Rhetoric and Writing Concentration
Description
With its broad focus on the study of discourse, the rhetoric and writing concentration offers students the opportunity to develop their analytical and writing skills and to explore a wide range of issues in rhetorical and cultural theory. A concentration in rhetoric and writing prepares students to use language effectively to communicate with diverse audiences in multiple contexts. In addition to developing a critical consciousness of their own language use, students explore how rhetorical actions develop and are reinforced within communities, cultures, workplaces, professions, and classrooms.
Core courses provide students with a foundation in rhetorical theory and advanced study in style, genre, writing for multiple audiences, and research technology. Students also have the opportunity for specialized study in public writing, technical writing, linguistics, legal writing, and teaching English as a second or foreign language. Special topics courses are regularly offered on a number of subjects; recent courses include the rhetoric of American political discourse, the rhetoric of domesticity, and rhetoric and human rights on the Internet. The concentration allows students the flexibility to combine work in rhetoric with work in literary studies, women's studies, critical theory, and ethnic and cultural studies.
All students in this concentration take Rhetoric and Writing (English 355). Students then choose two of four core courses: Persuasive Writing, Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition, The Rhetoric of Legal Discourse, and Special Topics in Rhetoric. Students take an additional course from the concentration's offerings-- either from the core courses or from a number of courses in technical or creative writing. Students take two courses from the department's offerings, one of them in language, theory, cultural, ethnic, or gender studies, including teaching English as a second or foreign language. Students also take four courses in literature from designated periods.
The writing and rhetoric concentration provides students with broad range of practical skills and a foundation for analyzing communication, culture, and technology. Students in this concentration have gone on to careers in college and university teaching. Students also take this concentration to prepare for a variety of professions, including law, medicine, professional writing, business, library science, political consulting, research, evaluation, public relations, advertising, publishing, editing, consulting, grant writing, labor organizing, and non-profit management.
Requirements
- English 355 and any two of the following courses: 455, 470, 495, 496
- One other course in rhetoric or writing. In addition to those listed in item 1 above, you may choose from the following list: 360, 363, 364, 365, 460, 462, 463, 464, 484
- Four courses in literature, two of which must be before 1900 (listed below), and at least one of those before 1800 (indicated here by asterisks): *301, *401, *402, *404, *405, *406, *409, *410, *411, *412, *413, 414, 415, 416, 419, 420, *431, 432, 433, 435
- One course in language, theory, cultural, ethnic, or gender studies: 301, 302, 331, 332, 333, 371, 372, 422, 443, 471, 472, 474, 475, 476, 479, 485, 486, 490
- One or more courses from any of the department's offerings, including criticism, film, folklore, language, literature, rhetoric, and writing