Catalog Course Descriptions
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Courses
Undergraduate
Provides a rhetorical foundation for web authoring and design in professional settings. Students will learn basic principles of writing for the web, information architecture, coding for accessibility, and usability testing. The production-oriented component of the course provides instruction in writing valid code and practice with web- and graphic-editing software tools. Limited to three attempts.
Critical reading of new media texts and creation of technology-enriched texts in variety of rhetorical genres. Instructs students in rhetoric of new media, whether produced as hypertext, multimedia, or interactive digital productions. Technology-enriched activities present complex textuality of words, images, word-as-image, and kinetic text. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces students to the field of writing studies, with a focus on definitions of writing and rhetoric and research methods applied to the study of writing from the perspective of multiple disciplines. Provides an overview of both historical and contemporary approaches to studying writing as object, process, practice, and occupation. Limited to three attempts.
Advanced rhetorical study of "the essay," and its variable nonfiction forms, with a focus on rhetorical genre study and the persuasive nature of nonfiction storytelling. Students will practice analyzing and writing "essay" forms, such as popular long-form nonfiction, hybrid (personal and academic) essays, literary journalism, research articles, and others, depending on student interests. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces editing as a textual and rhetorical practice. Addresses copyediting, stylistics, and design; revisions based on audience, purpose, and genre; multimedia editing; interactions between editors and authors. (Not a remedial course in fixing sentence errors.) Limited to three attempts.
Intensive study and practice in various forms of professional and technical writing, including proposals, reports, instructions, news releases, white papers, and correspondence. Emphasizes writing for variety of audiences, both lay and informed, and writing within various professional and organizational contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Intensive study of and practice in various forms of nonfiction writing, through analyzing models and completing weekly writing assignments. Includes in-depth discussion and practice in such forms as biographies, documentaries, editorials, interviews, reports, reviews, and essays. Limited to three attempts.
Workshop in reading and writing of nonfiction that makes use of literary techniques normally thought of in context of fiction, such as evoking senses and use of dialog. Original student work read and discussed in class and conferences with instructor. Includes technical exercises in artful creating of nonfiction; may include reading assignments. Limited to three attempts.
Under supervision of a faculty director, students report and reflect on their work as interns at organizations of their choosing, usually in writing and/or editing positions. For 3 credits, students work on site at least 135 hours as specified in the agreement developed with the internship supervisor and approved by the faculty director. Notes: Contact the English Department one semester prior to enrollment. No more than 3 credits can be counted in concentration or English minor. May be repeated with permission of department. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Instruction in revising, editing, and preparing specialized writing for print production. Emphasizes methods of achieving clarity, accuracy, and completeness. Lecture and discussion on editing and printing techniques; practical exercise in revision, layout, and production. Limited to three attempts.
Study and practice of ethnographic writing. Students conduct ethnographic investigations and practice journal keeping, field note recording, interviewing, transcription, and interpretation. Includes introduction to current issues in ethnographic writing. Limited to three attempts.
Theory and practice of using computer programs to design and produce publications including brochures, fliers, newsletters, and small magazines. Includes readings, writing papers. and producing and editing copies and original publications. Limited to three attempts.
Research-based workshop course. Intensive practice in advanced nonfiction writing and study of the exigencies of public writing and audience engagement; emphasizes writing for publication, research process, and public awareness. Limited to three attempts.
Advanced studies in rhetoric and writing. Introduces key rhetorical terminology and examines how texts construct meaning and how those meanings are determined within social contexts. Topics may include the relationship between rhetorics and poetics, rhetoric and new media, histories of rhetoric, global rhetorics, argument theory, discourse analysis, theories of technical communication, or advanced theories of composition and pedagogy. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different with permission of department. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Provides foundation in the skills and knowledge required to effectively create proposals for various types of organizations. Emphasizes best practices in management, presentation, and research skills necessary to find funding, manage proposal efforts, and build relationships with funders. Reviews editing, concision, and technical writing skills required for proposal writers. Limited to three attempts.
