Allan K. Smith Lecturer in English Composition and Director of the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric O’Donnell; Principal Lecturers in the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric Butos, Papoulis, and Peltier∙∙; Visiting Lecturer in the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric Budd
The Program in Writing and Rhetoric courses offer students the opportunity to develop expertise in writing for academic, professional, community, and personal purposes. The course work provides practice in writing in a range of genres, editing and style, and digital media. Courses also investigate rhetoric, information technology, the politics of language use, and language and identity. For the minor in Writing, Rhetoric, and Media Arts, please see p. 216 under Interdisciplinary Minors.
Fall Term
101. Writing— An introduction to the art of expository writing, with attention to analytical reading and critical thinking in courses across the college curriculum. Assignments offer students opportunities to read and write about culture, politics, literature, science, and other subjects. Emphasis is placed on helping students to develop their individual skills. (Enrollment limited)-Budd, Butos, Mrozowski, Papoulis, Peltier
102. Writing Studio— The Writing Studio will function as a weekly small-group writing tutorial and writing support group, facilitated by a Writing Studio Coach, an upper-level or graduate student. Weekly meetings will focus on specific writing topics and will provide ample opportunities for members to have their writing work-shopped by their group. This course open to first-year students only. (0.25 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Butos
103. Special Writing Topics: Literature and Film— Emphasizing instruction and practice in writing, this course will explore the nature of narrative in literature and film. Where do stories come from? How and why do they get told? What kind of culture produces a particular work? To search for answers to these questions, students will examine a series of paired works of fiction and creative films. (Enrollment limited)-Wall
208. Argument and Research Writing— A writing workshop emphasizing the development of argumentation and research skills. Students learn how to read and evaluate logical arguments, formulate research questions, explore print and electronic resources, and frame persuasive arguments in papers of substantial length. Frequent practice in writing and revising. (Enrollment limited)-Peltier
226. The Spirit of Place: Writing with an Active/Reflective Eye— In this course we will write about “place,” and explore how writers render ideas of location, nature, and the environment, ranging from wilderness to city streets. We will move from simple descriptions to an exploration of the larger issues that arise in the interactions between people and places. Readings will include Gretel Erlich and Barry Lopez, among others, who have artfully evoked the spirit of place. (Enrollment limited)-Papoulis
302. Writing Theory and Practice— A study of the art of discourse, with special emphasis on the dynamics of contemporary composition and argumentation. This course examines rhetorical theory from the Classical period to the New Rhetoric, as well as provides students with frequent practice in varied techniques of composing and evaluating expository prose. A wide selection of primary readings across the curriculum will include some controversial ideas about writing from Plato’s Phaedrus, the heart of Aristotle’s Rhetoric, and examples of the best writing in the arts and sciences. By invitation only. For students admitted to the Writing Associates Program. (Enrollment limited)-O’Donnell
303. Writing Studio Coach— A pro-seminar designated for coaches who will facilitate the First-Year Writing Studios. This seminar will provide coaches with background in writing pedagogy that emphasizes first-year writers’ needs and extensive training in conducting small group writing workshops. Coaches will study specific writing strategies to present to their Writing Studios in their weekly sessions. Responsibilities will also include maintaining periodic contact with their Studio participant’s FYSM faculty, keeping records of participants’ work and attendance, and writing a final evaluation of each writer in their Studio. For the first three weeks of the semester, the seminar will meet as a group three times a week, during the two regularly scheduled times and during a Common Hour. Beginning on September 24, 2012, each week Coaches will meet with the pro-seminar class, with a small working group of Studio Coaches, and with their Writing Studio. (Enrollment limited)-Butos
466. Teaching Assistant— Students may assist professors as teaching assistants, performing a variety of duties usually involving assisting students in conceiving or revising papers; reading and helping to evaluate papers, quizzes, and exams; and other duties as determined by the student and instructor. See instructor of specific course for more information. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
Spring Term
399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and Writing Center director are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
101. Writing— An introduction to the art of expository writing, with attention to analytical reading and critical thinking in courses across the college curriculum. Assignments offer students opportunities to read and write about culture, politics, literature, science, and other subjects. Emphasis is placed on helping students to develop their individual skills. (Enrollment limited)-O’Donnell
103-01. Special Writing Topic:Writing Personal Experience: Diaries, Journals, Essays & Stories We Tell Ours— This course will look at the ways we create and understand ourselves and our condition through our personal writing. Readings will include Woolf, Dillard, Sarton, Ozick, and others. (Enrollment limited)-Cullity
103-02. Special Writing Topics: Analytical Thinking and Writing— This writing workshop is designed for students who would like to improve their ability to read texts in many disciplines actively and critically and to write strong, thoughtful analytical papers. Students will focus on developing strategies for discovering meaning, identifying analytical elements, and evaluating claims and evidence. Writing assignments will allow students to practice these strategies by writing critical analyses and responses to texts, current events, lectures, and films.-Butos
103-03. Special Writing Topics: Autobiography and Activism— A writing workshop focusing on autobiographical writing that is informed by an interest in the world at-large. We will read various writers who combine their personal stories with their political, environmental, and social activism, such as Terry Tempest Williams, Bill McKibben, and Angela Davis. Students will write their own reflective autobiographical essays. (Enrollment limited)-Papoulis
202. Expository Writing Workshop— This intermediate workshop is designed for students who have achieved mastery in introductory-level college writing and who want to refine their writing abilities. Students will focus on developing stylistic strategies and techniques when writing for numerous purposes and audiences. Students will choose from these writing forms: interview, travel article, op-ed piece, memoir, sports article, criticism, humor, and science and technology article. (Enrollment limited)-Butos
208. Argument and Research Writing— A writing workshop emphasizing the development of argumentation and research skills. Students learn how to read and evaluate logical arguments, formulate research questions, explore print and electronic resources, and frame persuasive arguments in papers of substantial length. Frequent practice in writing and revising. (Enrollment limited)-Butos
300. The Art of the Essay— An advanced writing workshop intended to help students find their own subjects and styles as essayists. We will read and write personal essays that express authors’ unique responses to ideas and experiences in deeply reflective ways. Our study will include essays by Seneca, Montaigne, Woolf, Dillard, and others from various historical periods that have explored their responses to the world in engaging and complex detail.-Papoulis