Courses in Writing and Speaking
Public Speaking (RWPD 110)
Words matter. If we want to change the world, it is more important now than ever to develop our ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and artfully. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of public speaking. They will learn how to speak about things that matter to them, and—with practice—to make things matter to others. Students will refine their ability to speak in a variety of settings, situations, and genres to diverse audiences. Through classroom activities, practice speeches, and formal performances, they will learn how to engage the attention, attitudes, and actions of others regarding issues of personal, communal, and civic importance.
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Language and Writing (RWPD 170)
A course designed to introduce students to analytical writing through extensive writing practice and revision. The course provides strategies for invention, development, and editing. Emphasis is placed on analysis and synthesis, with additional attention to language use at the sentence level, including grammar, diction, and syntax. Open to first-year and sophomore students; open to juniors and seniors by consent of instructor.
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Processes and Practices of Writing (RWPD 180)
This course extends students’ practices and understanding of college-level academic writing processes. The course focuses on strategies and structures that support thesis-driving writing and repeated revision. Through extensive and recursive writing practice, the course emphasizes reflection on students' own writing processes and practices. Students will learn from this reflection ways to intervene in their own writing practice to encourage complexity of ideas, careful evidence evaluation and integration, and diverse revision approaches.
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Writing for Diverse Purposes (RWPD 210)
This course offers writers the opportunity to focus on expository writing for varying audiences and for diverse purposes. The course will engage students in the study of genre characteristics and conventions, prosodic style, and adaptation of writing for differing audiences.
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The Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing (RWPD 310)
This course is designed to prepare you to be an effective and confident writing tutor. It will introduce you to major theories on peer-tutoring, debates concerning the teaching of writing, and practical techniques for dealing with difficult situations in the process of tutoring. You will leave the course having conducted genre-specific research, having developed your own tutoring philosophy, and with a portfolio of strategies for tutoring from yourself and your peers. One of our goals is to create a community of knowledgeable and supportive writing center tutors who can then work as a team within the writing center. Not open to first-semester students.