persuasively in various scientific genres.   The first part of the course will focus on written genres such as lab reports, conference papers, and journal articles.   In the second part, we will consider how the reception of ideas is affected by "beautiful evidence," focusing on visual design in formats such as web pages, powerpoints, and charts. Final collaborative projects will be tailored to participants' interests. Enrollment Limit: 14.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

206. Advanced Composition 3 hours

3HU, WRi

RHET-206-01 Th 1:00-2:50 Anne Trubek CRN 14112

An advanced writing workshop intended for juniors and seniors with strong writing skills interested in exploring literature's "fourth genre," the essay. We will study the history of the essay and recent varieties of non-fiction writing, alternately labeled narrative non-fiction, literary journalism or creative non-fiction. Students will have the opportunity to write on a range of topics and experiment with different styles. Enrollment Limit: 14.

306. Writing About the Arts 3 hours

3HU, WRi

RHET-306-01 T 7:00-10:00 pm Anne Trubek CRN 14135

An advanced writing seminar intended for juniors and seniors with strong writing skills. We will study and experiment with various genres of writing about the arts, including reviews, essays, features and profiles. We will look all around campus for topics to write about, from theatrical performances to Conservatory recitals to Creative Writing readings to the Allen Memorial Art Museum. As we do so, we will study examples of arts writing from the Ancient era to the present.   Enrollment Limit: 12.