A workshop process course in which students create short pieces in contemporary non-fiction forms such as interviews, personal profiles, travel writing, science writing, reviews and commentary, and research and write a major expository article in the area of their choice. Alternate fall semesters. Students explore theories of language to discover how human begins acquire discourses, and learn to negotiate within various discourse communities. Course also provides an introduction to classical and modern rhetoric, focusing on the relationship of language to politics, ethics, and cultural identity. Beginning and master classes in writing poetry, fiction, and drama for publication.
Topic varies, and is published at time of registration.
Instructors are professional writers in the genre, either on the English faculty or teaching in collaboration with them. Students explore and define their positions on topics of their choosing, and research and argue their point of view orally and in writing. Alternate Fall semesters. Conventional copy-editing terms and symbols that editors are likely to use when requesting revisions will be examined. A course in transactional writing, to help students develop practical writing skills, while analyzing discourses and documents from a variety of disciplines.