Expository and College Writing | Courses | Faculty
The Expository and College Writing Program: Courses
College Writing
LWR 1110 / 4 credits / Every semester (primarily Fall)
An intensive course taught in multiple sections, by the end of which students are able to do the following:
- Produce coherent texts within common college-level written forms.
- Apply critical-thinking skills to evaluate their own and others’ assignments.
- Take a position of their own and develop an argument, using supporting details.
- Synthesize materials from various kinds of texts.
- Demonstrate the ability to revise and improve their papers.
- Use course concepts to develop in-depth readings of texts and critically literate written papers.
- Research a topic in detail and write a coherent, well-organized paper that develops an argument in dialogue with source texts.
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral discourse.
- Evaluate an oral presentation.
- Perform the basic operation of computer use.
Writing Memoir
LWR 2052 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Students examine self-representation by published memoirists, writing responses to and interpretations of the memoirs. Issues considered include impulse, message, structure, and engagement. Throughout the term, students also write and learn to revise personal memoir pieces, which are workshopped regularly in class. Also offered as LIT 2052.
Advanced Critical Writing Workshop
LWR 2110 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
What makes a person an insider or an outsider? Beginning with personal experience and writing, students explore the ways in which race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and social class affect individual, communal, national, and transnational identity and belonging in American culture. In connecting multiple levels of experience, students engage in critical reading, research, analysis, writing, and revision, building on their strong skills in preparation for upper-level work.
The Art of the Essay
LWR 2770 / 4 credits / Every year
An intensive course for sophomores and more advanced students who want to develop their skills in critical thinking and essay writing. Class sessions and writing assignments focus on how to generate a topic for an essay, gather material, develop a thesis and argument, structure an essay, and refine it through revising. Writing assignments include several short papers and one or two longer ones; there are required assigned readings in addition to the assigned writing.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Critical Literacy
LWR 3300 / 3 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Designed for students in any discipline who want to teach, this course introduces students to ways of becoming critically literate. Students read many theories and studies of teaching literacy and all volunteer for two hours per week at the elementary, middle, or high school level in a subject of their choice in a local school chosen for the course.
Teaching Good Prose
LWR 3455 / 4 credits / Fall
Helping others to read and write better improves one’s own reading and writing dramatically. In this course, advanced students improve their own writing and gain tutoring experience by serving as peer tutors in first-year courses. Each student is attached to a College Writing section and serves as a peer mentor/tutor, attending classes and working closely with the instructor (approx. 2 to 4 hours weekly). Also offered as LIT 3455.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
The Personal Essay
LWR 3785 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
In the personal essay, writers adopt distinct points of view, moving beyond the emotional to analytical and reasoned positions. Topics can include personal reflections, thoughts on daily life, art analysis, and political arguments. Students read and analyze contemporary essays and “workshop” each other’s writing. Requirements include attending instructor-supervised events (films, performances, guest speakers) outside of class for some writing assignments. Also offered as LIT 3785.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Updated July 18, 2008