Graduate
Provides historical and theoretical background in professional writing and editing in a seminar format. Explores professional writing's emergence as a field of scholarship and practice, emphasizes the relationships between rhetorical theories and practice, and introduces students to bibliographic research in the field. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduces theory, methods, and ethics of conducting research in rhetoric and professional writing. Students learn to conduct and evaluate research that may include rhetorical analysis, discourse analysis, historical methods, ethnography, user-centered design, document and usability testing, and others. May not be repeated for credit.
Instruction in revising, editing, and preparing specialized writing for printing. Emphasizes methods of achieving clarity, accuracy, and completeness. Lecture and discussion on editing and printing techniques; practical exercise in revision, layout, and production. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Under supervision of a faculty director, students report and reflect on their work as interns at organizations of their choosing, usually in writing and/or editing positions. For 3 credits, students work on site at least 135 hours as specified in the agreement developed with the internship supervisor and approved by the faculty director. Notes: Contact the English Department one semester prior to enrollment. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Theory and practice of using computer programs to design and produce publications including brochures, fliers, newsletters, and small magazines. Includes readings, writing papers, and producing and editing copies and original publications. May not be repeated for credit.
Combines study of basic research tools with field work and writing workshop experience. Helps students develop techniques and skills necessary for writing a research-dependent project of sufficient complexity to be of book or long essay length. Emphasis on finding story behind facts, using material from numerous sources. May not be repeated for credit.
Provides a rhetorical foundation for web authoring and design in professional settings. Teaches basic principles of writing for the web, information architecture, coding for accessibility, and usability testing. Production-oriented component provides instruction in writing valid code and practice with web- and graphic-editing software tools. May not be repeated for credit.
Provides an examination of major works on digital rhetoric and digital media framed by contemporary rhetorical theories that inform the emergent field of digital rhetoric. Course work includes projects that engage in the design, analysis, and assessment of digital media. May not be repeated for credit.
Provides foundation in the skills and knowledge required to effectively create proposals for various types of organizations. Emphasizes best practices in management, presentation, and research skills necessary to find funding, manage proposal efforts, and build relationships with funders. Reviews editing, concision, and technical writing skills required for proposal writers. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduction to selected critical theories pertinent to textual analysis. May not be repeated for credit.
Intensive study of and practice in various forms of nonfiction writing through analyzing models and weekly writing assignments. Includes biographies, documentaries, editorials, interviews, reports, reviews, and essays. Notes: Other interested graduate students should contact the English Department at (703) 993-2763. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduces theories of and hands-on experiences for students interested in studying pedagogical practice, classroom environments, and learners in context. Methodologies include ethnography, case study, grounded theory, quasi-experimental, narrative analysis, Activity Theory, Archival Research, and Assessment. Students will examine the relationships between methodological frames, pedagogical context and theories of learning. May not be repeated for credit.
Offers a craft seminar in writing for social media and online platforms. Students develop an online identity and presence, and compose work for public dissemination. Numerous writing assignments mixed with reading followed by careful analytical and craft discussions. May not be repeated for credit.
Reading and discussion of several major texts that address patterns of discourse, communication, and other issues of rhetoric. Notes: Content varies. Recent offerings include 20th century rhetoric, collaborative writing, and computers and rhetoric. May not be repeated for credit.
Students work as ethnographers, studying selected sites where people write professionally, and analyzing ways production and reception of writing contribute to and result from local culture of each site. Lecture and workshop format. May not be repeated for credit.
Intensive study of theory and practice of technical and scientific writing, with emphasis on writing for variety of audiences. Focuses on writing and evaluating formal reports, articles for lay and technical audiences, proposals, theses, manuals, and other forms of technical prose. May not be repeated for credit.
Methods of teaching expository writing. Includes consideration of planning courses, practice in teaching and grading papers, and study of recent developments in teaching writing. May not be repeated for credit.
Intensive practice in craft of nonfiction and study of creative process. Intended for students already familiar with traditional and contemporary nonfiction, and already writing original nonfiction. Notes: At discretion of instructor, reading may be required. May be repeated for credit with permission of department. May be repeated within the degree.
