This course is designed for students in need of enhanced instruction in college-level writing. It teaches writing as a process by requiring a number of written drafts per essay. The focus is on developing students' college-level competence in argumentative, thesis-based writing. Many classes are held in the computer lab to enable intensive writing instruction, and some out-of-class tutoring may be assigned. Students must receive a grade of C- or better to advance to WRT 109. Satisfies SEEDS Effective Writing I student learning outcome in alignment with Engagement, Agency, and Leadership value.
Prerequisite(s): WRT 105 or WRT 105A with a grade of C- or better. Develops students' competency in academic and professional writing through college-level research processes. Students synthesize source material across multiple written genres, culminating in an academic presentation. Emphasizes information, digital, and AI literacy skills essential for contemporary scholarship. Classes meet in writing/computer labs with supplemental tutoring as assigned. Satisfies SEEDS Effective Writing II student learning outcome in alignment with Engagement, Agency, and Leadership value.
Prerequisite(s): WRT 105. In this class, you will learn and practice genres for professional and technical writing. You will extend your knowledge of planning, revising, and editing text and adjusting rhetorical strategies for different audiences from first-year writing. We will emphasize collaborative writing, technical skills for designing documents, editing for clarity and consistency, and exhibiting a professional ethos in writing, information design, and online communications. Satisfies SEEDS Interactive Communication student learning outcome in alignment with Self-discovery and Self-Care value.
Prerequisite(s): WRT 109 with a minimum grade of C- or higher; concurrent enrollment allowed. This course surveys specific highlights in the rhetorical tradition (which, broadly speaking, focuses on the relationships between language and meaning) and what they can teach us about how we communicate persuasively. We will look carefully at a few specific points in the tradition's history (Nyaya systems, classical Greek, Enlightenment rhetorics of science, Ethiopian natural laws, and others) to explore their influences on (or exclusion from) language use in current social and political contexts. Satisfies SEEDS Political and Civic Life student learning outcome in alignment with Engagement, Agency, and Leadership value. Mutually Exclusive with AFS 229.
Prerequisite(s): WRT 109. This variable-topics writing course engages students in the critical analysis and exploration of pressing social, political, cultural, and/or scientific issues that shape contemporary communities and societies, with topics determined by the instructor ranging from environmental justice and public health policy to digital media and democracy, migration and belonging, or other timely concerns. Students will produce research-driven and reflective writing that examines complex public issues from multiple perspectives, drawing on diverse sources and voices to construct well-informed arguments that move beyond personal opinion toward evidence-based advocacy. Through collaborative projects and iterative writing processes, students will investigate how social structures, policies, and practices affect different communities, with particular attention to questions of equity, power, and access, while developing their capacities as informed citizens who can contribute meaningfully to public discourse and debate. The course emphasizes empathetic engagement with difference, requiring students to actively listen to and incorporate perspectives from those most affected by the issues under examination, identify community assets, and propose actionable solutions that serve the public good. By semester's end, students will have produced an ePortfolio containing writing that demonstrates their growth as critical thinkers and ethical advocates who can analyze systemic issues, engage responsibly with diverse stakeholders, and use writing as a tool for civic participation, social stewardship, and structural change in their academic, professional, and community lives. As topics change, this course may be repeated for credit. Satisfies SEEDS Political and Civic Life student learning outcome in alignment with Engagement, Agency, and Leadership value.
Prerequisite(s): WRT 109 or WRT 108. Digital Media Writing invites students to explore the intersections of creative expression, rhetorical strategy, and technological innovation across multiple digital platforms. Throughout the semester, students will craft a professional digital identity, produce compelling audio narratives, create concise yet powerful video content, and develop user-centered solutions for real-world clients. The course emphasizes creative experimentation and thoughtful risk-taking while building practical skills in website design, podcast production, video creation, and collaborative client work. The month-long collaborative client project supports the Engagement, Agency, and Leadership Theme by inviting students to “engage with issues in their communities and develop the confidence and strategies to become leaders and contribute to the public good.” Students will critically engage with artificial intelligence tools, considering both their creative potential and ethical implications for digital media practitioners. Through regular reflection in an ePortfolio, students will document their creative processes, articulate their decision-making, and develop self-awareness of their evolving digital media practice. This intensive journey into digital media writing prepares students not only to produce compelling content across platforms but also to develop their unique creative voice in an increasingly multimodal communication landscape. Mutually Exclusive with CAT 256.