Organized by Class Level
Note that all the courses below have changed to a WRIT prefix, which will be used in the official Course Schedule and Catalogue starting in the Fall 2012 term.
Developmental Writing
WRIT 050: Basic Writing I (formerly COMM 050)
(4 credits--requirement for some students, based on placement test)
This course prepares students for Basic Writing II by familiarizing them with methods of generating, developing, and organizing paragraphs. Students will master particular punctuation, spelling, and agreement skills. These basic writing skills will be applied to a variety of rhetorical modes, including narration, description, and expository patterns.
WRIT 060: Basic Writing II (formerly COMM 060)
(4 credits--requirement for some students, based on placement test)
This course expands upon the skills covered in Basic Writing I (COMM 050), while preparing students for College Writing (COMM 120). Pre-writing, writing, revising, and editing skills are covered. Students write a variety of short essays during the term.
Lower-Division Writing
WRIT 120: College Writing (formerly COMM 120)
(4 credits--general education requirement)
Prerequisite(s): Qualify through the English placement test or pass Basic Writing II (COMM 060). All students are required to pass this course prior to enrolling in any course at the 200 level or above. In this course, students acquire the writing competence necessary for conducting and presenting research. A variety of assignments, beginning with personal reflections, build upon one another, as students develop ideas that respond to, critique, and synthesize the positions of others. Students systematize and organize knowledge in ways that will help them in all of their courses. The course also emphasizes the elements of good writing style, appropriate grammar and mechanics, clarity of language, and logical and cohesive development. It culminates in submission of a documented research paper.
WRIT 130: Research Paper (formerly COMM 130)
(2 credits--general education requirement for some transfer students)
Prerequisite(s): "Composition Special" transfer credit. This is a writing course designed to help students successfully complete college writing projects that require research and documentation skills. Students study methods for using a library, gathering information, summarizing and synthesizing material, and writing and documenting a research paper. The course reviews and emphasizes elements of good writing such as unity, coherence, clarity, and appropriate grammar and mechanics. The course will also cover the appropriate application of APA citation and formatting guidelines.
Upper-Division Writing
WRIT 320: Business and Professional Writing (formerly COMM 320)
(4 credits--required for most programs)
Prerequisite(s): College Writing (COMM 120). Not open to students with credit for Report Writing. This is an advanced composition course for juniors and seniors which focuses on business, technical and professional writing. Skills taught include audience analysis; research methods; questionnaire, interview and survey techniques; letters; data collection, interpretation and documentation; graphic illustration; and composition of reports in special formats. Instruction and practice are provided in writing various types of reports such as resumes, proposals, summaries, research reports and instructions for user manuals, and in presenting committee and oral reports. Students will be encouraged to relate course materials to their major programs and their workplaces.
WRIT 360: Introduction to Creative Writing (formerly COMM 360)
(4 credits--general education elective)
Prerequisite(s): College Writing (COMM 120). This course introduces the student to the world of creative writing, presenting the power of the written word, cultivating the individual's style in interpreting and writing poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, as well as drama. Participants will create a portfolio of work, mastering techniques employed by studied authors. Students also will learn strategies for generating ideas, becoming members of a community of writers who encourage and critique one another's craft by participating in writing workshops.
WRIT 460: Advanced Creative Writing (formerly COMM 460)
(4 credits--general education elective)
Prerequisite(s): College Writing (COMM 120) and Introduction to Creative Writing (COMM 360). This advanced creative writing course enables students to dive more deeply into an understanding of the written word, using their own poetry, fiction, and drama pieces to engage readers through the original work produced by members of the class. An advanced community of writers will be developed to sharpen each member's craft by participating in writing workshops. Students will be introduced to avenues for publication (including online) to continue to enhance their talents and expose them to a wider audience.
Last Updated: 07/17/2012 16:56