Offers advanced study of teaching practices in literature, composition, creative writing, linguistics, folklore, or film and media studies. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Presents historically based introduction to major debates within feminist theory and criticism. Stressing gender in literature and its interpretation, explores diverse collection of feminist interpretive practices. May not be repeated for credit.
Advanced introduction to theoretical practice known as cultural studies, with attention to role in textual studies. Part of interdisciplinary cultural studies PhD and MA in English programs. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduces the federal contract and grants proposal process and provides an overview of the federal acquisition process, the capture and proposal management processes, and best practices for writing winning proposals in the federal arena. Students work individually and in teams to write and manage proposals. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Includes readings and discussion in a wide range of topics related to writing and rhetoric. May focus on a specific theory, method or practice in writing and rhetoric. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic varies. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Offered at request of school division or other education agency to assist teachers in improving student writing and use of writing to learn. Notes: Content varies. May be repeated for credit with permission of department. May be repeated within the term.
Acquaints classroom teachers with current research on composing as well as methods of studying writing in school settings. Participants collect data and write up results of their research. May not be repeated for credit.
Acquaints classroom teachers with theory relating to writing and teaching composition. Focuses on explaining theories of participants, reading works of leading theorists, and developing statement describing implications of theoretical consistency in teaching writing. May not be repeated for credit.
Explores a variety of text-based and empirical approaches and methods for addressing questions and problems related to public rhetoric and writing programs. Seminar participants work through a complete research design and pilot study. May not be repeated for credit.
Provides students new to the PhD in Writing and Rhetoric with the opportunity to read widely in the fields of composition, professional writing, and public rhetoric. Students will examine and develop graduate-level reading practices, while exploring the main subfields of writing studies. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines the development of rhetorics within their historical and institutional contexts. Investigates rhetoric and rhetoricians across the development of oral rhetorics and the shift to written genres, the rise of scientific discourses, and the establishment of educational and bureaucratic organizations. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines scholarship on pedagogy, curriculum design and assessment, faculty development, and program management related to the practice of teaching or training writers in an institutional setting: two- and four-year colleges, K-12 schools, and workplace training seminars. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines current research in the field and the theories that inform it. Special emphasis is placed on workplace contexts and users in technological contexts. Course may include theories and methods such as activity theory, actor-network theory, complexity theory, cross-cultural rhetoric, digital rhetoric, discourse analysis, ethnography, genre theory, usability, and systems theory. May not be repeated for credit.
Covers the major theories of public rhetoric and the public sphere; explores how rhetoric influences public perceptions; examines publics as a site of interpretive mediation. May not be repeated for credit.
Students complete a capstone project guided by instructor and a faculty consultant. Reflecting on theories and methods learned in previous course work and applying them to a concrete rhetorical situation, students produce a professional-quality project for a primary audience located in the professional workplace or the discipline of professional and technical writing. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Reading, research, and writing on specific project under direction of department member. Notes: Oral or written report required. For MA students: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits with permission of department. For MFA students: 12 credits may be applied to the MFA requirements but no more than 3 credits may count toward completing the literature requirement. May be repeated within the degree.
ENGH 799:
Thesis (1-6 Credits)
Students who take ENGH 798 to develop thesis topic and then elect thesis option receive 3 credits for ENGH 799 on completion of thesis. Students who do not take ENGH 798, or who take it to work on project unrelated to thesis, receive up to 6 credits for ENGH 799 on completion of thesis. May be repeated within the degree.
Offers advanced study of rhetorical theory, histories of rhetoric, key figures in rhetoric, or rhetorical methods. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
Examines the theory and practice of writing program leadership. Investigates the principles that inform faculty support, curriculum development, program assessment, institutional alignment, and leadership approaches with regard to administering writing instruction. May not be repeated for credit.
Offers advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to composition. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Offers advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to professional writing and technical communication. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Offers advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to public rhetorics. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Reading, research, and writing on a specific project under direction of faculty member. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Work on research proposal that forms the basis for the doctoral dissertation. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
Doctoral dissertation research and writing under direction of student's dissertation committee. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 21 credits.